I've searched and looked all over before posting my question. On the rear of the SDS 200 is just an ext speaker jacket. There is no "rec" or line out like the BCD996P2. I'm replacing my current 996P2 with the SDS 200. Currently I have the 996 going to a 6 zone amplifier via a 3.5mm audio cable. It's working great. Now with the SDS 200 using a 3.5 mono the audio is only going to a few zones. Any suggestions would be great.
Sentinel: SDS 200 line audio
- Thread starter joeya7
- Start date
You have 2 options on the 200.
The front headphone jack - and the rear ext speaker jack.
Use whichever one sounds better....
(You probably will want to look into a ground loop isolator)
ground loop isolator amazon - Google Search
I just re-read your question.
Try a stereo to mono adaptor?
But...
When you plug a pair of stereo headphones into the headphone jack, it comes out of both L and R.
So, there is signal on both sides on the jack.
Never tried the rear to see if it was on one or both.
The front headphone jack - and the rear ext speaker jack.
Use whichever one sounds better....
(You probably will want to look into a ground loop isolator)
ground loop isolator amazon - Google Search
I just re-read your question.
Try a stereo to mono adaptor?
But...
When you plug a pair of stereo headphones into the headphone jack, it comes out of both L and R.
So, there is signal on both sides on the jack.
Never tried the rear to see if it was on one or both.
Last edited:
A thought - more of a question to the group.
Are both the front and rear 3.5mm's audio level not "line out'(?)
(Level of it's output via the volume knob)
IMO:
To get line audio out of an SDS200, ProScan is my best option.
Just say'n...
Are both the front and rear 3.5mm's audio level not "line out'(?)
(Level of it's output via the volume knob)
IMO:
To get line audio out of an SDS200, ProScan is my best option.
Just say'n...
I'm not an audio guy, but I believe a "real" line level is not controlled by the volume control. Although controlled by the volume control the headphone out would be much closer to line levels than the speaker out on Uniden scanners.
Agreed. In no way an audio guy either, but I've had it essplained to me that line level was fixed and was a 'standard level'. It was stronger than mic level and instruments, but less than a driven speaker or headphones. It also wasn't controlled by an onboard volume control of the device, but was presented to an audio mixer panel or control.
That is what I was saying.
We used to call it "pre-amp out" in my audio days.
Bypassing any tone controls - and yes the volume control.
Something to do with the impediance of the output also.
Thus, I don't think any of the 3.5" jacks could be considered line out on the radio.
tvengr
Well Known Member
What is the input level of the amp? Is it a mono or stereo input? Some consumer amps use a -20 dbu line level input. Professional equipment uses a +4 and sometimes +8 dbu level. For line level, the external speaker output will be fine. Just turn up the volume enough to provide adequate level to the amp. A +8 dbu level = 1.95v RMS. That voltage will give you about 1/2 watt audio into an 8-ohm speaker or 1 watt into a 4-ohm speaker. Do not use a mono cable. The SDS200 has a balanced output. If you use a mono plug, you will be shorting half of the audio amp to ground which may damage the amp. Ground on the SDS200 speaker output floats. It is not connected to the scanner chassis. The Uniden BC23A amplified speaker uses only the tip and sleeve connections of the stereo plug. There is an audio isolation transformer inside the speaker to prevent grounding the scanner output. To be safe, it is best to use an audio isolator between the scanner and the amp input. In comparison, dynamic microphones have an output level of about -56 dbu which is about 60 db down or 1/1,000 of the voltage of a professional line input.
So my current setup is a BCD996P2 using the "rec" jack stereo audio cable to a Pyle PTA62BT.5 6 channel 750w amp then to 5 8ohm speakers. That setup works fine. Just trying to replace the 996 with the SDS200.
tvengr
Well Known Member
The BCD536HP and SDS200 use different speaker amps than the BCD996P2. Is the aux input on your amp mono or stereo? What is the audio input level?
I called and asked and they said Mono
Pyle - CA-PTA62BT.5 - Home and Office - Amplifiers - Receivers - Sound and Recording - Amplifiers - Receivers
Bluetooth Home Audio Amplifier, 6-Ch. Audio Source Stereo Receiver System with FM Radio, MP3/USB/SD/AUX Playback (750 Watt)
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www.pyleaudio.com
tvengr
Well Known Member
Do you have a 3.5mm stereo cable?
Yes 3.5mm aux cable also have a ground loop isolator and a 3.5mm mono to stereo adapter
tvengr
Well Known Member
If you have an ohmmeter, try plugging the stereo cable into the aux input of the amp and see if you measure a short between the ring and sleeve on the plug on the other end.
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Joeya7 - It's most likely the plug being used (stereo vs. mono or other, etc.). In other words, if the scanner has a mono output, you'll need a mono plug, if it's a stereo output you'll need a stereo plug.
But mostly I wanted to thank you for raising the issue that the SD200 does not have a line out jack. I was planning on buying an SD200 to replace several BCT15X scanners, which at less than $200 each all have a line output for recording which I use extensively. How cheap could Uniden be to not spend an extra dime for a simple line output jack for such an expensive scanner. SMH.
It does. It's on the rear panel.
The specs in the manual reads "Audio Output Power (8ohm external SP/32ohm Phone Jack) (Nominal)"
A proper line output level will not change with the volume control setting. The rear panel jack on an SDS200 is an external speaker jack; the level changes with the volume control.
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I'm grateful for your reply, especially as I've been a Proscan user for more years than I can recall. Sadly, as toad99 describes, line out and audio (speaker) out are two different things. I use the line out to feed my Proscan software for recording and thus never have to make any adjustments after the initial settings in Proscan. In this way the speaker audio level on the scanner can be turned up or down without affecting the recorded audio. Speaker audio output, on the other hand, would have to be adjusted to a constant level and left alone which is not practical for recording purposes. I'm supposing you know all of this but wanted to be clear for other readers.
OK....(?)
So, are you feeding audio to ProScan via an audio cable plugged into the radio?
(The above is confusing...)
Or, using URL?
ProScan audio via URL is essentially "line out" - the volume is a constant level, regardless of what the speaker volume is at...
I think Uniden eliminated the record jack since the scanner has a built in recorder. The SDS200 LAN port outputs a constant audio level that is independent of the volume knob. Disadvantage of using the LAN port for the recorder is that it it outputs all channels and not selective channels that you want recorded. In ProScan, you can set the Record mode to lookup from the database and then you would set the system level option to record marked channels and set the channel Record flag.
