What is the "nominal output level" of the helix?

[nippyjun]

Hi,

I just got a set of JBL LSR 308 studio monitors. In the instructions it says:

 

"3-Series speakers are equipped with an INPUT SENSITIVITY SWITCH. The switch is set to the -10 dBV setting

when it ships from our factory. This setting will be best for many applications. However, you can set the switch

to the +4 dBu setting:

When connecting 3 Series speakers to professional equipment with +4 dBu nominal output level, set

the INPUT SENSITIVITY SWITCH to the +4 dBu setting. To determine the nominal output level of the

connected equipment, consult the documentation supplied with the connected equipment"

 

Anyone know what the nominal output level of the helix is?

 

Thanks.

 

[PeterHamm]

line level should be +4.

[nippyjun]

line level should be +4.

Hmmm. +4 seems quieter. I guess it should. But maybe too quiet.......

[mdmayfield]

Hmmm. +4 seems quieter. I guess it should. But maybe too quiet.......

 

That's correct. If you switch your speaker to +4, that means it's expecting a hotter signal, so it'll turn down its input sensitivity and be quieter.

 

-10dBV and +4dBu are just analog voltage level standards. Any given analog audio signal (such as the analog output of your Helix plugged into the analog input of your speaker) may be at, between, or outside these levels in amplitude at any given moment, as determined by the nature of the sound itself, plus any volume controls it passes through.

 

As long as the signal does not overload the speaker's input and cause unwanted clipping distortion, you should be OK using either the -10 or +4 setting.

 

More info (maybe more than the average person would care about) here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_level