Rane DA 216a Distribution Amplifier

Rear Panel

General Description

The Rane DA 216a Distribution Amplifier is a two-input, sixteen-output splitter/distribution amplifier. The DA 216a is capable of providing sixteen discrete balanced outputs from one or two balanced mic-level or line-level inputs. The level of each output is individually adjusted via one of the sixteen screwdriver Output Level controls on the front panel. Each output may be assigned to either or both inputs via front panel accessible slide switches.

The Master A and B Level controls affect the overall level of each input. In other words, they allow all assigned outputs to be turned up or down at once. LEDs indicate an Overload (OL) at either the inputs or at the internal gain stages.

Each input is set to either Mic or Line level via the rear panel Input Pad pushbutton. The Input Gain pushbutton switches provide a microphone input with +60 or +40 dB of gain, or a line input with +20 or 0 dB of gain. With Input Gain, Master Levels and Output Levels, any reasonable input signal may be adjusted to a nominal +4 dBu and still have 17 dB of headroom. The Phantom Power switch provides +15 VDC for condenser microphones. Any input assigned to line-level has this phantom voltage turned off automatically. A rear-panel LED indicates when the Phantom Power is engaged.

Each output stage incorporates a high-current balanced output line driver for driving long lines with optimal performance.