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Church and H.O.W. – Forums for HOW Sound and AV - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Church and HOW Forums => Church Sound => Topic started by: Jim Ogann on March 29, 2011, 02:21:31 PM

Title: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Jim Ogann on March 29, 2011, 02:21:31 PM
Does anyone have experience with either the ART P 16 or the HOSA PDR-369? We are setting up a new Worship center with left over equipment and are looking for a cost effective XLR to XLR patch panel we can buy a number of. Any suggestions other than home-brew would be appreciated.
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Brad Weber on March 30, 2011, 09:11:32 AM
There are a number of manufacturers of XLR patch panels but many are XLR jacks in a panel to which you solder bare wires or XLR conectors wired to punchdowns or similar terminations rather than devices with XLR terminations on both sides.
 
One thing you may want to consider is what 'sex' connectors you want on the front and back.  It is often good to think of what cables would be required to make the patches or connections desired and try to be able to use more common male-to-female XLR cables if possible rather than requiring male-to-male of female-to-female cables.
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Jim Ogann on March 30, 2011, 06:49:52 PM
There are a number of manufacturers of XLR patch panels but many are XLR jacks in a panel to which you solder bare wires or XLR conectors wired to punchdowns or similar terminations rather than devices with XLR terminations on both sides.
 
One thing you may want to consider is what 'sex' connectors you want on the front and back.  It is often good to think of what cables would be required to make the patches or connections desired and try to be able to use more common male-to-female XLR cables if possible rather than requiring male-to-male of female-to-female cables.
Thanks, I understand. The two panels mentioned are Male to Female and reversible so we will reverse some of them to get the standard "flow". I take it you have not tried either of these brands. I'm concerned about purchasing low cost items and having problems with them in the future (cheap connectors etc.). Jim O
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on March 30, 2011, 08:14:35 PM
One thing to keep in mind is that every connector is a potential point of failure. I think that's why many people opt to solder installed cabling (such as the snake from the stage or cables to various components in the sound booth) to the back sides of the patch bays. It's far less likely to cause a problem in a hard-to-reach spot.
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Frank DeWitt on March 30, 2011, 08:44:36 PM
One thing to keep in mind is that every connector is a potential point of failure. I think that's why many people opt to solder installed cabling (such as the snake from the stage or cables to various components in the sound booth) to the back sides of the patch bays. It's far less likely to cause a problem in a hard-to-reach spot.

Very good point.  I removed a cheap connectors on both side patch panel and replaced it with a panel full of solder to the back Neutrik  It solved a lot of intermittent problems and they stayed solved.  If I had to do it again tomorrow I would buy used Neutrik or Switchcraft before I would use new other brands.

I would also buy a soldering station. It will double your skill instantly. 
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Jim Ogann on April 05, 2011, 03:24:28 PM
Very good point.  I removed a cheap connectors on both side patch panel and replaced it with a panel full of solder to the back Neutrik  It solved a lot of intermittent problems and they stayed solved.  If I had to do it again tomorrow I would buy used Neutrik or Switchcraft before I would use new other brands.

I would also buy a soldering station. It will double your skill instantly.

Agreed. Every connector is a potential failure. Your comment on Neutrik and Switchcraft is the reason I am asking the question. We use all Neutrik cable-end connectors now and Gold for low level audio. Works well. I'll continue to monitor - thanks for the comments.
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: George Dougherty on April 07, 2011, 02:23:14 AM
Does anyone have experience with either the ART P 16 or the HOSA PDR-369? We are setting up a new Worship center with left over equipment and are looking for a cost effective XLR to XLR patch panel we can buy a number of. Any suggestions other than home-brew would be appreciated.

I've always taken ART to be a small step up from Sampson, Phonic, Behringer.  I'm a little colored by a few bad products I had from them.  Hosa makes cheap cables for the times when you just need a cheap cable.  I had several of their color coded molded insert snakes go bad on me within about a year or two of use.

+1 on used Neutrik vs new other.  I had some of the older monster standard 100 cables that came with Neutrik ends.  Now when they go bad I snip the ends off the cable, return the cable for a new one and solder the Neutrik ends back on the cable.  I have a few that have been through at least two cycles of damage and repair and besides a bit of road rash on the shell they're good as new electrically.
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Nick Bair on April 07, 2011, 06:31:20 AM
Clearly, cost is a concern to you. Something to keep in mind is that there is nothing wrong with buying something and having the intent to replace it shortly.

The Hosa connectors will hold up long enough for you to find funds to replace them. Then you can buy a bunch of Neutriks in bulk. You can even replace them piecemeal over a longer period of time. In the meantime you are avoiding the headache of working without the bays and saving yourself time and stress.

I don't know about you, but the only thing I have less of than money, is time.
Title: Re: XLR Patch Panels
Post by: Gene simonalle on April 08, 2011, 09:38:36 AM
Does anyone have experience with either the ART P 16 or the HOSA PDR-369? We are setting up a new Worship center with left over equipment and are looking for a cost effective XLR to XLR patch panel we can buy a number of. Any suggestions other than home-brew would be appreciated.

I just did a quick patch panel using a 12 hole 1U rack panel from AudioPile.  The panels are empty and you put in your own connectors.  I chose Neutrik because I didn't want to mess with it anytime soon, but you could put in budget XLRs.  It took about 15 minutes per unit to put it all together.

http://www.audiopile.net/products/Cases/Rack_Panel_Blanks/D_SERIES_BLANKS/D_SERIES_PANEL.shtml