Stupid Y-splitter Questions

[jostenmeat]

I just received some XLR cables and y-splitter(s) so that I can implement my Samson S-convert, in order to match preout voltage and do gain staging for my subwoofer's amp.

However, the y-splitter from Monoprice has a casing that just can't fit between my other mch interconnects.

I ordered two splitters, because they are so cheap, and I just want to know if it's ok to go as such:


RCA interconnect -> splitter -> another splitter (so that I can have 2 females available) -> 2 RCA interconnects to Samson.

There will [strike]obviously[/strike] (edit) be the male end of the second splitter as exposed, and is that fine as far as induced noise, etc?

Do they even make a male to female RCA interconnect? (haven't looked)


*I am assuming I need to use both RCA inputs on the Samson, to get my two outputs with proper voltage.

Hm, now that I think about it, there may be another possibility:

interconnect -> Samson single input -> XLR cable to single input on amp -> xlr to connect from link out to input of second amp channel.

Thoughts?

I think I'm leaning towards the second solution . . .

 

[TLS Guy]

I just received some XLR cables and y-splitter(s) so that I can implement my Samson S-convert, in order to match preout voltage and do gain staging for my subwoofer's amp.

However, the y-splitter from Monoprice has a casing that just can't fit between my other mch interconnects.

I ordered two splitters, because they are so cheap, and I just want to know if it's ok to go as such:


RCA interconnect -> splitter -> another splitter (so that I can have 2 females available) -> 2 RCA interconnects to Samson.

There will [strike]obviously[/strike] (edit) be the male end of the second splitter as exposed, and is that fine as far as induced noise, etc?

Do they even make a male to female RCA interconnect? (haven't looked)


*I am assuming I need to use both RCA inputs on the Samson, to get my two outputs with proper voltage.

Hm, now that I think about it, there may be another possibility:

interconnect -> Samson single input -> XLR cable to single input on amp -> xlr to connect from link out to input of second amp channel.

Thoughts?

I think I'm leaning towards the second solution . . .

I think I have the hang of what you are trying to do.

You want to feed your LFE output to your Sampson unit and get two balanced outputs.

I would plug this into the LFE out.

Then an RCA male pair to the Sampson and XLRs to your sub amps.

 

[jostenmeat]

I think I have the hang of what you are trying to do.

You want to feed your LFE output to your Sampson unit and get two balanced outputs.

I would plug this into the LFE out.

Then an RCA male pair to the Sampson and XLRs to your sub amps.

Yes, you got it TLS. However . . . first of all, I'm taking the Samson out altogether, because I think I don't need it. The LFE is seriously insane when it's hooked up, like OMG where's the remote I have to hit mute before the house breaks down insane.

Also, the splitters I have look just like that. See the housing is just too big/wide to get it to fit (without being blocked by surrounding mch analog connections).

So, I think the easiest way to get closest to your solution would be to have (if it even exists) RCA male/FEMALE to splitter, then from splitter, 2x male/male connections to Samson. I know, it's confusing, but I appreciate your effort in helping me, cheers doc.

 

[Alex2507]

So, I think the easiest way to get closest to your solution would be to have (if it even exists) RCA male/FEMALE to splitter, then from splitter, 2x male/male connections to Samson. I know, it's confusing, but I appreciate your effort in helping me, cheers doc.

An RCA barrel connector at the end of a cable would get you the female end you are looking for but BJC has pigtails (Y-cable) that do all that and it gets the split away from your equipment. They have them listed under Subwoofer cables in case that link to the checkout doesn't work. Buy some locking banana plugs and other cool stuff to take advantage of the shipping.

 

[jostenmeat]

An RCA barrel connector at the end of a cable would get you the female end you are looking for but BJC has pigtails (Y-cable) that do all that and it gets the split away from your equipment. They have them listed under Subwoofer cables in case that link to the checkout doesn't work. Buy some locking banana plugs and other cool stuff to take advantage of the shipping.

Ah. That would be perfect.

Calrad Hardshell Y adapter, 1M/2F RCA $2.50
One-foot Subwoofer Y cable, 1F/2M RCA $10.00
One-foot Y cable, 1 Male/2 Female RCA $10.00

Well, let's see what I've bought so far, that I have no use for right now.

1 XLR cable, check.
2 splitters, check.
1 Samson S-convert, check.
2 cable plug speakons, check (because too impatient for shipping over long weekend)
1 plate plug screw type speakon, check, for reason above.
3x 1ft RCA cables (bought component video, and split them up), check.

Least they're all very cheap (monoprice rules), besides the S-convert.

 

[yepimonfire]

Yes, you got it TLS. However . . . first of all, I'm taking the Samson out altogether, because I think I don't need it. The LFE is seriously insane when it's hooked up, like OMG where's the remote I have to hit mute before the house breaks down insane.

Also, the splitters I have look just like that. See the housing is just too big/wide to get it to fit (without being blocked by surrounding mch analog connections).

So, I think the easiest way to get closest to your solution would be to have (if it even exists) RCA male/FEMALE to splitter, then from splitter, 2x male/male connections to Samson. I know, it's confusing, but I appreciate your effort in helping me, cheers doc.

hahahaha thats funny, i love those moments.

 

[jostenmeat]

hahahaha thats funny, i love those moments.

It was my first, for any system I owned. Like a shockwave or something. I actually quickly looked to see if my pant legs or hair were moving, but I didn't notice anything. It was pretty darn intense. For me, anyways.

