Samson S Zone line level wiring

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BJ James

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Jan 11, 2011
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Maybe someone here can help me out. I'm spec'ing out an install where we will use a Samson S zone mixer. It has euroblock inputs labelled "Line" and "Mic". The "Line" ins are for consumer grade (-10dbv) gear and the connections are labelled Left/Right/Ground. The Mic level ins are labelled +/-/ground. There is a level control for each of the Mic level ins, so I'm hoping that the sub mixers connected to each of the Mic ins aren't going to be too hot.
If I were to need to use the "Line" ins to connect an actual line level device what steps would I need to take. Fist I would assume I need to pad the signal down, and then I would need to get it to a unbalanced configuration. The terms they use in the manual are misleading. "Line in" should mean "balanced line level in".
BJ
 
Re: Samson S Zone line level wiring

Line/Mic has nothing to do with balanced/unbalanced, and either can be one or the other..
from the looks of it, you have mic level balanced inputs, and line level unbalanced stereo inputs. if you're running line level signals into the mic inputs then yes it will be too hot.
if you use the line level ins you could just use unbalanced wiring if the devices are close together, or you can add a transformer to balance the input.

Jason
 
Re: Samson S Zone line level wiring

BJ James said:
Maybe someone here can help me out. I'm spec'ing out an install where we will use a Samson S zone mixer. It has euroblock inputs labelled "Line" and "Mic". The "Line" ins are for consumer grade (-10dbv) gear and the connections are labelled Left/Right/Ground. The Mic level ins are labelled +/-/ground. There is a level control for each of the Mic level ins, so I'm hoping that the sub mixers connected to each of the Mic ins aren't going to be too hot.
If I were to need to use the "Line" ins to connect an actual line level device what steps would I need to take. Fist I would assume I need to pad the signal down, and then I would need to get it to a unbalanced configuration. The terms they use in the manual are misleading. "Line in" should mean "balanced line level in".
BJ
Click to expand...

BJ.

The line ins are line ins, but they are unbalanced line ins for prosumer grade gear. Nothing wrong with that. Many big pro live mixers have a couple of RCA jacks, too. Same thing. Those inputs on the S Zone are meant for local line inputs like CD-players or computers for mall music, etc.

If you have to connect a line level source that is situated far away so you need the balanced connection, you might work out a mono solution using a cheap passive DI at the sending device. You could also build a simple pad to bring the level down to mic level. But it would have to be a mono signal as the mic ins are not stereo. If the sending device is in the same rack, just connect the "cold" to the ground on the euroblock and run it stereo line in. I very much doubt that the mic ins will handle a line signal without any padding.

The Samson S Zone is a handy device, with a handy zoning routing layout, but it's a "cheapo product" - and it runs too warm for my comfort. At least one of the ones we have installed has died of a overheated PSU. Also, the 15v phantom power is unsufficient for powering some lectern mics with a high current draw.

If you want a "proper" rack mixer with balanced in/outs, interconnectivity for multiple units, proper EQ, etc - my suggestion is the Allen & Heath GR 2: http://www.allen-heath.com/uk/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=GRSeries&ProductId=GR2

Best regards,

Kristian Johnsen
 
Re: Samson S Zone line level wiring

Thanks guys,
This was a quick "emergency" job for a local ice rink. They had one 300w TOA amp running a pile of speakers for the stands, a sub, speakers in a warm zone, and lobby speakers. And all controlled with a Kenwood stereo receiver. I can't believe it EVER worked -let alone worked to their satisfaction for the past several years until recently. Yay for the now out of business stereo shop that did all the local installs.
I ended up repurposing the existing amp to just the warm zone and lobby, and installed a bunch of new speakers in the rink and a couple amps. The majority of my time was spent tracing all the existing wiring runs- ya, why would you ever bother to label anything? I wish I had taken a "before" picture of the rack. What a frickin' rats nest.
 
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