[wyzest1]

I run Alesis M1 mk2 actives off a mbox2 mini and also do a fair whack of my monitoring through a set of Grado Headphones.

Now, ideally I know that I should maintain the hottest signal until the last possible point before altering the volume.

I use the mbox for volume control and have, up until now, had the monitors at full bore as at that point they perfectly match the volume of my headphones to such a point that it is very hard to notice a volume change when you put the headphones on or even when you hit the monitor mute while using the phones.

Recently I have been thinking that, maybe the monitors were designed to be most accurate at a certain point - the manual states that they are designed to output ~85db at approximately 1 o'clock with a 4dbU signal, but in relation to accuracy, the manual seems to only talk about signal strength as per above.

So, even though I don't always use them at 85db - infact generally they are used quite a bit under that level, should I just leave them at full bore so that when I put on my headphones I don't blast my ears out or am I causing my beloved speakers harm and reducing their possible performance level through keeping them at this level?

BTW, for those that are not familiar, the monitors volume knob is similar to mixing desk knob with a unity notch halfway between minimum and maximum at the 12' position.

[Spectrum]

When you're at your 'normal' listening level, how far is the mbox2 mini turned up?

Given that you're not aiming for the LOUDEST output, I'd be setting the gain on the monitors to my comfortable level while playing a typical sound source though it and with the mbox2 mini's volume pot set to around 1/2 way.

That allows for some headroom in the mbox2 mini's pre-amps to turn up the sound up louder whenever required, while still providing some decent travel in the knob when turning it down to lower volumes.

I'd not be getting too concerned about the numbers and stuff and instead be thinking practically.

For example, I run a Digi002 Rack -> Mackie Mixer -> Mackie HR824, and calibrate the mixer's inputs so that the music sits at around 0dB on the mixer's meters. Like you, I have a monitor control with the indent halfway, and that's what I use when I want to set it to my 'normal' listening level.

Now if I were to read the back of the monitors: maximum on the input gain knob is labeled "normal" (presumably for a +4dB professional output) while 50% is labelled at -10dB (for domestic gear).

What do I set it to?

Around 25%, if even that high.

Having your monitors set to max only lifts their self noise (hiss) and won't do any damage (as long as the signal feeding them isn't too hot, and you'll know when it is 'cause it's TOO LOUD/DISTORTED). Also consider that your headphones might be particularly sensitive, and a different set of 'phones might yield a different comparison.

[wyzest1]

I realised I can solve the problem of the headphones quite easily using a little dampener that I got with a set of earphones. - only realised it last night after I wrote the message and thought about it for a while. So now I'm happy, I can set the monitors to the volume I want. The headphones now have a similar level to that of the monitors at 1'. Perfect solution? I think so.

Thanks for the help and info re- noise floor etc.

[Spectrum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyzest1

I realised I can solve the problem of the headphones quite easily using a little dampener that I got with a set of earphones.

Something like this?



Just be wary of the quality, especially over time.

I've got a couple of sets of cheap Sony headphones with something similar in-line, and they're just nasty. Unbalances the left/right mix at lowest levels, plenty of scratchy noise due to dust in volume wheel when making adjustments, and I don't trust it for adding distortion.

Unless it's of reputable quality, I'd skip it.

How often do you find you're swapping between headphones + loudspeakers?

What I do is kill the power to the speakers when I pop on the 'phones.

[wyzest1]

Yeah it's like that, it's ultimate ears branded and came with a $300 set of earphones so I'm pretty comforable with the quality. I generally do kill the monitors when mixing in headphones to quell any phase buggies, it's more just a matter of the number of times I have walked out with the volume up using monitors and deafened myself with some system sound alert upon return with the phones on.

[wyzest1]

Oh. And it has a fixed cut. There is no volume slider.