S4MK3 nominal output levels

mario_vk

Hi!.

I tried to find any info regarding the S4MK3 nominal output levels but I couldn't.

I guess that the balanced XLR and TRS outputs are +4dBU and the unbalanced RCAs are -10dBV??. Could anyone confirm these?.

Thanks!.

Martiniix_NI

Hey!

Actually yes sorry! I forgot to upload it.

I ask the team, and this was their answer.

Usually our output levels are set rather a bit higher instead of too low. +12 dBu unbalanced and +18 dBu balanced.

Uwe303

Hello,

i can´t find those specs too, i would also guess the same values + hopefully some headroom. But i will mark @Kaiwan_NI and maybe she can find out the definitive values.

Martiniix_NI

Hello!

Will ask more info about this and get back to you next week.

mario_vk

Hi!.

Any news about this?.

Thanks :)

Martiniix_NI

Hey!

Actually yes sorry! I forgot to upload it.

I ask the team, and this was their answer.

Usually our output levels are set rather a bit higher instead of too low. +12 dBu unbalanced and +18 dBu balanced.

mario_vk

Hi!.

Thanks a lot for your answer. However I think those values are a little bit weird.

I mean: I could understand a +18dBu (balanced) as maximal signal output. Ok, that may be ok.

However +12dBu as maximal signal output in unbalanced ¿?¿?. That sounds really weird.

For unbalanced we usually speak about dBV (not dBu) and also with negative values.

Uwe303

no this is correct, if you use one phase you have 12dBu (9.8dBV/8,7V p-p) and both phases together have double the voltage so + 6dBu makes 18dBu (15,8 dBV/17,4V p-p)

mario_vk

Do you mean that the RCA outputs can managed up to +12dBu (+9.78dBV) ?¿?¿ 😮

Sorry but I don't think so.

Uwe303

yes the outputs maybe, not normal rca inputs - but you can lower the level of course about -20 dBu that´s around the -10 dBV you refer to, lower the output level of traktor. Or you could use a monitor controller, a DI box with pad or build yourself a voltage divider. But you are right for an rca output it´s a bit high.

Uwe303

maybe that´s the values for the balanced output if you use them as unbalanced outputs, then the numbers make sense, so RCA might be lower but that´s just a guess.