Studio Technologies 214 - Manual (Page 11)

Model 214 User Guide Issue 1, July 2014
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 11
such that special applications may ben-
efit from using “high-end” microphones.
If selected appropriately models from
manufacturers such as AKG, Beyer, DPA,
Sennheiser, and Shure will perform very
well in Model 214 applications.
Microphone interconnection is made
by way of a 3-pin female XLR connec-
tor which is located on the Model 214’s
back panel. The mating connector (male)
should be wired so that pin 2 is signal
high (+ or hot), pin 3 is signal low (– or
cold), and pin 1 is shield. It’s possible that
an unbalanced microphone will also work
correctly. In this case, the mating connec-
tor (male) should be wired so that pin 2
is signal high (+ or hot), and signal com-
mon/shield is connected to both pins 1
and 3.
As of the writing date of this guide, the
Sennheiser HMD 26 headset is very popu-
lar for on-air sports broadcasting use. A
fine product, it works very well with the
Model 214. Adding the suffix “-XQ” to the
headset’s full part number (HMD 26-600-
XQ) specifies a 3-pin male XLR connector
for the dynamic microphone and a ¼-inch
3-conductor plug for the stereo head-
phones. This configuration is very useful,
allowing the headset to work directly “out
of the box” with the Model 214. Another
headset that users have reported being
satisfied with is the audio-technica BPHS1.
Offered at a lower price-point, it may be
applicable for some applications.
If the writer may digress for a moment to
recount a story… an audio dealer once
shared a secret with me concerning
headsets. He loved selling the “lower-
end” (much less expensive) models of
name-brand headsets, which he did by
the veritable “boatload.” Why? Because
these usually broke soon after going into
service! He knew that on a regular basis
he’d receive orders for more of them. Had
these users, from the beginning, pur-
chased only premium-quality headsets,
their total cost of ownership would have
been much less. Enough said…
Headphone Output
The Model 214’s headphone output is
compatible with stereo or mono head-
phones, headsets, or earpieces. Connect-
ing devices with a nominal impedance
of 100 ohms or greater is preferred. This
shouldn’t prove to be an issue since es-
sentially all of the contemporary devices
meet this recommendation.
Devices are connected to the headphone
output by way of a ¼-inch 3-conductor
phone jack located on the Model 214’s
back panel. As is standard for stereo
headphones, the left channel is connected
to the tip lead of the ¼-inch headphone
jack. The right channel is connected to
the ring lead of the jack. Common for both
channels is connected to the sleeve lead.
Devices with ¼-inch 2-conductor “monau-
ral” plugs can also be used with the Model
214’s headphone output. In this arrange-
ment only the tip lead (left channel) will be
active. The 2-conductor plug will physi-
cally connect (“short”) the ring lead (right
channel) to the sleeve lead (common).
Technically this won’t damage the circuitry
associated with the right-channel head-
phone output since 100 ohm protection
resistors are electrically in series with the
headphone output circuits.