Using standard audio out from Nobelium instead of XLR out?

Terry Reilley

Terry Reilley

Aug 11, 2023
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#1
So I have an interesting quandary I'd like to share and get your opinions on:

I just acquired a Nobelium (thanks again DL!) and mounted it to my Temple Audio Duo pedal board, which has the DI Mod installed. The DI Mod only has a TS/TRS input on the back side of it, so if I want to use the DI Mod as intended, I just run a patch cable from the 1/4" mono output jack on the Nobelium to the 1/4" input on the DI Mod, then run XLR from the DI Mod to FoH.

This solution seems to work fine and looks very neat and clean, but am I losing anything by NOT using the XLR on the Nobelium??? If so, then I have two or three solutions:

1. Buy an XLR to 1/4 patch cable and attach it between the Nobelium XLR and the DI Mod, or;

2. Eliminate the DI Mod and make a pass-through XLR jack, using the XLR to 1/4" patch as mentioned in #2. Still looks neat and clean.

3. Eliminate the DI Mod and run straight to FoH from the Nobelium.

This of course can apply to ANY pre-amp, not just a Nobelium.

Thoughts? Opinions? Useful limericks?
 
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#2
I'd read somewhere that the secret sauce with the Nobellium is the DI/XLR out, so I'd want to ensure that I'm using that in some way shape or form.

From my understanding, you wouldn't want to use the DI-MOD after the DI in the Nobellium. The DI in the Nobellium is taking the unbalanced signal and making it balanced and the DI-MOD is designed to do the same thing. Not sure what would happen if you feed one into the other.
 
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#4
It's an interesting circuit in that the XLR output takes its feed after the first tube, and the second tube is only used in the 1/4" output. So you're getting "more tubeness" if you're using the 1/4" output, but unless the Temple D.I. is super high quality (I'm not familiar) you may get a better sound from the Nobelium as it has (I assume) a Lightning Boy transformer for the D.I.
 
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#5
Sushi Box FX said:
It's an interesting circuit in that the XLR output takes its feed after the first tube, and the second tube is only used in the 1/4" output. So you're getting "more tubeness" if you're using the 1/4" output, but unless the Temple D.I. is super high quality (I'm not familiar) you may get a better sound from the Nobelium as it has (I assume) a Lightning Boy transformer for the D.I.
Click to expand...
My particular build uses a Jensen transformer as defined on the BOM. I actually requested Jensen because it’s what Noble uses, albeit theirs is a specific transformer not available to the average Joe.

I like the idea of more “tubeness” and it sounds really good, so not sure if I want to futz with it. I used it for the first time in a small gathering room at my church, but I’d love to hear it through the PA in the main auditorium.
 
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