Plugging in multiple inputs to speakers

[Ty Ford]

Hello Patrick and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum,

No.

https://www.adam-audio.de/studio/nearfield/a5_data.htm

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Patrick Simpson]

Thanks for the response but perhaps I don’t understand. Will it hurt the speaker or will it just not work? I didn’t see anything on the A5 technical data page that seemed to say.

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
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[Patrick Simpson]

Will it hurt my speakers to try?

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Ty Ford]

With all due respect, Sam, doing this will directly connect the outputs of the Pro Tools hardware with the outputs of the computer’s audio out. Those outs are not designed to be connected.

As for the manual not saying anything about NOT doing it, it probably also doesn’t say anything about not licking the power outlet.

I wouldn’t do it. But hey, go ahead, smoke test ’em. If you smoke either or both, my guess is the mfgrs will say you voided the warranty by doing something with the gear that was never intended to be done. I’d agree.

Regards,

Ty Ford

PS. Did I mention DON’T DO IT?

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[Sam Mallery]

I just read through the product description and I didn’t see anything that stated that this would not work. I would give it a try. You won’t be damaging the speakers.

If it doesn’t work, there are products made for controlling the sound sent to monitors.

Cheap:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/422072-REG/Behringer_MON800_MON800_Stereo_Matrix.html

Better:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/526345-REG/PreSonus_MONITOR_STATION_Monitor_Station_Desktop_Studio.html

[Patrick Simpson]

Thanks guys for the input.

I’m really not looking to smoke my two new monitors – that’s why I’m asking around before trying anything.

I e-mailed Adam (twice) and haven’t heard anything back. So I won’t be trying anything until I get some more definitive info.

I’ve thought of buying an inexpensive monitor controller, but I don’t like the idea of putting lower-quality circuitry between the signal and my ears. And it’s not crucial enough to spring for a more expensive unit.

Thanks again.

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Sam Mallery]

I’m curious what Adam suggests.

I see what you’re saying, Ty. I’m not an electrician. I guess there is some danger in connecting cables from device to device to device. The fact that these are modern day nearfield monitors with RCA inputs on them would lead me to believe that the designers likely foresaw that the user may plug multiple things into them, and therefore have some kind of functionality in place to handle this scenario.

Patrick, are you aware that you can use your Digi interface as your computer’s default soundcard? Click on the Apple and go into System Preferences > Audio > and then select the Digi hardware as the output. This way you can listen to iTunes through your monitors as well as your DAW.

[Ty Ford]

“The fact that these are modern day nearfield monitors with RCA inputs on them would lead me to believe that the designers likely foresaw that the user may plug multiple things into them, and therefore have some kind of functionality in place to handle this scenario. ”

I totally disagree with that. The added functionality serves the market in which the mfgr doesn’t know which of two commonly used outputs might be available to feed the monitors.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Patrick Simpson]

Maybe I’ll try running system audio through the digi hardware.

While we’re at it… will I get better sounding audio going from my digi hardware (1/4″ outputs) into the XLR inputs rather than the RCA inputs?

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
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[Ty Ford]

Patrick,

1/4″ should be better if you use TRS 1/4″ to XLR cables. If you only use TS 1/4″ to XLR cables, the level will be 6 dB lower and because the signal is unbalanced, you might get some buzz.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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