Customer Reviews

American Recorder PMIX-100 3-Source Personal Audio Mixer

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been looking for a way to manage my 3 inputs (2 computers, 1 stereo) to go to one set of speakers and one set of headphones. Previously, I had to use 2 sets of headphones for the computers and required a amp/speaker set with 2 inputs. Switching between headset and speakers was awkward.

I wanted a small unit that could accept at least 3 stereo inputs and had at least 2 stereo outputs, one for the speakers and one for headphones.

Just got this pMix 100 today and have been listening to it this afternoon. There are a few issues, but overall I think I'm going to keep it as it seems to address my need.

PROS:
+ it accepts three 3.5mm (1/8in) headphone jack-style stereo inputs that can be mixed together if you want.

+ jacks are nice and tight so unlikely that the plugs will fall out.

+ sound seems good; I'm only using it for casual listening

+ size is pretty compact, can be easily tucked away on a desk

+ comes with a couple of male-male 3.5mm connector cables and an RCA-3.5mm male cable

+ knobs are damped and knobs seemed to fit tightly on my unit


CONS:
- Most noticeable drawback is the loss of volume. I measured the sound of a source (i) run directly to the speakers and (ii) run through the unit. For a song that peaked at 93dB a few feet away in the direct source set up (i), the measurement when run through the unit (ii) was 83dB. This is a significant loss of 10dB attributable to the unit. I made sure that the knobs weren't moved between the comparisons. Despite this, I could still get plenty of volume out, so I came to terms with this.

- Occasional quite noticeable hum which I discovered was positional - that is, I got rid of it almost completely by moving the unit slightly or putting my hand over it. This indicates that it's lacking some shielding somewhere. Perhaps wrapping it in tinfoil would help? Some kind of makeshift Faraday cage? Anyway I just moved it 3 inches and it's fine for now.

- Blue lights are ridiculous (too bright and distracting!) and I will eliminate or cover them asap

- headphones do cut off speaker output so if you need 2 simultaneous outputs, this is probably not for you. It's fine for me.

In summary, it works OK and in the absence of another inexpensive unit that manages my sound output this is fine. I don't think I would run any quality-critical mixing through it but for a compact listening solution it's fine.

The only other option I could find were the 8-10 input mixers; however they are really designed for predominantly mono inputs (though they have a couple of stereo inputs) and would have required too many adapters for the multiple mini-plug inputs I have.

I'm pretty harsh with ratings so 3 stars is probably what other people might call 4 stars.

UPDATE 02 Nov 2009
The buzzing (RF interference of some sort) was particularly noticeable with my wireless Sennheiser headphones and I got annoyed moving this thing around. It seems that the solution is to wrap it in tin foil - stops the buzzing (by protecting unshielded components).

So if you can live with it wrapped in tin foil, there is virtually no line noise. The stupid blue lights and transparent case seem to have been more important than properly shielding the case or wiring.

Got this for a variety of mixing tasks, but mainly to have a way of feeding multiple devices into an amplifier. It works great for line-level input and you can take the headphone output into at least some PCs. It won't work as a microphone mixer.

I don't know how most people would use these. We have multiple workstations on desks and wanted to use one set of speakers. Worked great for the purpose and I like the blue lights.

These seem really expensive for what they are but I couldn't find another comparable product. It seems like they have the niche sewed up for the moment.

I bought two mixers, one was this one, one was a used Xenyx 1002
pro mixer, both about the same money. My application
was mixing PC sound card output back into the MIc input so that I could
play records and various PC sounds back to my Skype friends (no, I could
not make that up).

The unit certainly does what is after all a simple job, being a three
way mixer without distortion. To address the other reviewers "problems",
if you do not like the fact that the speaker out cuts the headphones off,
which is after all a feature, it means you are trying to use that to
output to two devices at once. Buy a simple two-to-one jack and this will
do the same thing.

For the dude who was trying to plug a mic in, PC headset/mic
combinations, or any PC mic, needs a bias source. The PC mic in provides
a +5 volt bias voltage to the mic, or else it would not work. Rig
yourself a bias source by running a battery through a 2.2k resistor to
the ring lead (not tip or shell) and you can use it for this unit. See
various pages on the web for more information.

Pros:
-Cheap, can be had for as little as $39+s/h online.
-The only 3 port mini mixer I've found that uses stereo 1/8" "miniplug" and not two 1/4" mono left/right per input.
-Volume pot switches have a good quality feel.

Cons:
-Two insanely bright blue LEDs, that serve no purpose, shine out the front of the unit like headlights.
-Volume knobs are clear making it very hard to see the current position.
-No RF shielding so this unit picks up RF noise from cell phones, powered USB hubs, computer monitors, and etc.
-Can't use headphone out and speaker out at the same time. (The packaging lists this as a "feature", I list it as annoying.)
-No feet on the bottom, so the unit slides on smooth surfaces.
-Input ports feel cheap when inserting or removing connectors.

