Reddit reviews JBL Professional Nano Patch + Compact 2-Channel Passive Volume Controller (NPATCH BLK)
We found 12 Reddit comments about JBL Professional Nano Patch + Compact 2-Channel Passive Volume Controller (NPATCH BLK). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Super compact 2 channel analog passive volume controlRotary volume attenuation controlMute buttonCompletely transparent operationNo power required
his turntable has a built in preamp (which he is currently running to the speakers) so he can easily add a passive preamp between the two without the need for a phono stage, the sys is an option, but something like the Mackie Big Knob or JBL Nano Patch is designed for studio monitors. i'd probably grab the Mackie Big Knob just because it has 2 inpuits/2 outputs
pretty much all you need is the mackie big knob, a set of TRS cables to go from the big knob to the monitors, and a set of TRS to RCA cables to go to the turntables preamp, optionally add a second set of TRS to RCA cables to connect to another source (or TRS to 3.5mm to connect to a computer/phone/etc)
You can run an unbalanced signal through the chain just fine. Use the sensitivity switch on the back of the sub (and the 305's) to −10 dBV for unbalanced/consumer signals.
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I'm not sure what you are using for a volume control, but I'm guessing its using RCA cables?
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To keep your existing setup - you'll need:
a L/R set of RCA male to 1/4" male TS (Tip Sleeve) cables - These go from your volume controller to the sub's 1/4" input (it will accept either unbalanced TS, or balanced TRS 1/4")* https://www.amazon.com/PD-R1406-Dual-Male-Mono-Cable/dp/B017Y45630/ (get whatever length you need).(EDITED - use existing)
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plus you'll need two XLR female to XLR male cables to go from the sub outputs to the LSR 305 (any brand will do)
(or you could use two XLR female to 1/4" male TRS for your 305, if you wanted to)
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Eventually if you decide to upgrade your FIIO to a more pro-featured interface, you could switch out the two RCA to 1/4" TS input cables and use balanced cables going in (the XLR output cables from the sub will already be balanced-ready). Then just flip the input sensitivity switch on all the JBLs to +4dBu and adjust your levels again.
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EDIT - Oops - you have a volume controller -
If you wanted a volume controller in between, look at the Mackie "Big Knob", Behringer "Monitor 1", or JBL Nano patch, or similar passive controller. Active controllers (with preamps) are an option too, but you may not need all the other features.If you pick up one of these, you'll have to factor in the extra cables and connectors you'll need to integrate.To go direct to your PC, a 3.5mm to dual ts cable would work. You'd have to control volume either from the back of each speaker or via windows.
To have a hardware volume knob, get something like the jbl nano patch. For that you'd need two xlr cables and a regular 3.5mm stereo audio cable.
The Starter set just includes volume control, cables, and isolation pads if you're putting the speakers right on your desk. It's definitely not necessary, just an easy all in one package.
Advantage of volume control is self explanatory, windows volume control isn't always perfect and having something physical to control volume is simply nicer. There's a lot of products that can do this, some with more features than others. I'll link a couple in different prices brackets.
Really up to you on how much you want to spend. Prices deltas are mostly due to build quality. If you have your eye on one let me know and I can tell you what cables you'll need, as each one will have a different set.
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-NPATCH-BLK-Compact-Controller/dp/B01I3B0OH6/
or
https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Fostex-Pc-1e-White/dp/B0058B1T4M/
Is this with the input trim on the rear of the speakers all the way down as well? The first thing i do when i fresh install MacOS/get a new Apple is disable all system wide sounds and notifications. If that’s viable for you, that’s a good start.
I haven’t been able to use keyboard volume keys in 15+ years; my suggestion is to either get an interface with an analog volume control or even better, a passive volume attenuator. Like the nano patch or something.
JBL NPATCH BLK Nano Patch+ Compact 2-Channel Passive Volume Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I3B0OH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QbczCbZG1B7VB
With digital volume/usb speakers I believe you’re throwing out available bit depth and at lower volumes, so you’ll get poor quality. I used to run my monitors and audio output at full ‘normal’ volume with one of those in between. Plus if all of a sudden shit gets super loud; there’s no faster way to turn it down than a single big knob right in front of you. My interface now handles everything for me but if I’m understanding things those are my suggestions: kill random sound fx, get a passive (no electricity required) attenuator (big ole volume knob to be able to easily change the volume to wherever you want it at any time), and use TRS instead of USB if that’s being problematic (required to use an attenuator; won’t work with usb speakers...)
