Issue 1, December 2015 Model 211 User Guide
Page 10 Studio Technologies, Inc.
Microphone Input
The Model 211 is compatible with bal-
anced dynamic and condenser micro-
phones. Depending on the application,
the microphone may be part of a headset,
or be an independent handheld or stand-
mounted model. The Model 211’s P48
power source will support essentially all
phantom-powered microphones. The qual-
ity of the Model 211’s microphone pream-
plifier and associated circuitry is such that
special applications may benefit from using
“high-end” microphones. If selected appro-
priately, models from manufacturers such
as AKG, Beyerdynamic, DPA, Neumann,
Sennheiser, and Shure will perform very
well in Model 211 applications.
Microphone interconnection is made by
way of a 3-pin female XLR connector
which is located on the Model 211’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 unbal-
anced microphone will also work correctly.
In this case, the mating connector (male)
should be wired so that pin 2 is signal high
(+ or hot), and signal common/shield is
connected to both pins 1 and 3.
As of the writing date of this user guide,
the Sennheiser HMD 26 headset is very
popular for on-air sports broadcasting
use. A fine product, it works very well with
the Model 211. Note that adding the suf-
fix “-XQ” to the headset’s full part number
(HMD 26-600-XQ) specifies a 3-pin male
XLR connector for the dynamic micro-
phone and a ¼-inch 3-conductor plug for
the stereo headphones. This configuration
is very useful, allowing the headset to work
directly “out of the box” with the Model 211.
If the writer may digress for a moment to
recount a story… an audio dealer once
shared a secret with me concerning head-
sets. He loved selling the “lower-end” (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,
purchased only premium-quality headsets,
their total cost of ownership would have
been much less. Enough said…
Headphone Output
The Model 211’s headphone output is com-
patible with stereo or mono headphones,
headsets, or earpieces. Connecting devices
with a nominal impedance of 100 ohms
or greater is preferred. This shouldn’t be
an issue as essentially all contemporary
devices meet this condition.
Devices are connected to the headphone
output by way of a ¼-inch 3-conductor
phone jack located on the Model 211’s
back panel. As is standard for stereo head-
phones, 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 “monaural”
plugs can also be used with the Model 211’s
headphone output. In this arrangement
only the tip lead (left channel) will be active.
The 2-conductor plug will physically connect
(“short”) the ring lead (right channel) to the
sleeve lead (common). Technically this won’t
damage the circuitry associated with the
right-channel headphone output since 100
ohm protection resistors are electrically in
series with the headphone output circuits.
