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Thursday, March 14, 2013
Balanced and Unbalanced Cables Defined Balanced electrical signals travel along 3 wires: a positive, a negative, and a ground. The positive and negative carry the same signal, just in opposite polarity to one another. Noises that may be picked up in the cable will usually be common to each leg. As long as the destination is balanced, the receiving device will flip the signal, bringing them back into polarity. This eliminates the noise by causing it to be out of phase. This is commonly referred to as Common Mode Rejection and is the primary reason balanced cables are best for long cable runs. TRS and XLR cables are made to send balanced audio from one balanced device to another balanced device. Unbalanced cables are much simpler than balanced. However, they can easily fall victim to noise issues. Unbalanced lines should be used in shorter lengths, ideally 25 foot and under. This will go a long way in reducing any noise that could be carried with the signal into your gear. Instruments, like guitars. and their users vow they can tell a difference in the tone the longer the cable gets.
Cable Connectors There are six primary cable connector types in the world of Pro Audio. XLR and TRS for balanced connections; Speakon, TS, RCA, and Banana Plugs for unbalanced connections. Here is a brief overview of each: An XLR connector has positive, negative, and ground connections. They are primarily used for balanced line-level signals and for microphone signals. These are commonly used for connecting mics to mixers and for hooking up various outputs to powered speakers.
TRS is also referred to as Tip, Ring, Sleeve. It has the same appearance as your standard 1/4″ and 1/8″ plugs. The difference is that it has an extra ring on the plug. TRS cables are two conductor plus a ground. Commonly used to connect balanced equipment and for running left and right mono signals to stereo headphones. These will also be located on Y cables for use in mixer insert jacks when the signal is sent out in one wire and comes back thru another wire.
Speakon connectors are used to carry amplified signals. They are most commonly used to connect power amplifiers to PA speakers, Monitors, and Subwoofers in studio or on stage. They have a unique locking feature that tend to make them a more attractive option than the 1/4″ TS connection. It should be noted that is recommended to never use an instrument cable to connect an amplifier to a speaker.
TS is also referred to as Tip, Sleeve. It is the universal name for specific type of 1/8″ or 1/4″ connector meant for a two conductor unbalanced operation. Only one insulator ring separates the tip and the sleeve. The tip carries the signal and the sleeve is where the ground is connected. These cables are best used as guitar or line level instrument cables.
Banana plugs are an electrical conductor made to connect audio wires (speaker wires) to the binding posts on the back of power amplifiers, speakers, or simply to a banana jack. These banana jacks are most often found at the end of a binding post receptacle on power amplifiers and some speakers.
RCA is the term most commonly used when referring to phono connectors used to connect consumer stereo gear. You will usually see CD outputs or inputs using these RCA connections. RCA connectors are also used in the digital audio world for connections such as S/PDIF, but are still a staple in the pro audio world.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Our PWS series PA Speakers are an ideal way to plug and play music from your iPod or other MP3 device. This is a great way to share your favorite playlists with your friends at a party, bar-b-que, or any other gathering of people! There are a few different ways to connect these devices to one another. They are as follows: Option 1 – This one is the best solution in our opinion. You should have access to or purchase a mixer with Left and Right, XLR out connections. These can usually be found for a very reasonable price. Hook the iPod or MP3 to the CD in connections via a 1/8″ to RCA stereo cable. Then, wiring the PWS speakers, one to the left output and the other to the right using standard mic cables. This configuration should provide the best possible sound. This is due to the fact the mixer takes into consideration all of the pertinent technical aspects of such an arrangement, to provide a good sound with a mix of audio classed products. Option 2 – The second solution would be to connect the iPod or MP3 output with a 1/8″ to 1/4″ TS cable. Next, connect the 1/4″ TS cable to each of your PWS speakers. Option 3 – If you have only a single PWS speaker, the connection is very simple. You can simply connect the iPod or MP3 output with a 1/8″ cable to the 1/8″ input on the PWS speaker! Viola! Instantly, your favorite tracks are playing out of the speaker! *NOTE* As always, if you have any questions concerning the setup of your audio equipment, the Seismic Audio Tech Department will be glad to assist you. Give us a call at 901-363-6030.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
