difference between -10 and +4

[stickytapenrust]

sorry for this elementary question but what's the difference between -10 and +4?

[celdry]

isn't it the difference between balanced and unbalanced cables?

[LurkerAtTheThreshold]

The difference is literally about 14 dB.
-10 is the level normally used for semi-pro and consumer gear. Connectors used are typically 1/4" and RCA unbalanced.
+4 is the level normally used in pro gear. Connectors used are typically XLR or TRS 1/4" balanced.
Mic ins are also usually balanced XLR but the level is of course much lower.
More in the range of -20 to -30.
The full unit of measurement should be stated as dBv, dBm or dBu.

If I made any errors please feel free to correct.

Hope this helps!

[where02190]

Not exactly. It's -10dbV and +4dbu, and the difference is about 11dbu if my memory serves me correct. Typically -10dbV is unbalanced, but not always, and vice versa, +4dbu is typically balanced, but again not always.

[Shawn Simpson]

It's a bit of a misconception that -10 = unbalanced and +4 = balanced. Neither has anything to do with the other. Balanced signal simply means that you are using 3 conductors (hi, lo, and ground) to carry your signal. Your signal is sent in its normal polarity on the hi conductor and exactly the same with opposite polarity down the lo side. On the receiving end, the polarity of the lo side is reversed putting in precisely the same phase as the hi side. This yields double the energy and any noise incurred in the cable (EMI, RFI, etc.) will be cancelled out since it will almost certainly be received on the hi and lo conductors of the cable and when the lo side is reversed, the noise is now being summed against itself 180 degrees out of phase, cancelling out. This is called common mode rejection. That's why balanced signal is used for long runs. If you try to run unbalanced signal (where only hi and ground are used) very far, you are likely to get a lot of noise.

That being said, you can have +4 unbalanced or balanced as well as -10 balanced or unbalanced. As said before though, you'll typically find +4dBV equipment will also have balanced i/o's while not that many -10dBU devices are balanced.

Here's a link to an article posted by DIAFXMX in a related thread: Jim Price Article

[wmcintyre]

sorry for this elementary question but what's the difference between -10 and +4?

ans=14



but the difference between -10dbV and +4dbu is 11.8db.

[where02190]

ans=14



but the difference between -10dbV and +4dbu is 11.8db.

Which makes the answer NOT 14, but 11.8db.