All user reviews for the Tascam LA-40

- What technology is used? (Analog, digital, tube ...)
All analog and discrete operational amplifiers (5532 and 2041).
The power supply (internal) quality is very excited (despite the conventional transformer, non-ring)
The circuit components are soldered to a Friend Print; internal wiring is good, even if not well attached nest.
The fuse of the power supply is inside the housing (400 mA tempo. / 250V)

- What is the connection?
Rear panel:
4 * XLR fem. - 4 * XLR male - RCA * 8 fem.
Front:
8 * Jacks st. Fem.

- Is this a rack or rack-mount model?
Yes, the LA40 is 1U Rack, though the ears are removable and has rubber feet, so you can place it on a flat surface.
Dimensions: L = 482mm (432 with no ears) H = 1U = 44mm (51 with the feet) Ptot = 263mm (250 for the box)
Weight: 4.5 Kg (that is solid ... whatever!)

UTILIZATION

- The general configuration is it simple?
The configuration is relatively simple but requires opening the case.
You can operate the "ground lift" for each of the four channels and switch between 4 dBm to +20 dBm for RCA inputs (the only asymmetric) NB: attention! This directly affects the input impedance!
Adjustable potentiometers are provided for adjusting the CMR (common mode rejection) of each channel. There is also an adjustable power Blancing symmetric (+-20V)

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
The manual is very clear and complete.
The complete schema is provided in A3 format (rare!) With all the ref. semiconductors.

SOUND QUALITY

- The sound of your instruments or microphones is properly reproduced?
The LA 40 is expected to interface recorders 40 and 50 series, the quality and transparency in appointments.
Include a crosstalk of 90dB (at 1KHz and support 600ohms) between two adjacent channels.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
I bought two of abbord a month ago (May 2004), and I just bought a third two hours ago. All this hand ... It is no longer the material of this quality!

- What is so special that you like most and least?
The best: it is a true Swiss knife-sound engineer
The less the weight! ("/> But it is a sign of strength ...

- Have you tried many other models before buying it?
Counting the DIs, I've tested a lot. But that's not quite a DI.
I also have three matrix switchers audio / video (used as a balun / de-balun) that I may no longer serve me given the quality of LA40.

- How would you rate the quality / price?
Since I bought lai in time ... it's unbeatable! But I have no idea of ​​the price new at the time of manufacture ... If an "old" techos remembered, I would like to know.

- With experience, you do again this choice? ...
Yes.

This device is not a box of live. It's just a symmtriseur - dsymtriseur 4 signal channels. Because a beast of direct, in addition to a signal symmtriser, gnral has other functions: in some cases eliminate the snoring of a ground loop, reduce the sensitivity reverse phase, a copy of the signal to another device such as a guitar amp on scne for example, and on some models, apply a high pass filter or low pass. Additionally, entries assymtriques of a box of live is still sometimes a jack with XLR assymtrique. Handed that Tascam LA-40 and am just a more, are on the conection assymtrique cinch instead of jack. And finally, gnral, a box of live dsymtrise does not signal, do nothing to symtriser: a wrong in one direction while on the Tascam, two-way effort ^_________^

UTILIZATION

The use of this machine is no one simple, no need to book. Is injected at the inputs cinch the signal is collected and assymtrique symtriser symtrique the signal on the rear XLR or TRS jacks on the front of the symtriques device. And vice versa: it connects the signal symtrique dsymtriser on the rear XLR or TRS jacks on the front symtriques of the device and receiver of the signal assymtrique on RCA outputs. No rglage possible: it is simple.

Also, what is rvolutionnaire this device is that all taken from the TRS jacks that these are forward, are the rear of the aircraft and I can You say that in certain situations, such as when you have to put the camera on a tape recorder is almost relentless. Because I know of no direct beast of a classic all the rear connections. Indeed, these have dernires gnral between the rear of course but the XLR signal symmtris the front of the camera or vice versa.

I had intended to dpart the Tascam LA-40 tape recorder for my Otari MX-5050BQII symmtriser for the XLR assymtriques latter using adapters XLR => cinch. But I do not know why, was not working with this Otari: no sound going on. Well, I do not think that comes from a LA-40 as this make me the same shot with the beasts of the classical direct.

The LA-40 is perfect, however when it comes to any symmtriser recorder or other device Hi-Fi show when it comes to the latter on scne for one reason or another, for example. Or another example, it can be used to make the symtriques O cinch (so assymtriques) of 4-track tape recorder clbre Tascam 42 for which this device has t visibly Designed as an accessory to departure.

SOUND QUALITY

Well, at beginners, I did not notice anything special. But now I have to compare it with my other beasts of live classical (BSS AR-133, BSS AR-416 and Behringer DI 4000), is obvious: the LA-40 has more EHJV! ! ^_____________________^ ))))))))

OVERALL OPINION

I have since I have my Otari MX-5050BQII is - say the last few months, and I do not regret my purchase. Well, nine is a bit expensive for what it is (it's almost the same price as a BSS AR-416! - Luckily I bought used nearly 4x less expensive!) but in some situation, having all the rear connectors is relentless.

Malhère this Tascam LA-40 is no longer manufactured (and its successor Tascam LA-40 MKII for that matter): mine, I d buy it used and it is relatively hard to find opportunities.

On the MKII the TRS jacks, the front of the camera, ts have be replaced by screws SETTING THE gain. In addition, on the latter, it is possible simply by slecteur on each channel and a main slecteur eliminate the ground loop hum, more non ngligeable.

This device (and the MKII) is virtually without competition. Indeed, I know of no other manufacturer who offers. The other competitors offer plutt real beasts of direct symtriser the signal - some of them exist even in the rack 4, 6 or 8 channels.