I have 2 x SC6000M & 2 x Technics SL1200MK2 going into a Bozak AR6 Squared & EQ6 rotary mixer. The SC6000M is wired to the mixer from the line output on the rear to the line input on the mixer with phono leads. My problem is that the SC6000M’s when in use are much quieter than the turntables to the point that you could never mix a track with the SC6000M and one of the Technics as the volume difference is miles apart even if i have the volume on full on the mixer with the trim right up for the SC6000M. Has anyone had this issue and would a DAC sort it if i changed the output on the rear of the SC6000M to digital out then into a DAC then into the line in on the mixer. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers
Is it a problem with the 6000s though? Have you tested line vs phono with any other equipment? Maybe it’s just an imbalance of the mixer inputs.
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Hi there Thanks for your reply. I checked with bozak as the mixer has just been for a service and he told me i had it set up correctly. I have been looking and i might try buying an audio signal booster and see if that helps. Thanks for your help.
The Signal of the SC6000M should be much louder than any vinyl turntable (without preamp inside), some like Reloop RP8000 MK2 have build in preamps to convert RIAA to Line.
If the SC6000M is not loud enough, you could use a DAC to convert digital outs. Some report that using the digital outputs improves the sound quality dramatically. For my self I use a Xone96 connected to my SC6000M´s via analog outs. I´ve never tried or compared differences by using the digital or analog outs.
Some additional Explanations:
Phono: A phono input is specially designed for turntables without an integrated preamplifier. The signal coming from the record player’s cartridge is very weak and requires amplification in order to be processed by an amplifier. Phono inputs usually have an integrated preamplifier that amplifies and equalizes the signal.
Line: A line input is designed for devices with pre-amplified signals such as CD players, computers or turntables with an integrated preamplifier. The signal is already strong enough to be processed directly by an amplifier. As suggested maybe an audio signal booster helps or try additional leveling with any small mixer.
Main differences:
Signal strength: phono signals are much weaker than line signals. While phono signals are typically in the range of 2-7 mV, line signals are in the range of 200-500 mV.
Amplification: Phono inputs require amplification of the signal, while line inputs do not require additional amplification.
Equalization: Phono inputs require equalization of the signal to correct the distortion caused by RIAA equalization during the vinyl pressing process. Line inputs do not require equalization.
Summary: The main difference between phono and line is the signal strength and the need for amplification and equalization. Phono inputs are designed for weak signals from turntables without an integrated preamplifier, while line inputs are designed for already preamplified signals from devices such as CD or media players.
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Thank you for your lengthy reply. The bozak mixer only has line inputs and the switches on the front are either phono or line. The technics are on phono and the SC6000M are on line as if i try the phono option with the SC6000M it distorts badly. After looking into this tonight it seems the SC5000M & SC6000M are prone to this with Analog mixers. I have ordered a 20db signal booster to just basically try any option and if that fails i will try the DAC option. I will let you know if this works. Thanks again.
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That’s interesting. I have a Condesa Lucia X (Completely Analog Mixer), and shorty after delivery, brought this up with Mehdi (Condesa’s Engineer). I too noticed that my vinyl output was dramatically higher than the SC6000M’s (digital) output. He suggested to me that is was probably because of the mV Output of my Styli. But, that didn’t make sense to me. I’ve still not resolved this. It’s been over a year. I had not even considered that it could be something to do with the output of the SC6000M’s analog output. We all know that Digital/Analog conversion output is brighter than straight Analog, so what is going on here? Hmm, I’m going to follow this discussion. It certainly piques my interest.
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Hi there, Well I use only one SC6000 and 2x 1210’s and indeed the Technics / Vinyl is louder in my experience also. however I do have a good set of cartridges (Stanton Trackmaster 2’s) That i noticed are way loader in output than my trusty Shure M44-7, however this is due to the mVa from the Stantons being higher than the shure’s…
I managed to compensate the input signal via the mixers input gain, (My mixer is lucky enough to have such a thing. RANE Empath).
On another note, it also depends on the Vinyl, as I have some tunes that are way lower than the SC6000 so I revers the process, up the gain on the TT’s
Could be time for another mixer with gains on the inputs (this is before the channel fader), What mixer are you using btw?
Or change the cartrages on the deks for a lower out-put mVa 9you would have to see the full needle and headshel spec’s for this information, but is available on most specification lists.
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