Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to.

Posted by grhughes on April 15, 2004 at 09:30:18

In Reply to: Mixer instead of Preamp/Processor for Home Theatre? posted by banzu-i on April 15, 2004 at 04:24:15:

If you want to improve an audio signal, you want to simplify the signal path not complicate it, especially an analog signal. Mixers use what is known as an active summer amp to mix the signals unless it's pre-1968 in which mixing was passive. Active summing amps employ opamps operating with the + input grounded and 100% feedback or almost around it. This is one of the worst case scenarious for amplifier operation. A standard hi-fi preamp is a much better choice than a mixer of any description. Standard hi-fi stereo preamps have no active summing amps in them. Some of the better mastering engineers avoid mixing like the black death. The more you simplify the signal path the more pristine it becomes. The fewer things you run it though the better unless there is something wrong with the signal that has to be "FIXED". Audio engineers get carried away with the FIXING. The more plugs, pots, switches, op amps, equalizers, reverberators, de-essers, limiters. compressors the analog signal has to run though the worse the signal becomes. GR

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Mixer instead of Preamp/Processor for Home Theatre? - banzu-i 04:24:15 04/15/04 (12)

Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to. - grhughes 09:30:18 04/15/04 (8)

Re: Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to. - banzu-i 15:40:00 04/15/04 (7)

Re: Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to. - grhughes 18:58:21 04/15/04 (6)

I disagree - oldroadie 16:48:30 04/17/04 (5)

Re: I disagree - Triodethom 21:14:03 04/19/04 (3)

Re: I disagree - oldroadie 07:11:21 04/20/04 (2)

Re: I disagree - triodethom 20:11:48 04/20/04 (1)

yup - oldroadie 04:29:41 04/21/04 (0)

Disagree all you want..... - grhughes 08:47:11 04/18/04 (0)

The mixer has no decoding ability. - Bill Fitzmaurice 05:49:07 04/15/04 (2)

Re: The mixer has no decoding ability. - banzu-i 15:35:29 04/15/04 (1)

Try it. - Bill Fitzmaurice 20:15:30 04/15/04 (0)

Follow Ups

Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to. - grhughes 09:30:18 04/15/04 (8)

Re: Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to. - banzu-i 15:40:00 04/15/04 (7)

Re: Mixers are the worst thing you can subject an audio signal to. - grhughes 18:58:21 04/15/04 (6)

I disagree - oldroadie 16:48:30 04/17/04 (5)

Re: I disagree - Triodethom 21:14:03 04/19/04 (3)

Re: I disagree - oldroadie 07:11:21 04/20/04 (2)

Re: I disagree - triodethom 20:11:48 04/20/04 (1)

yup - oldroadie 04:29:41 04/21/04 (0)

Disagree all you want..... - grhughes 08:47:11 04/18/04 (0)

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