Using old stereo and speakers monitors?

[nickeym1]

Hi guys i am just starting out and i have a focusrite pro 24 dsp i am now listening to my vocals and guitar through headphones but i got an old stereo and speakers and am just wondering would there be any way i could connect these up to my pro 24 and use them as monitors for now any help much appreciated

 

[nickeym1]

anyone any takers at all

 

[Wish]

Can't you just run a stereo pair from the focusrite line outs to the tape or other unused input on the stereo? You may need to buy a cable with the correct connectors on each end or some adapters depending on the input/output connections.

 

[nickeym1]

well its an really old stereo there is one white one red connections in the back i dont know what these are called rc or somethin and there very different to the 1/4 inch in the back of the pro 24 so im not sure exactly what i need do i actually need the stereo or could i just use the speakers somehow

 

[Wish]

Those are rca connectors. You can use a cable like this.

OR if you are running a stereo line out from the focusrite

 

[nickeym1]

cheers man much appreciated when you say running a stereo out what do you mean sorry but i am pretty clueless

 

[nickeym1]

it is good music by the way very impressed wish i could produce anything that good

 

[Wish]

A stereo out would just have left and right channels from one connection like a headphone out.

The top cable above would be for mono channels, so note that there are 2 1/4 jacks for the left and right channels, as opposed to only needing one 1/4 inch cable on the bottom picture.

 

[nickeym1]

A stereo out would just have left and right channels from one connection like a headphone out.

The top cable above would be for mono channels, so note that there are 2 1/4 jacks for the left and right channels, as opposed to only needing one 1/4 inch cable on the bottom picture.

ah i see lovely jubbly cheers for the help mate i will try pick on up tomo and get it hooked up im not expectin much but will do for a while till i get the real deal

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Nickey! Without getting too complicated about impedence matching, your old stereo is probably looking for a consumer line level. The pro line levels (on the back of the Pro 24) are probably a bit hot, and will likely cause distortion. I would go with the second cable shown above- that's a 1/4" TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) to dual RCA cable. I'd plug the 1/4" cable into one of your 2 headphone jacks, set the volume on the stereo at a comfortable halfway up or so, and then bring up the volume on the headphone output slowly, until the feeling is right. Good luck.-Richie

 

[nickeym1]

Yo Nickey! Without getting too complicated about impedence matching, your old stereo is probably looking for a consumer line level. The pro line levels (on the back of the Pro 24) are probably a bit hot, and will likely cause distortion. I would go with the second cable shown above- that's a 1/4" TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) to dual RCA cable. I'd plug the 1/4" cable into one of your 2 headphone jacks, set the volume on the stereo at a comfortable halfway up or so, and then bring up the volume on the headphone output slowly, until the feeling is right. Good luck.-Richie

cheers man appreciate it i love these forums

 

[Mick Doobie]

Sorry to be busting into your thread with questions, Nicky...but i'm kind of in the same boat...no monitors, newbe, etc...

So, my question...

If I came out of the monitor outputs on my Tascam 2488 and plugged the right channel into one side and the left channel into the other side of this dual power amp...

http://www.genzbenz.com/img/manuals/tw/MV962UserManual.pdf

...then came out of the channel outputs of the power amp and into a couple of old Bose bookshelf speakers...

Bad idea...not advisable?...might screw something up?...just wouldn't work without a pre-amp?

edit: And being a guitar power amp, would it lack bass response?

 

[Richard Monroe]

Impedence mismatch would probably be an issue. That's a 4 ohm power amp. I presume the BOSE speakers are 8 ohms-Richie

 

[Mick Doobie]

Thanks Richie.

Now, the power amp specs say "Never load the speaker outputs with less than 4 ohm loads". I haven't checked the Bose speakers, but you're more than likely correct and they are 8 ohm speakers. What would be the down side or outcome if I did hook the amp up to the speakers? Any idea?

I'm not particularly overly concerned about the speakers, although i'm not itching to destroy them either. My main concern would be the other gear...the 2488 and the amp.

