barrier strips?

[kojdogg]

anybody actually use these on gear? my dbx 160x's have these on the back and i'm wondering if there is any advantages to using them (do they allow for balanced signal connections?) i've seen adapters on markertek:
http://www.markertek.com/Product.asp...&search=0&off=
can i just connect an xlr to that and screw the adapter onto the back of the 160x?
tia for any help.

[SonicAlbert]

That's a clever little adapter, I'd not seen that before.

I don't mind barrier strips at all, but I make my own cables. You build one end as usual and on the other you put the little "y" connectors (is that what they are called?). Then you just screw the appropriate wire to where it should go on the barrier strip.

[kojdogg]

thanks for the info! do you know of any advantage to using them as opposed to just running an xlr into an unbalanced input?
cheers,
koj

[mrT]

Originally Posted by SonicAlbert

You build one end as usual and on the other you put the little "y" connectors (is that what they are called?).

I think it's a spade... could be wrong. That's what I'd call it at least.

[SonicAlbert]

Right, a spade. Thanks!

When I had my 160X's I just used the 1/4" connector. Sounded fine to me.

I think at that time, probably around the late 70's, the barrier strip was actually included for compatibility purposes, since that was a standard connector back then.

The only time I use barrier strips is when I don't have another option. If the gear has both barrier strips and 1/4" or XLR I'll use whatever connector is most convenient, which is usually going to be 1/4".

[xstatic]

The only real problem with barrier strips that I know of is the inconvenience. Barrier strip does not denote balanced though. They may be either balanced or unbalanced. They are handy for trouble shooting though. It makes it easy to see if there is a problem at a given location.