ZXA1 speaker input question

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
B

Bill Kexel

Well-Known DJ
Dec 5, 2006
2,097
59
65
Phoenix, AZ
For any of you that own or are familiar with the EV ZXA1 speaker:

On the ZXA1 there are 2 inputs, line-in & mic-in.

When plugging in an MP3 player to the line-in, I must turn the gain up pretty high on both the speaker & my MP3 player to get it to a louder level, while on the mic-in, it is pretty hot, & I don't have to increase the gains very much.

They both have about the same sound quality. I didn't notice any difference.

When I need it louder in the playing area, and I run it thru the line-input, it sounds a bit distorted because I need to crank the gain up on the MP3 player, and runing it thru the mic-input I don't have to crank it up.

Am I risking damaging the speaker by using the mic-input for the MP3 player?
is it okay to do this?

There was nothing in the owner's manual about this, nothing in there saying not to do it.

Thoughts?
 
Good question... more than likely in the case of the line-in which I can only assume at the moment is a Hi-Z input, which means the mp3 player probably just doesn't have enough output to "lite it up" so to speak... whereas a mic is a Lo-Z type of input and therefore unless I'm wrong about this doesn't require as hot of an input as Hi-Z to push the circuits.
 
It seems that you are stuck in the middle of the optimal input levels with your mp3 player. I would use whichever one sounds better. I would prefer to use the line in if you can keep the mp3 gain at about 90% and get decent volume out of the speakers. If you have to use the mic inputs you obviously have to be very careful about overloading the input signal, but I would also watch out for hum and other noise when using the mic input.


Scott
 
Bill Kexel said:
For any of you that own or are familiar with the EV ZXA1 speaker:

On the ZXA1 there are 2 inputs, line-in & mic-in.

When plugging in an MP3 player to the line-in, I must turn the gain up pretty high on both the speaker & my MP3 player to get it to a louder level, while on the mic-in, it is pretty hot, & I don't have to increase the gains very much.

They both have about the same sound quality. I didn't notice any difference.

When I need it louder in the playing area, and I run it thru the line-input, it sounds a bit distorted because I need to crank the gain up on the MP3 player, and runing it thru the mic-input I don't have to crank it up.

Am I risking damaging the speaker by using the mic-input for the MP3 player?
is it okay to do this?

There was nothing in the owner's manual about this, nothing in there saying not to do it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Safest way is to plug in the MP3 Player to a Mixer and then from the Mixer Main out to the Line in on the Speaker.

What are you attempting to do and what is the list of equipment being utilized other than an mp3 player and speaker?
 
ahoustondj said:
Safest way is to plug in the MP3 Player to a Mixer and then from the Mixer Main out to the Line in on the Speaker.

What are you attempting to do and what is the list of equipment being utilized other than an mp3 player and speaker?
Click to expand...

This is for when I have a speaker in a remote location (cocktails, Etc) and they need only cocktail music to be played.

I plug in my MP3 player & let it roll. (Speaker & MP3 player is all that is utilized...no mixer needed)
 
Bill Kexel said:
This is for when I have a speaker in a remote location (cocktails, Etc) and they need only cocktail music to be played.

I plug in my MP3 player & let it roll. (Speaker & MP3 player is all that is utilized...no mixer needed)
Click to expand...

OK that is what I figured.
I have done that before (Not for a Wedding) but I used a Phone/MP3 player and my Bose AWM. It worked just fine. http://www.ourdjtalk.com/album.php?albumid=32
 
By the way the output from the MP3 player is more than likely Stereo. The input to the speaker is more than likely Mono. You will loose harmonics if you plug in a stereo output to a mono input.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE A "Y" CONNECTOR FROM YOUR MP3 PLAYER TO THE SPEAKER LINE IN OR MIC INPUT. You may damage your speaker.
 
ahoustondj said:
By the way the output from the MP3 player is more than likely Stereo. The input to the speaker is more than likely Mono. You will loose harmonics if you plug in a stereo output to a mono input.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE A "Y" CONNECTOR FROM YOUR MP3 PLAYER TO THE SPEAKER LINE IN OR MIC INPUT. You may damage your speaker.
Click to expand...

The patchcord I have (1/8 stereo to XLR) is supposed to be able to take stereo & make it mono.
 
Bill Kexel said:
The patchcord I have (1/8 stereo to XLR) is supposed to be able to take stereo & make it mono.
Click to expand...

Yeah! Right! :yoBiggrin: This my friend is a VERY COMMON mistake LOTS of DJs make. I have seen it in person and I have heard about members on ODJT doing it incorrectly or believing what they are doing is actually the right thing. I am on my way to my Friday evening gig now but there are topics/posts/threads here that address this problem. I'll search for them later if you still need answers. Have a good evening!
 
ahoustondj said:
Yeah! Right! :yoBiggrin: This my friend is a VERY COMMON mistake LOTS of DJs make. I have seen it in person and I have heard about members on ODJT doing it incorrectly or believing what they are doing is actually the right thing. I am on my way to my Friday evening gig now but there are topics/posts/threads here that address this problem. I'll search for them later if you still need answers. Have a good evening!
Click to expand...