 

[yepimonfire]

not to derail this thread too much but i put a large 12" KEF subwoofer in a small bedroom once and cranked the knob to the max, then proceeded to watch war of the worlds, i was seriously like ^*&*(&((*)*%$^&!!!!!!!! and had a temporary threshold shift for two days after.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Hm, now that I think about it, there may be another possibility:

interconnect -> Samson single input -> XLR cable to single input on amp -> xlr to connect from link out to input of second amp channel.

What amp are you using? Are you using more than one of them?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jostenmeat]

What amp are you using? Are you using more than one of them?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Crown XTI2000, just one unit. Running stereo (with first ch speakon wired out of phase). Did not run a mono-bridged setup, like many are with my subwoofer, a Danley DTS10.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

How do you get stereo with a connection scheme like this?

... interconnect -> Samson single input -> XLR cable to single input on amp -> xlr to connect from link out to input of second amp channel.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jostenmeat]

How do you get stereo with a connection scheme like this?



Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Ah, my bad, it's not technically stereo, but . . . jeez what is the nomenclature . . . . dual-mono? LFE is my mono signal, but I'm feeding it to both channels. I hope I'm being clear enough, and informative enough.

Ok, there are two drivers inside my subwoofer, btw. I think I should share this info!

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Ah, my bad, it's not technically stereo, but . . . jeez what is the nomenclature . . . . dual-mono?

Typically it’s called “parallel mode,” where a single input drives both outputs. I.e. no jumper cable is needed between the two inputs. Many amps have a switch on the back panel to accomplish this; with the XTI amps it’s in the DSP menu. See “Y Input” on pg. 25 of the manual.

FYI, virtually all pro amps have a parallel-mode setting, with the possible exception of those intended for studio use.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jostenmeat]

Typically it’s called “parallel mode,” where a single input drives both outputs. I.e. no jumper cable is needed between the two inputs. Many amps have a switch on the back panel to accomplish this; with the XTI amps it’s in the DSP menu. See “Y Input” on pg. 25 of the manual.

FYI, virtually all pro amps have a parallel-mode setting, with the possible exception of those intended for studio use.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Wayne, I haven't got to reading the manual on the parallel mode, but if the Crown does indeed sport it, will it leave polarity all alone, or will it flip the polarity of any given channel (which one, if so)?

I thought* (and I've been quite confused with my subwoofer's wiring requirements and/or implications) that running a single 4-pole speakon to input 1, for instance, with all polarity as normal, will flip the polarity of one of the channels (and I don't remember which).

Again, I may be way off with the above. I thunk* that's what people have said.

Well, it works the way it is, but needing one less XLR/XLR "link" could look cleaner. OTOH, it's fun using lots of cables, haha. Hey, my first time using XLR.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Wayne, I haven't got to reading the manual on the parallel mode, but if the Crown does indeed sport it, will it leave polarity all alone, or will it flip the polarity of any given channel (which one, if so)?

No, parallel mode affects or has nothing to do with polarity. It functions the same as what you’re doing with the jumper cable, only it’s done internally.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jostenmeat]

Typically it’s called “parallel mode,” where a single input drives both outputs. I.e. no jumper cable is needed between the two inputs. Many amps have a switch on the back panel to accomplish this; with the XTI amps it’s in the DSP menu. See “Y Input” on pg. 25 of the manual.

FYI, virtually all pro amps have a parallel-mode setting, with the possible exception of those intended for studio use.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

I just unthanked so I could rep you, but I guess I haven't spread it around enough or something, so rethanked, but anyways . . .

You are clearer than the manual!

It says:
"When BRIDGE is active, the Ch1 input signal is used (unless you made an alternate setting with the Y processing block)."

That is the only mention of "Y". The reason why this is becoming important to me all of a sudden, is that to create an EQ preset, it seems** I can only do that for a single channel? huh, that can't be right, but anyways, if it was indeed true, then a single channel of EQ + Y block should let me have BOTH channels as EQd.

(See, I can't figure out yet how to save two channels of EQ on to one preset, let alone copy/pasting the EQ settings from one channel to another). Oh dear, this learning curve never ends . . .

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

That is the only mention of "Y". The reason why this is becoming important to me all of a sudden, is that to create an EQ preset, it seems** I can only do that for a single channel? huh, that can't be right, but anyways, if it was indeed true, then a single channel of EQ + Y block should let me have BOTH channels as EQd.

Not necessarily. Since we are “hijacking” professional products for a residential application, we should not expect that they have been designed in a way that makes sense to us.

There’s no good reason for a pro amp to have the two channels automatically EQd the same in parallel mode. This is because a pro-audio amp is not typically used the same way that we’d use them in the home environment. For a PA system, it’s not uncommon for the two channels to be used for different applications. For one example, even with a single input from say, a mixing console, one output of the amp might go to a high frequency driver and the other to a midrange driver. Naturally, they would not be equalized the same.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jostenmeat]

Not necessarily. Since we are “hijacking” professional products for a residential application, we should not expect that they have been designed in a way that makes sense to us.

There’s no good reason for a pro amp to have the two channels automatically EQd the same in parallel mode. This is because a pro-audio amp is not typically used the same way that we’d use them in the home environment. For a PA system, it’s not uncommon for the two channels to be used for different applications. For one example, even with a single input from say, a mixing console, one output of the amp might go to a high frequency driver and the other to a midrange driver. Naturally, they would not be equalized the same.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Oh crap, I just caught your post now. Hmmmmmmm. I wonder who would know. I'll have to email Harman or something, if I can't find anything online atm. Thanks.

edit: OK, I sent an email to Crown tech support. Hmm, so if the EQ is not passed along, I have to figure out how Band manager can EQ both at the same time, which I am lost on how to do for the moment. I'll have to play around some more this week.

edit #2: I've even resorted to hijacking threads at AVS, haha . . .