Balanced head line out into aux input of a combo?

[archeobassist]

Hi everyone...I've recently purchased a Hartke HD25, incredible combo all around and for the cost in particular. It features an 1/8" AUX input that can be use, according to the manual, to connect not only CD and Mp3 players, but, quoting from the manual itself, "any line level signal including the signal from a keyboard or drum machine"....
My question is: I have a MarkBass Little Mark II head with a balanced XLR line out, is it possible to go from that into the AUX input of the Hartke combo and use it as a cabinet?
I already use that input sometime with the output of my Focusrite Saffire 6 USB and it seems to work....
thank you so much!

 

[Redbrangus]

Yes, this is something that can be done. The potential problem is that the 1/8" input is likely to be a stereo plug that connects the two 'hot' signal wires (tip and ring) together to make a mono signal, while any adaptor that you that you purchase is likely to put the two signal wires (+ and -) on the tip and ring of the adaptor. That is definitely not what you need. If you are capable of making your own adaptor, or modifying a commercially made one, it is definitely something that can work. You need to connect pin 2 of the XLR output to the tip of the 1/8" input connector as per usual; the pin 3 output probably needs to be connected to SLEEVE of the 1/8" connector, but that depends on the output topology of the line out. It's possible that it can just remain unterminated, but it definitely can't be terminated on the ring of the 1/8" connector.

What connector or adaptor are you using to connect to the Focusrite?