Transparently "y split" Signal.

[TheGuitarist]

So just wondering what the best way to split a balanced signal into two as passively as possible.

So far i was thinking just a y-split cable, but that would create impedence problems. Not sure how badly that would affect sound.

My other thought was a 1:2 transformer... but that would colour the sound and i don't always want that.

Then i was thinking i could probably use some kind of ic to do it, but same thing again.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Matt Ward]

What signal, what source, what load(s)?

Matt

 

[shabtek]

try 10k ohms in series to each branch.

 

[TheGuitarist]

What signal, what source, what load(s)?

Matt

Split from a buss compressor. One split will go to to the converter, one will go to the speakers.

Basically its because the rig i'm designing has a maximum of 8 outputs and i'm checking the viability of 8 channel summing (and therein lies the problem. No extra 2 outputs to monitor the summed signal once back into pro tools, so a split off the master buss should do the trick. Not ideal, but a hell of a lot better than nothing.)
And yes i know i should get more converters etc etc etc etc, just humour me.

Speaker wise, well it'd be switching between ns-10s running an adcom amp, with and without a sub, and then probably focal twins or event opals. I could find out specific loads if you'd like.

try 10k ohms in series to each branch.

By branch do you mean positive and negative wires?

 

[Biasrocks]

How are you going to control the volume of the speakers?

Using the amps level control is one way, but definitely not the best way. With
no volume control between your compressor and amplifier you run the risk of
running a full level signal through the amp and causing damage to your speakers.

Get a small mixer and run your master bus into that and out to whatever you
want. If you need to split the signal before the mixer a simple mult should
be fine.

Mark

 

[lassoharp]

The simplest passive dividing network I know of is this one.  Note that it is constant impedance and the loads should be terminated with the correct resistor value to match the chosen source impedance.

Probably best to choose the Z value based on the buss compressor's output impedance.  The power amp input and interface may have  different impedance values so the terminating resistors may be of slightly different value if you wish to be precise.  It may not be critical to be 1% on everything so long as the overall Z is observed within range. 

 

[Samuel Groner]

So far I was thinking just a y-split cable, but that would create impedence problems.

This does not cause any impedance problems. Impedance matching is a concern for HF lines only. Simply use a Y-cable, that's fine unless you wan't more than just signal splitting (level control etc.).

Samuel

 

[TheGuitarist]

I'll be using (and am using in fact) Igor's passive volume control to control volume.

 

[strangeandbouncy]

Hi,


  in practice, I split signals all the time. With a parallel on my patchbay. I never have any problems. Most inputs (actually nearly all inputs) in the studio are 10k, and I never have any trouble. Even if you were paralleling into 2 x 600 Ohm loads, unless the source was particularly puny, you would only lose a tiny bit of bass( perhaps the bottom octave, and there is not really much going on sub 20Hz realistically) as I understand it, and only at extremely high levels(please step in, anyone who knows more than me!)

  just parallel and see what happens . . .


    ANdyP

 

[PRR]

> that would create impedence problems.

No. Line interfaces are MADE to be split.

Outputs can drive anything 1K and up.

Inputs are 10K or higher.

One ouput can drive ten inputs.

You need to get complicated when some outputs might get shorted and other outputs must get uninterrupted signal. But that's not your situation.

 

[Biasrocks]

One ouput can drive ten inputs.

Exactly,

My Benchmark DAC drives three inputs with ease.

A Bryston 4B for mains, Bryston 2B for headphones and
an Ampex ATR-100 for mixdown purposes.

All simple mults on the patchbay.

Mark

 

[j.frad]

OFF Topic:
Biasrocks, you use your 2b for headphones? how's that turning out? I have one here and never thought of that application... It sure will drive a bunch of headphones... Anyother benefits compared to standard heaphone amps?
Sorry for the OT...couldn't resist asking...

 

[okgb]

lots of headroom
fairly standard practice i think
for not running out of jam

 

[Biasrocks]

Sorry, missed this one.

Headphone amps are all about voltage swing, your basic headphone box with an opamp based output ain't gonna cut it.

The 2B is great for driving headphones. I've got it wired into a distro box that the headphones plug into.

Basically they're 10W 100ohm resistors padded across the L/R signal output before hitting the phones. Isolates
the load and drives the phones nicely. The 2B can drive 5-6 headphones to great volume, never blew any of them up.

As Greg mentioned, a standard studio practice for many years.

Mark

 

[j.frad]

Thanks for the info!
We've used an amcron dc300 and a resistor network to drive about 50 little in-ears for orchestra with good results. I was wondering how the 2B handled that.