What happens if you just output the 3.5mm stereo headphone jack from the computer into a splitter/adapters (likely 3.5mm to stereo RCA with RCA to 1/4” adapters unless you buy a 3.5km to dual 1/4” cable) into the TRS inputs on the speaker? That should retain volume key control and along with the speaker trim settings, I dunno what could be going wrong.
For studio monitors, a studio monitor controller.
Or a mixer.
Or a passive volume controller with RCA.
Do you have the ground wire connected from the turntable to the phono stage/preamp? Are you mixing unbalanced and balanced connections?
JBL Nanopatch
There are Stereo to Mono devices out there - Stereo Left/Right in, and TWO Mono out.
https://www.amazon.com/Stereo-to-Mono-Signal-Converter/dp/B072VWCCBX
There are also what are called Distribution amps, that have several (8,10, 12,...) Amps built into one unit.
This one is 6 Stereo channels or 12 Mono Channels -
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-ma1240a-multi-zone-12-channel-amplifier--300-815
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-ma1260-multi-zone-12-channel-amplifier-60wpc--300-8150
This is really a Power Amp with little to no controls, so you would need some type of pre-amp so you can adjust the volume of various sources.
There are some Mixers and some passive devices that could give you basic Volume Control -
Here is an example of a very basic 4-channel mixer for about $60 -
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/802
Here are some Passive Volume Controls. These are meant to control Studio Monitors or Computer Speakers, but they should serve your purpose -
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-NPATCH-BLK-Compact-Controller/dp/B01I3B0OH6
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-BIG-KNOB-PASSIVE-Controller/dp/B01NCUZ32O
https://www.amazon.com/Volbox-Adjuster-Stereo-Control-3-5mm/dp/B00XDKKQ9E
An alternative would be to find an old Stereo Amp that had PRE-AMP Outputs. The Pre-Amp out could feed the Stereo-to-Mono Converter, and the Stereo-to-Mono could feed the Distribution Amp.
Using an old used Stereo Amp with Pre-Amp Outs, would also give you all the input connections and controls you need.
Hey everybody!
I'm going to get myself a pair of JBL LSR305. I already have a Fiio E10K which is connected to my Macbook and to my Beyerdynamics DT 990 Pro.
I would use the rear line out from my Fiio to connect to the active speakers. One downside is that I can't control the volume of the speakers on the Fiio (the volume knob is for the headphones only), so I would have to use the volume knob on the backside of the speakers or change the system volume on my Mac. Both of these options suck. I was researching a bit and found the Palmer Monicon. To my understanding I can just hook it up between my Fiio and the speakers. Now i could control the speaker volume easily. I would use a normal 3.5mm cable (or should I use the coaxial output?) from my Fiio into the stereo input of the Palmer Monicon and two XLR cables from the Palmer Monicon to my speakers.
Will this work? Will there be any sound quality issues? Is the JBL Nano Patch better because I could use 1/4" TRS cables at the output..? Is there a quality difference between XLR and TRS?
An audio interface, such as this, has volume control and DAC: https://www.amazon.com/Steinberg-UR22MKII-2-Channel-USB-Interface/dp/B017MVUAHM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1541691184&sr=1-1&keywords=steinberg+ur22+mkii
Or, you can cobble something together like this:
That's a lot of work to make studio monitors work for you. I concur with others that a receiver plus passive speakers is a better choice.
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>Is there a MiniDSP alternative with XLR outputs?
There is a balanced version of the regular 2x4. Use Phoenix to XLR.
> GoRack
This has basically no functional overlap with a MiniDSP. If you wanted to add a sub then you can just split the signal coming out of the Gorack. Functionally the same in that it offers no crossover function. A DBX product with crossover functions and XLR is the 223xs. A more involved setup would include something like the Driverack PA2. You can feed these things with a GoRack though as your volume control, or something like the JBL NanoPatch.