Hm, actually, come to think about it, years ago I used to come out of each side of the amp into 8 ohm speakers.

 

[M1Fanatic]

It'll work. You just can't go with a lower impedance than the amp is rated for.

Your volume level may not be as high with the eight ohm speakers.

 

[J-Lane]

Your power output from that amplifier will be lower if you use the 8 ohm speakers. You should be fine other than they might be a little quieter than if you used some 4 ohm speakers. Just don't use anything less than 4 ohms or you will cause the amp to shut off if it has a protection circuit or it might ruin the amp.

 

[nickeym1]

Sorry to be busting into your thread with questions, Nicky...but i'm kind of in the same boat...no monitors, newbe, etc...

So, my question...

If I came out of the monitor outputs on my Tascam 2488 and plugged the right channel into one side and the left channel into the other side of this dual power amp...

http://www.genzbenz.com/img/manuals/tw/MV962UserManual.pdf

...then came out of the channel outputs of the power amp and into a couple of old Bose bookshelf speakers...

Bad idea...not advisable?...might screw something up?...just wouldn't work without a pre-amp?

edit: And being a guitar power amp, would it lack bass response?

Ah no prob man im all done here knock yourself out

 

[MMensch]

If I came out of the monitor outputs on my Tascam 2488 and plugged the right channel into one side and the left channel into the other side of this dual power amp...

http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/gear/2140024/p1_u0psaxd33_so.jpg

Damn, that's one mean-looking power amp - those handles look like they're from cast iron or something, in fact the whole faceplate does ...

 

[Mick Doobie]

Thanks to everyone who offered help/advice, and Nicky. I'm using headphones now, so I may try hooking up the power amp some time in the future, just so more than one person can listen at a time. Purchasing monitors is a no-go right now...the wife might not be happy. Well, actually, she would encourage it, but you know women...shopping, for anything anytime. The economy is down, and so is my cash flow, so i'll have to make due right now.

Nicky, how'd it work out for you?...did you get it all hooked-up? I might have an old receiver laying around, so I might go the route you are taking...at least then I have a bit more control of eqing and such. Although, a straight power amp might have a flatter output. Dunno.

Damn, that's one mean-looking power amp - those handles look like they're from cast iron or something, in fact the whole faceplate does ...

Bought it used many moons ago. I've gotten my money's worth from it, for sure. Not a bad amp, but the pre I was using fried a few years ago, and I haven't replaced it. Might at some point...never hurts to have a spare amp around. I use it mostly now to run an old Roland Juno 60 through. So i'm still getting some use out of it.

 

[nickeym1]

Thanks to everyone who offered help/advice, and Nicky. I'm using headphones now, so I may try hooking up the power amp some time in the future, just so more than one person can listen at a time. Purchasing monitors is a no-go right now...the wife might not be happy. Well, actually, she would encourage it, but you know women...shopping, for anything anytime. The economy is down, and so is my cash flow, so i'll have to make due right now.

Nicky, how'd it work out for you?...did you get it all hooked-up? I might have an old receiver laying around, so I might go the route you are taking...at least then I have a bit more control of eqing and such. Although, a straight power amp might have a flatter output. Dunno.



Bought it used many moons ago. I've gotten my money's worth from it, for sure. Not a bad amp, but the pre I was using fried a few years ago, and I haven't replaced it. Might at some point...never hurts to have a spare amp around. I use it mostly now to run an old Roland Juno 60 through. So i'm still getting some use out of it.

You sound a little more in the know bout this stuff than me mate and we are certainly in the same boat as far as women and cashflow go

The way i done it is pretty simple cos i dont know much more. Very old stereo with the two rca connections at the back ran those with the wires pictures above to the headphone jack on the front of the pro 24 but im only getting sound from one speaker so im assuming its cos i need to get the cable with the 2 rca and 2 1/4 inch connections and run one into each of the headphone jacks on the pro 24. There seems to be so much on the pro 24 its a little more than i need but i suppose i will find use for it later down the road. Trying to find time to figure it all out with 2 kids and one on the way is the tricky part