Overall for the price this is an OK unit. I'd recommend having a permanent marker handy to color the raised position indicator on the knobs. A soda can, to cut open and place over the top of the unit to act as an RF shield. Some electrical tape to mask off the insanely bright blue pointless headlights, and to hold the soda can RF shield in place.

If you're not feeling DIY, and want something that is well thought out, then go with the ART PowerMIX III - 3 Channel Personal Mixer for around $65+s/h. Keep in mind that ART PowerMIX III uses 1/4" mono left/right for all inputs and outputs. So you will need the right cables or adapters.

The documentation accompanying the unit I purchased provided these additional specifications, which I believe should have been included in the basic description above:

Total Harmonic Distortion: less than 0.05%
Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10KHz
Signal/Noise: better than 81dB
Power consumption of the PMIX-100: 40ma @ 9VDC
Input power: 110-120VAC @ 60Hz
Power supply rating: 80ma @9VDC (enough "extra" for the outboard mic-level amplifier too)
Power supply connector polarity: +outside, -inside [ed. note: the reverse is more typical]
Connectors (except power) are all 1/8" (3.5mm) miniature stereo phone jacks
Dimensions: 6-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 1-1/4"
Weight: 8 ounces
A matching outboard amplifier for accommodating mic-level inputs is also manufactured: Model ADPT-105 (it has _two_ mic-level inputs [apparently one 3-pin DIN socket and one big (1/4") phone jack], one line-level output for connection to the PMIX-100 [another 1/8" phone jack like on the PMIX-100 itself], and requires the same 9VDC power as the PMIX-100 [ADPT "Y" Power Plug is recommended])

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I drive headphones (not speakers) with it. I'm glad I found it; there doesn't appear to be anything else like it for the needs of this niche. Its name "personal audio mixer" is an accurate description of the intended niche and of the product. To my old (I'm 57) ears using headphones, it sounds just fine. Based on the specifications though, I would _not_ have been satisfied with it as a component in my HiFi system in my younger years.

I wish they had put more into shielding and less into the darn translucent case and blue LEDs. But probably that's just a telltale that I'm a "hopeless old fuddy-duddy".

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Currently (February 2011) the unit is listed multiple times with very different prices. At this time, street price seems to be about half the list price!

I've been hunting for something like this for ages. KVMs can be great, but they lack one thing - audio mixing. This box fits the niche perfectly. The inactive computers can still grab my attention with a well placed beep.

The only drawback is that I find the two blue LEDs to be annoyingly bright, casting shadows in a darkened office.

it works okay. the buzzing interference is annoying, i'll have to wrap it in foil to see if that shields it better, yes the blue led lights are crazy bright.

The documentation accompanying the unit I purchased provided these additional specifications, which I believe should have been included in the basic description above:

Total Harmonic Distortion: less than 0.05%
Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10KHz
Signal/Noise: better than 81dB
Power consumption of the PMIX-100: 40ma @ 9VDC
Input power: 110-120VAC @ 60Hz
Power supply rating: 80ma @9VDC (enough "extra" for the outboard mic-level amplifier too)
Power supply connector polarity: +outside, -inside [ed. note: the reverse is more typical]
Connectors (except power) are all 1/8" (3.5mm) miniature stereo phone jacks
Dimensions: 6-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 1-1/4"
Weight: 8 ounces
A matching outboard amplifier for accommodating mic-level inputs is also manufactured: Model ADPT-105 (it has _two_ mic-level inputs [apparently one DIN socket and one big (1/4") phone jack], one line-level output for connection to the PMIX-100 [another 1/8" phone jack like on the PMIX-100 itself], and requires the same 9VDC power as the PMIX-100 [ADPT "Y" Power Plug is recommended])

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I drive headphones (not speakers) with it. I'm glad I found it; there doesn't appear to be anything else like it for the needs of this niche. Its name "personal audio mixer" is an accurate description of the intended niche and of the product. To my old (I'm 57) ears using headphones, it sounds just fine. Based on the specifications though, I would _not_ have been satisfied with it as a component in my HiFi system in my younger years.

I wish they had put more into shielding and less into the darn translucent case and blue LEDs. But probably that's just a telltale that I'm a "hopeless old fuddy-duddy".

-----

Currently (February 2011) the unit is listed multiple times with very different prices. At this time, street price seems to be about half the list price!

I wish the product description was more detailed. What I found out after I bought by reading the manual:
1. When you plug into the speaker jack the headphones go out.
2. You need another amp module for a mic. My headset mic combo didn't work with it.

I purchased this product to record online conversations. It can't be done with this unit as delivered. I did find a use for it though. I am using it to dub my old tapes into mp3's.