Ecler COMPACT 5 - Manual (Page 8)

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5. CONSIDERATIONS
5.1. Ground loops, background noise
You should always make sure that the signal sources coming to the unit, as well as all
devices connected to its outputs, do not have their grounds interconnected, that is; ground must
never come from two different devices. Should this ever happen, noises could occur and seriously
interfere the sound quality.
Cable shielding, when connected to the chassis, must never be interconnected, so as to
avoid ground loops.
The COMPACT 5 mixer has been designed for the lowest possible background noise.
Independently from the electronic design itself, background noise level will directly depend on the
right installation and use of the mixing unit.
I. e.: setting a channel VOL to "2" and the output to "10" is not the same as the other
way round. In the first case, the signal coming to the mixing amplifier - which has got its own
noise - is low, and so is the signal-to-noise ratio (low signal). When the output amplifier boosts the
whole signal we will get a very high background noise. In the second case - with the channel
fader at maximum - the mixing level is high, and so is the signal-to-noise ratio. When the signal
reaches the VOL OUTPUT and is boosted, it will keep a much better signal-to-noise ratio than in
the preceding case.
5.2. Cleaning
The front panel should not be cleaned with dissolvent or abrasive substances because
silk-printing could be damaged. To clean it, use a soft cloth slightly wet with water and neutral
liquid soap; dry it with a clean cloth. Be careful that water never gets into the amplifier through
the holes of the front panel.