Instruction Manual for HPA4 with 1.0.X Firmware – REV B Page 13
Connecting Other Audio
Components
Use Balanced Interfaces When
Possible
When possible, use balanced interfaces to
connect the primary devices in your system.
Balanced interfaces offer significant
performance advantages due to the
differential signals and higher voltage levels.
In most cases, balanced interfaces will reduce
noise in your system.
Balanced XLR Signal Levels
The HPA4 Supports Professional Signal
Levels
The XLR line inputs and outputs on the HPA4
support very high +28 dBu signal levels.
These high levels are used in professional
studio environments because of the high
performance that comes with using higher
voltages. All Benchmark products support
professional signal levels. Benchmark DACs
and power amplifiers will interface to the
HPA4 using peak signal levels between +22
dBu and +24 dBu.
The HPA4 Also Supports Consumer Signal
Levels
The stepped gain controls in the HPA4 have
excellent noise performance and provide a
wide dynamic range. This allows the
simultaneous use of consumer-level and
professional-level balanced interfaces.
Professional XLR interfaces are usually 10 dB
hotter than consumer-level XLR interfaces.
The stepped gain control in the HPA4 can
easily provide a 10 dB boost or cut without
sacrificing performance.
Selecting Components for Your
System
Select devices with balanced XLR inputs and
outputs. Balanced interfaces are vastly
superior to unbalanced RCA interfaces.
When possible, select devices that have
professional-level XLR interfaces. These will
usually have better SNR specifications than
devices with consumer-level XLR interfaces.
This difference in SNR is often about 10 dB.
Look for high signal levels when purchasing
audio components and check the SNR
specifications.
Use the 12V Trigger Connections
Trigger ports can be used to sequence the
power-up and power-down operations so that
all of your components turn on and off with a
single switch. The trigger ports can also
eliminate the loud pops that can occur when
devices are turned on or off in the wrong
sequence.
The trigger ports on the HPA4 are bi-
directional and can be connected to inputs or
outputs on other devices. All Benchmark
trigger ports are bi-directional. Most other
products will have dedicated trigger inputs or
outputs.
If you want the HPA4 to control your system,
connect the HPA4 trigger ports to the trigger
inputs on the other devices. When the HPA4
turns on, the other devices will follow.
If you want to use another device as a trigger
master, connect its trigger output to one of
the trigger ports on the HPA4. When this
other device turns on or off, the HPA4 will
follow.
In an all-Benchmark system, just connect the
trigger ports in a star or daisy chain. The
system can be turned on or off using the
power switch on any Benchmark device. This
is one of the advantages provided by
Benchmark's bi-directional trigger ports.
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