“What amp do I need to power these speakers?” This is another frequently asked question we receive when customers are buying PA speakers. It can be a complicated answer. The amp must have the correct amount of power and the correct features for your PA system. Here is a guide that may help in your endeavor to find the correct power amp. As a general rule, you should select a power amp that has a power output of 1.5 RMS that of the speaker’s RMS rating. For example, if you have an 8 ohm speaker with an RMS rating of 400 watts, then you would need an amplifier that can produce 600 watts RMS into an 8 ohm load. In the event you have a stereo pair of speakers, you would need an amp that is can produce 600 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms. Seismic Audio PA Speakers are high quality and can take brief peaks greater than its power rating if the amps can transfer those temporary peaks without distortion. Therefore, we recommend taking advantage of an amp with extra headroom (1.5 X the power rating). This will guarantee that only undistorted power reaches your speakers. Some amps are made to accommodate additional headroom. These particular amps cleanly reproduce those brief outputs that exceed the power rating. If you decide to go with one of these amps, just be sure that it has an output rating, at least 1.5 x the RMS rating of the speaker. Choosing an amp with the correct power rating is essential to high quality sound. You should never run an amp when the power rating is less than the RMS of a speaker as this could cause the amp to start clipping. The speakers in a sound systems can be damaged by running an amp without the proper power rating. It will usually result in constant distortion and can even blow your speakers. We realize that all of this information can be overwhelming. If you have any questions or concerns, you should always call the Seismic Audio Technical Department at 901-363-6030 x1. We will gladly assist you in your decision of which power amp best fits your needs.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Can and how do I daisy chain these speakers together? It is a question we get more times than you would think! Here is a quick guide for connecting PASSIVE speakers together. Most Seismic Audio Speaker Cabinets have two jacks on them. One jack is used for connecting the speaker to the amplifier and the other can be used to connect a second speaker off of the first. This process is commonly referred to as “daisy-chaining”. Simply taking one cable and connecting your passive speaker(SA-15T) to the amp, then taking another cable to power your second passive speaker(SA-15T). When you daisy chain speakers, this is what happens: If you connect two 8 ohm cabinets together, it cuts the ohm load in half. Therefore, two 8 ohm cabinets hooked together will give you a 4 ohm load. If you connect four 8 ohm cabinets together, it will result in a total of a 2 ohm load. Please NOTE that it is not recommended to daisy chain two cabinets with different ohm loads. EXAMPLE: Do not connect a 4 ohm cabinet with an 8 ohm cabinet. It will result in an uneven power distribution between the two cabinets. Be sure to check the minimum impedance rating of your amplifier before daisy chaining your speakers. Dropping below the recommended ohm load on your amplifier can result in a lot of damage to the amp and or the speakers. This is a simple guide to daisy chaining your PASSIVE speakers. As always, if you have any questions concerning the correct configuration of your system, please call the Seismic Audio Techs and we will be happy to talk you through it!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Why is my PA Speaker not working? This is one of the most common questions fielded by our Technical guys during the day! Of course there are many possible reasons why, but one of the first avenues of investigation should be to check your speaker to see if you have blown it. We understand that calling in and speaking with someone in tech support can sometimes be a hassle. Therefore, we wanted to publish a quick step by step tutorial of how you can check it yourself and confirm or eliminate this as the problem. 1. These first thing you will need to do is to carefully remove the speaker from the cabinet and inspect the spider to verify that it is connected to the basket contiguously with no separation. (The spider is the suspension between the back of the cone and the basket, right above the magnet). 2. Next, you will need to place a finger and a thumb from each hand around the dust cover in the center of the cone on the front of the speaker. Press down lightly! Allow the voice coil to move down with the pressure, just a quarter of an inch or so, and then rebound with no pressure. This movement should be smooth without any noticeable interference between the moving parts. If you hear any noise other than air movement, then there is reason for concern. 3. The third and final test involves the use of a 9 volt battery. Obtain a 9 volt battery. The terminals on the 9 volt battery line up with the terminals on the back of the speaker. Touch the terminals on the battery to the terminals on the speaker. The speaker should move at least 1/8″ . If it does move without any ‘scrubbing’ noise, the speaker is good. If it does not move or does move accompanied by a ‘scrubbing’ noise, then you have a blown speaker. This is the most effective and quickest way to tell whether or not an audio event has caused your speaker to blow. Again, it is one of the most common questions we take in the Seismic Audio Speakers tech department. We thought maybe you all would find it useful in the event you were having issues with your PA speakers. As always, we welcome you to call us and we will do anything to help you and get you the sound you want. -SA
