Dynaudio BM6A's - Which input do I use?!!

[jimbojimbo]

Hey there,

Recently bought some Dynaudio BM6A's - great monitors.
Although, I've one question...

Which input is ideal to use?
The +4dB or the -10dB?

It says that the former is for 'Pro' use - if I'm using balanced cables, does that mean 'Pro'?


I'm running them straight out of a Digidesign DIGI 002 Rack...thats 'Pro', right?

Thanks!!
James

[GTBannah]

I think the "Main" outputs are +4, while the "Monitor" outputs may be -10 (we both need to RTFM ). However, the Mains are better suited for going into a tape deck, where you have input control. Turn down the master fader on a session and plug into the 6As, then GRADUALLY fade the volume up. Balance that with the input control on the 6As and see how it goes.

I control the output volume for the Monitor outs for use with my speakers.

I hope that helps.

[bigdoghat]

The main outs and monitor outs are +4 and balanced. The alt rca main outs are -10 and unbalanced. A balanced cable has a ground, a cable carrying the main signal and a cable carrying an out of phase version of the main signal which helps with cancelling out noise/interference that may be picked up. An unbalanced cable has a ground and the main signal - no out of phase version and is therefore more susceptible to noise. Use the monitor outs with balanced cables for your speakers and if appropriate, the main outs for an external recording device like for example a CD recorder. Check if the external device is +4 or -10 and connect the appropriate output.

[jimbojimbo]

Cheers,

I did that, and works fine.
Although, the level is very high - this come just be that the speakers are particularly loud, of course, but I'm currently monitoring with the 'Monitor Level' knob on around 10 o'clock - which seems very quiet.

I'd imagine the optimum level would be around 2 o'clock, but that would be a completely overwhelming level, it seems?

Just to clarify - Monitor Outs @ +4dB, into Speakers switched to +4dB

[bigdoghat]

That's correct. You should have a level trim on the back of the speakers which you can dial down to give you more room for movement with the monitor dial.

[lwilliam]

Yes, use +4 and balanced cables - much quieter in almost any situation.

As bigdog said, trim the monitors back. Think of 0 db on the VU meter as full volume on the monitors - you really don't want 105db or whatever. You'll want 0db on the VU outputs to be louder than you USUALLY listen, but certainly not full volume. There's nothing wrong with running your output level at 10 or 11 o'clock. You don't have to carefully gain stage your monitors....

[jimbojimbo]

ok, I'll see how it goes then.

Although, for some reason they don't actually have gain trims. They have ones which trim the HF's and LF's, but not actual gain.

I'll have a fiddle and see what works best.

At least the main output problem is sorted!

Thanks a lot guys, really helped!!

[bigdoghat]

Hey jimbo, no worries that you have no level trim - as lwilliam said there's no problem with your monitor dial being where it is. HF and LF trim will change the sound of your speakers so don't fiddle with them unless you want to change how you're hearing your mixes!! These are on the speakers to compensate for room anomalies, like an excess of bass or an excess of high frequencies - sorry if you know all this already, I just want to make sure that I haven't sent you down the wrong road talking about trimming levels on the speakers. Cheers