XLR Attenuators/Pads

[elwaylite]

Ive got an issue between a 7702 pre, outlaw 7500 amp, efficient speakers and audyssey XT32 bottom out level adjustment at -12, so I need to attenuate.

Was wondering if you guys have any XLR attenuator brands you recommend? PE has some cheap ones, Amazon has Hosa and Whirlwind IMP.

I assume by the nature of XLR, there is no such thing as a balanced attenuator, they all should be "balanced".

Thanks.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I use Parts Express XLR attenuators for my sub. They're high quality and cheap enough that you can experiment.

 

[elwaylite]

Thanks. They seem to be highly recommended. I have some 10db's on order but wanted to make sure there wasn't a better choice or something to avoid. From my reading it is just an male and female XLR connection and barrel with some resistors inside, so I guess not much to worry about.

Always paranoid though, spent a lot of coin and do not want to do anything that negatively effects SQ.

 

[highfigh]

Ive got an issue between a 7702 pre, outlaw 7500 amp, efficient speakers and audyssey XT32 bottom out level adjustment at -12, so I need to attenuate.

Was wondering if you guys have any XLR attenuator brands you recommend? PE has some cheap ones, Amazon has Hosa and Whirlwind IMP.

I assume by the nature of XLR, there is no such thing as a balanced attenuator, they all should be "balanced".

Thanks.

You can add resistors to the signal path, but if it's true balanced with pin 3 inverted, you'll need to install them on pin 2 AND pin 3.

Did you read the manual? In the Option section, it shows that you can adjust the channel volume +/- 12dB.

 

[elwaylite]

I understand you can adjust channel levels 12db either way, but that doesnt help when one is -12 and needs to be -16. I think instead of throwing another device in the chain, I am going to adjust all speakers to the highest output speaker, and then make note of the new reference volume (won't be 0.0 anymore) and adjust the subs accordingly.

 

[highfigh]

I'd really like to see them make those a lot shorter or form a right angle- they're awfully long and that not only puts stress on them/the jacks, they make it hard, if not impossible, to close the back of some racks or slide the equipment back far enough.

Outlaw could have eliminated the problem by using input level controls on their amps. Or, they could put a socket inside for each channel, for adding resistors. They could use a straight jumper when attenuation isn't needed and by installing resistors, no additional connections are needed.

 

[elwaylite]

Yeah, they are like 4" long and I am no too keen on that. I am just gonna level match all the speakers after audyssey runs, to the one that can't be adjusted anymore, and then just make not where my new reference volume level is.