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Pair Dual 15″ Pro Audio PA / DJ Speaker Cabinets Titanium Horns “Great sound all the way from the low end up through the high frequencies. Great value as well, and I would have to agree that these are some the best speakers that you can buy, especially if you are looking for a great sound for your dollar.” – DJ Nate from Marshalltown, Iowa Pair of Dual 15″ PA Speakers and Two 18″ Subwoofer Cabinets “We use the system for prasie and worship team when we travel. I have had this package for about 6 months and have used it about 10 times in large venues. We haven’t had any problems with any thing. These speakers have great sound quaility and durability. I have used JBL, Peavey, and Fender products for the past 25 years and these are as good or better than the high dollar stuff.” – Eddie from Garfield, Arkansas Enforcer II PW 18″ Powered Pro Audio Subwoofer Cabinet “They improved my sound 100%. The bass is is deep and smooth. My DJ buddies are all impressed, one even said he wished he knew about this company before he made the purchase of his subs. He would not have paid $1300.00 each for his. They are by far the best bang for the buck, and if I didn’t tell anyone the cost, no one would ever guess.” – DJ Tony T from Burlington, NJ Aftershock 18 – 18″ Powered Pro Audio Subwoofer Cabinet “I purchased 2 of these subs for our 400 seat sanctuary and they are great! They have a solid sound and give us the complete balance in sound that we were looking for in power subs. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a great sound without the high dollar cost.” – A Media Director in Olive Branch, MS 12 Space Rack Case with Casters “Nicely built rack. I have 4 amps, a crossover and a power conditioner mounted in mine. The wheels are a life saver on something this heavy. The price is a lot lower compared to the other higher priced racks, but the quality is the same.” – Brian from VA
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
In the midst of all the fun and excitement, let your voice be heard above the chattering crowd. Whether making announcements at a local event, singing acoustically or rocking out with your band at a summer festival, your voice will ring loud and clear with great sounding PA Speakers from Seismic Audio Speakers. Get your audio speakers from Seismic Audio Speakers and amp up your concerts. You will rock. We know you will!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
When you transport your audio speakers and equipment regularly, things are bound to get damaged, lost, or require replacement parts. Here at Seismic Audio you will find a great selection of audio speakers and equipment at prices you will love as well as rack cases affixed with wheels to help with mobility. You can expect affordability here at Seismic Audio. When your audio equipment gets exposed to the elements, suffers ware and tear or gets misplaced, knowing you didn’t spend an arm and a leg will be the very best part. Shop Seismic Audio for the very best deal on great quality Audio equipment and PA Speakers. We offer more than just speakers, we sell rack cases, subwoofers, amps, monitors, snake cables, patch cables, stands and so much more. Get quality for less at Seismic Audio Speakers. When you spend less, you can worry less while transporting your speakers and audio equipment.
Friday, July 08, 2011
We believe that great sounding audio equipment shouldn’t be limited to the amount of money in your wallet. Only at Seismic Audio will you find high level quality PA speakers at low cost affordable prices. We’ve cut costs by eliminating the middle man and keeping our prices below our brand name competitors. Now you can start the band you’ve always wanted or get into the DJ business without going broke. Shop our wide selection of speakers, floor monitors, amps, cables and stands. Affordable audio is sometimes necessary such as in places of worship or for schools, Seismic Audio is here to assure you that our great sounding audio equipment won’t ever be overpriced. Shop Seismic Audio Speakers today for audio equipment so affordable you’ll be in disbelief.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Get a band together this summer and play for less with help from Seismic Audio Speakers. We encourage any practicing or first time musicians to have the most fun they can with their musical abilities and start a live band. Here at Seismic Audio you’ll find everything you need, from PA speakers to microphones and stands. Get creative and perfect your art in a collaboration with other up and coming musicians. Joining a band for the summer is great way to have fun, practice your skills and learn to work with others. We have a wide selection of audio cables, snake cables, patch cables, monitors, amplifiers, you name it! With prices that can’t be beat anywhere else, you’ll be coming to Seismic Audio for everything audio. Shop Seismic Audio today and start the band you’ve always wanted to form. |