14-01-2021, 04:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 14-01-2021, 04:20 PM by ppppenguin.)
In another thread I said I'd been given a pair of Alesis M1 Active Mk II speakers: https://www.alesis.com/products/view/m1active-mkii
I've been using them for a while and think I like them. They may not be the finest speakers on the planet but they seem to be doing a lot of things right and not too many wrong.
If I decide to keep them I'll need to solve two problems.
First is mounting. I think the best solution in our lounge will be wall mounts such as these: https://www.richersounds.com/btech-speak...-pair.html
Second is how to drive them. They need a professional line level input, though they have pots on the back to cover quite a wide range of levels. My Quad 33 pre-amp doesn't have enough output to drive them sensibly. Not susprised. I have a Quad 34 that belonged to Ruth's late partner. I'll see if this has a high output option but again I rather doubt it.
At the moment I'm running them from the 405 with 1K and 150R attenuators which works well. Does seem a bit daft to use a 405 to provide a bit of line level gain. Unless anyone has any better ideas I think the answer will be a box with a NE5532 in it. It's not a demanding role. How to power it? I may have an odd +/12V brick somewhere, or a small transformer with 7815/7915 regulators. Whole thing in a diecast box hidden away. I know I could use a single supply rail and coupling caps but my background in design for professional kit always makes me think of split rails. It might well end up DC coupled unless I can think of a good reason to do otherwise. Could even do a crude balanced output with another couple of opamps, effectively one NE5532 each for left and right.
As an aside, I sometimes wonder why the 'phools haven't latched(!) on to balanced audio and XLR connectors. Perhaps the problem is that they just work, even come hell, high water and pestilence. No magic.
PS: The Mackie CR4 speakers are now doing great service with my main PC.
I've been using them for a while and think I like them. They may not be the finest speakers on the planet but they seem to be doing a lot of things right and not too many wrong.
If I decide to keep them I'll need to solve two problems.
First is mounting. I think the best solution in our lounge will be wall mounts such as these: https://www.richersounds.com/btech-speak...-pair.html
Second is how to drive them. They need a professional line level input, though they have pots on the back to cover quite a wide range of levels. My Quad 33 pre-amp doesn't have enough output to drive them sensibly. Not susprised. I have a Quad 34 that belonged to Ruth's late partner. I'll see if this has a high output option but again I rather doubt it.
At the moment I'm running them from the 405 with 1K and 150R attenuators which works well. Does seem a bit daft to use a 405 to provide a bit of line level gain. Unless anyone has any better ideas I think the answer will be a box with a NE5532 in it. It's not a demanding role. How to power it? I may have an odd +/12V brick somewhere, or a small transformer with 7815/7915 regulators. Whole thing in a diecast box hidden away. I know I could use a single supply rail and coupling caps but my background in design for professional kit always makes me think of split rails. It might well end up DC coupled unless I can think of a good reason to do otherwise. Could even do a crude balanced output with another couple of opamps, effectively one NE5532 each for left and right.
As an aside, I sometimes wonder why the 'phools haven't latched(!) on to balanced audio and XLR connectors. Perhaps the problem is that they just work, even come hell, high water and pestilence. No magic.
PS: The Mackie CR4 speakers are now doing great service with my main PC.
www.borinsky.co.uk Jeffrey Borinsky www.becg.tv
