I have a Peavey 400 SC - 6 channel power mixer with two power amp outputs: one for MAIN and one for MONITOR. Each supplies two 1/4” jacks to go to speakers. According to the manual, if I have 8 ohm impedance monitors the max I can use would be two, resulting in a net of 4 ohms. I really need 4 monitor speakers on stage. Is there a way I can expand and still use the power mixer?
But you’ll need a plastic box, not metal. Any jack rugged enough to handle the duty will be metal, so one side is “ground”. When connecting in series that could be a problem. You could make the breakout box all speakon, and use TS to speakon cables for everything.
Or use two passive and two powered monitors.
Or use two passive and two powered monitors.
What would the series-parallel circuitry be? You have a schematic? I would assume the components will need to be rated to withstand the wattage output as well?
The 2 passive and 2 powered may be a better solution but I would still need to split the outputs to account for them. Anything tricky about doing that or can I just parallel the signal?
The 2 passive and 2 powered may be a better solution but I would still need to split the outputs to account for them. Anything tricky about doing that or can I just parallel the signal?
You're already well past the usefullness of a powered mixer, I guarantee the first reqest you get once there are 4 monitors on stage is each musician will ask for more "me" in the mix, but everybody can't be louder than everybody else with only 1 monitor mix available.
So... if you're buying more monitors make them powered, and when funds allow make the leap to a digital mixer.
In the meantime if your current mixer has a line output for monitors(usually a 1/4" jack on the front panel) the powered boxes connect there while the passive boxes connect at the back same as usual.
This powered mixer does have one line output at the front for a monitor. I’ll need to make sure I can daisy chain the two powered monitors from this one output.
Good point and thanks Conanski!
Good point and thanks Conanski!
Almost every powered speaker has a link/output jack (usually XLR sometimes XLR/TRS combo), so just be sure to get boxes with this feature, I have daisy chained 8 powered boxes together like this at times.