003 Factory with JBL LSR4328P Monitors

gclef101 · 07-11-2009, 05:31 PM

I have an 003 factory and I want to know what is a better sound quality connection to my JBL LSR4328P. Should I use SPDIF or XLR (analog) connections? Thanks!!!

zappsunzorn · 07-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Assuming the processing in the JBL is digital you should use the SPDIF connection. The fewer A/D D/A conversions the better.

plush2 · 07-11-2009, 05:54 PM

I've used both. They do sound slightly different but I eventually switched to spdif (after a year and a half) because I think the level matching and imaging is slightly better between the speakers.

dub3000 · 07-11-2009, 05:59 PM

always go digital to digital if you can, it's one less DA/AD conversion (which is a big deal).

gclef101 · 07-12-2009, 01:01 PM

Big thanks

virgo47 · 07-12-2009, 01:12 PM

Even if speakers have S/PDIF, there must be some kind of DAC for the one more time anyway, or not? :-) Isn't it possible that better DAC before cables to monitors can bring better result than worse DAC in speakers? Just curious - obviously there is no reason to think there is worse DAC anywhere.

If everything else is comparable quality-wise then the best part is that you go digital longer way. I just moved around my (cough) studio with my cheap wannabe-Strat and it was incredible what the guitar produced on single coil setup (I'll record it once!). In such an environment, the further digital, the better I guess.

battla · 07-12-2009, 05:05 PM

the problem with the spdif is that you're passing on the da conversion in your 003 in favor of the likely inferior da conversion onboard the jbls. the problem with using xlrs is you then introduce an additional stage of conversion post 003 just for the room correction and any other onboard eq the jbls are doing. i'd use the xlrs to get your best available final stage da conversion and stop using the onboard room correction processing altogether. it's bad praxis anyway. but if you've found you actually prefer the conversion the monitors are doing to that of the 003 as it sounds like you might have then there's nothing wrong with using it. beyond the absolute cheapest chips conversion started becoming largely a matter of taste three or four years ago to my ear.

dub3000 · 07-12-2009, 05:14 PM

ah, forgot about that. good points raised there, ignore my post.