I'm designing my upcoming HT system(migrating from stereo). I'm seriously considering using something like Genelec active speakers for all points, removing the need for a massive multi-channel amp. The problem with this is that I want to run balanced signal to the speakers. Is it worth waiting for the replacement to the 950, or get some injectors ( http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&did=7&partnumber=248-732&sf=04g-022 ) with the 950 on sale
Aaron

Aaron,

I use 5 Mackie powered monitors (plus the lfm-1) and,let me tell ya, it's great for music and ht. Of course, even though the Mackie's offer xlr inputs, I'm using unbalanced custom made cables cut to the exact length I need. My understanding is that, under a certain number of feet, balanced lines don't add any audible improvement. I certainly don't have any issues with using the 2-conductor 1/4" phone plug inputs on the Mackie's. I do use a "Brick" line conditioner/spike protector which really seems to add a "black" background to the audio...

Jay

You will probably be able to drive them with an unblanced cable that shorts pins #1&3 of the XLR together, and this goes to the ground tab of the RCA plug. Pin #2 of the XLR goes to the center "hot" pin of the RCA. It is actually cleaner from a sound quality standpoint if you can use unbalanced connections. The only use for balanced connections is if you run very long cables, like over 50 feet or so in a hostile environment around AC lines and motors.

I like soundhound's idea here if you are going to be using XLR's at the speaker. The biggest concern I have with the injectors is the added complexity of the signal path - introducing additional devices into the path inevitably offers more opportunities for signal degradation, and I don't know how transparent the injectors would really be. Powered speakers are a very logical approach, so the basic idea is excellent, but unbalanced may be the cleaner approach.

Aaron,

You can use Genelec DI8A Active Balancer between 950 and active speakers, high only 1U.

Genelec DI8A


Osmo

Here's a related question:

I'm also using active main speakers with an external crossover/DAC. Will the digital output from the 905 provide a stereo signal from all sources directly to the external crossover/DAC? I'm assuming this is cake for digital sources, but what about analog?

The 950's digital output is, from what I understand, purely a "pass-through" of a digital input from a source such as a DVD player, CD player, satellite receiver, etc. Unless I'm very much mistaken, the digital outputs are not intended as digital pre-outs (so no volume control, no bass management, etc.). Such a pre-out would require some unique processing - the digital signals leaving the processor would need to be re-encoded into some format such as Dolby Digital (in order to get multiple channels on a single output) or PCM (for a stereo output) so that they could be passed to an external device.

I've got a volume control on my CD player, so it will work fine with PCM music.

For everything else, I guess it'll just have to be analog.

Thanks!