Active monitors, input sensitivity and upstream pro gear

The 18 to 24 dBu outputs of the pro DACs being evaluated recently got me to re-look at my own Genelecs and other active monitors input sensitivity.

My 8030s get to full output at -6dBu...but they have an input sensitivity adjustment capability of 80dB so technically there's no issue running something that hot into them. Though for my uses to minimize digital attenuation on the Soekris (4V RMS/ 14 dBu) I run them at about -64dB and that's generally loud enough for the small room they're in.

I took a look at ATC and (for example) the SCM50ASL has an adjustable range from 2.2dBu to 8.2dBu for full output, and they are known to be less sensitive monitors. With these of course you absolutely need to pad down the input significantly from 24 or 18 dBu to not blow the things up, let alone bring output down to manageable levels even in midfield.

My question is why do these sources run so hot? Is this for headroom for long runs and voltage drop, or is it headroom for the other intermediate gear like compressors, EQ and so on? Or something else?

 

Running hot lines makes them even less susceptible to noise. It's smart gain structuring.

 

What sort of equipment uses the full output though?

Seems like high output pro DACs would work well with something like a First Watt F4, which is a power buffer.

 

Because the noise level stays constant s/n ratio is improved?

 

why would you buy something good to run it through first watt lol?

 

Studio monitors can be run really loud, if your drummer wants to hear it like it was. As for outboard analog gear, hot signal gets you better snr.

Also, leave it to Psalm to bring some class-a burn, lol.

 

I don't disagree with the low SNR, but it seems like throwing away gain with a potentiometer or resistors and then re-amplifying would add noise. Something I thought studios would want to avoid.

 

Correction: the drummer is half deaf, he turns it up just so he can hear it at all.

The gain happens either way (not counting the less-common instance of variable gain in the amp). Better to start with too much signal and trim down, rather than not enough.

 

hello,

"We were going on a gig, when the singer locked their keys in the car. It took us three hours to get the drummer out."