Interesting, I've never heard that before. But then again, that may explain why on some songs, there is a bit of distortion.

I will hook up the ZXA1s to my main system & play the same songs thru it & see if there is any distortion. If there isn't, you may be right.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it!
 
Bill Kexel said:
Interesting, I've never heard that before. But then again, that may explain why on some songs, there is a bit of distortion.

I will hook up the ZXA1s to my main system & play the same songs thru it & see if there is any distortion. If there isn't, you may be right.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it!
Click to expand...

Yep...Through my mixing board it sounded beautiful (no distortion at all) But going straight from the MP3 player into the speaker, some of the songs that are in stereo are distorted.

I wonder if I recorded my cocktail music in mono on my MP3 player, would it sound okay? (going straight from the MP3 player into the powered speaker)

Anyone else experience this?...suggestions?
 
Bill Kexel said:
Yep...Through my mixing board it sounded beautiful (no distortion at all) But going straight from the MP3 player into the speaker, some of the songs that are in stereo are distorted.

I wonder if I recorded my cocktail music in mono on my MP3 player, would it sound okay? (going straight from the MP3 player into the powered speaker)

Anyone else experience this?...suggestions?
Click to expand...

When you take two outputs and try to make one it causes a short circuit and can cause much damage to a speaker, amp or both!
 
Bill Kexel said:
Interesting, I've never heard that before. But then again, that may explain why on some songs, there is a bit of distortion.

I will hook up the ZXA1s to my main system & play the same songs thru it & see if there is any distortion. If there isn't, you may be right.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it!
Click to expand...

No problemo! We are all here to share info, experiences and pitfalls so we can walk in the light of the other person's shadow. I do like to dish out bitter medicine but it is never personal, trust me. All the best!
 
ahoustondj said:
When you take two outputs and try to make one it causes a short circuit and can cause much damage to a speaker, amp or both!
Click to expand...

To go directly from MP3 player into a powered speaker, Would a mono plug tip be better? Or record the music on the MP3 player in mono?

.........Or is is that stereo tip plug/jack the troublemaker?

This is an interesting topic that I'll bet a lot of DJs don't think about.
 
Bill Kexel said:
To go directly from MP3 player into a powered speaker, Would a mono plug tip be better? Or record the music on the MP3 player in mono?

.........Or is is that stereo tip plug/jack the troublemaker?

This is an interesting topic that I'll bet a lot of DJs don't think about.
Click to expand...

To go into a mono input (Back of the speaker), you would first have to get a mono output. J ust using one side of a stereo output (MP3 Player) does not give you mono. It actually give you whatever is on that particular channel you pick to use. You may have to buy one of those little line mixers that has a Mono output.
 
ahoustondj said:
To go into a mono input (Back of the speaker), you would first have to get a mono output. J ust using one side of a stereo output (MP3 Player) does not give you mono. It actually give you whatever is on that particular channel you pick to use. You may have to buy one of those little line mixers that has a Mono output.
Click to expand...

What if all the songs are in mono and I used a mono patch cord, Wouldn't that work?

I have noticed that songs that are in mono seem to sound fine.
It's the stereo ones that cause the distortion.

Thanks again.
 
Bill Kexel said:
What if all the songs are in mono and I used a mono patch cord, Wouldn't that work?

I have noticed that songs that are in mono seem to sound fine.
It's the stereo ones that cause the distortion.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

There is nothing better than stereophonic ambiance with the right equipment. if you are getting paid a professional fee for the ceremony and the reception, having two speakers for cocktails should not be an issue. You did say it was in a remote location fom the reception area.
 
ahoustondj said:
There is nothing better than stereophonic ambiance with the right equipment. if you are getting paid a professional fee for the ceremony and the reception, having two speakers for cocktails should not be an issue. You did say it was in a remote location fom the reception area.
Click to expand...

In most cases, 1 speaker is more than enough for cocktails on a patio or foyer.

From what I have tried, the songs I have recorded in mono sound perfectly fine going from an MP3 player into a powered speaker.

When doing a ceremony or reception, I use my mixing board. (rack system)
 
ahoustondj said:
Yeah! Right! :yoBiggrin: This my friend is a VERY COMMON mistake LOTS of DJs make. I have seen it in person and I have heard about members on ODJT doing it incorrectly or believing what they are doing is actually the right thing. I am on my way to my Friday evening gig now but there are topics/posts/threads here that address this problem. I'll search for them later if you still need answers. Have a good evening!
Click to expand...

I have talked to several DJs this past week and they all use 1/8 stereo output from a device into a mono plug into a powered speaker.
One DJ asked me why is it a problem? (I didn't know what to tell him)
Please explain why it's not.

Note: I'm not doubting you, I'd just like to learn more.
It's interesting to hear various DJs take on this subject (learn something new everyday)
 
I belive the reason is that going from 1/8 stereo to 1/4 mono, you are summing the signal. During summing, some of the signal flows downstream to the speaker and part of the output moves backwards into the output of your mp3 player. That's why you're getting the distortion.

I would use the following if you want to utilize the mic input;

http://www.rapcohorizon.com/p-377-ltiblox.aspx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back