I have a pair of JBL 305p monitors, hooked up to MOTU M2 with balanced cables (TRS 2 TRS). I have my monitors set to -10dBV. Setting it to +4dBu makes them significantly quieter, requiring me to almost max out pots on speakers and interface to get to proper loudness.
And I was perfectly fine with that until I've decided to test them with unbalanced RCAs. I'm thinking about adding a sub and I was checking if I can run consumer subs lacking balanced connections. Turned out RCA output on -10dBV was audibly quieter, comparable to a level I've got from TRS output at +4dBu.
Was I using it wrong all the time?
Is it normal for balanced connection on +10dBV to give me so much more headroom? This basically rules home theater subs out...
Or maybe there is something else wrong? I've been using old, crappy RCA cables daisy chained with various converters, like TS->mini jack->RCA. Also, I've seen some reviews on this very forum stating that there is something wrong with M2 rca outputs...
And I was perfectly fine with that until I've decided to test them with unbalanced RCAs. I'm thinking about adding a sub and I was checking if I can run consumer subs lacking balanced connections. Turned out RCA output on -10dBV was audibly quieter, comparable to a level I've got from TRS output at +4dBu.
Was I using it wrong all the time?
Is it normal for balanced connection on +10dBV to give me so much more headroom? This basically rules home theater subs out...
Or maybe there is something else wrong? I've been using old, crappy RCA cables daisy chained with various converters, like TS->mini jack->RCA. Also, I've seen some reviews on this very forum stating that there is something wrong with M2 rca outputs...