DS800 Page 4
Introduction
As the need for multiple feeds has evolved, with the increase in simultaneous
broadcast and recording of live concerts, so too have the performance expectations
of both engineers and customers alike. The considerable signal quality 'cost',
associated with traditional passive-splitter systems, due to multiple loads and long
cable runs, is now widely recognised. Microphones often encounter very difficult
and unpredictable loads, with impedances well below their design specifications.
The result of all these parallel connections is an obvious degeneration in sound
quality, and a lack of level. Although active-splitters should, and often do, solve
these problems, they usually introduce more of their own. With insufficient
headroom to handle line level signals or keyboards and poor noise performance,
most devices simply do not provide the ideal solution. Often grounding problems
are also encountered. The DS800 Mic / Line Distribution System has been carefully
engineered to overcome the limitations and problems of conventional splitters and
provides a new level of performance and reliability.
The XTA DS800 Mic / Line Distribution System is a high quality active distribution /
splitter unit containing eight channels of processing in 2U of rack space. Each
channel features one actively balanced input and a total of four outputs, two of
which are individually actively balanced and normally connected to Front Of House
and Stage Monitor consoles. The two remaining outputs are transformer isolated
and located on the front panel of the unit. These are typically used as broadcasting
or recording feeds. A maximum of 50dB gain is available via the five position Gain
switch. This allows sufficient gain to be applied to low level signals, such as
dynamic microphones, to avoid the poor noise performance often associated with
active mic splitters. Phantom power (48VDC) is provided, and is switchable to each
input by selecting 'Phantom Power' on the front panel. The DS800 is designed to
reduce system grounding problems; please refer to the 'System Grounding' section
further on in this manual for more information.
