Template:L1 Pro FAQ

General Questions

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What are the mid-high array and lower mid-high array made from? Metal mesh front and is rear metal or plastic?

Arrays on all units feature an extruded aluminum sleeve. Perforated grille on the front, solid on the back. Source: Craig Small

Are the column speaker arrays interchangeable between the different models? (L1 Pro8, L1 Pro16, L1 Pro32)

No. While the column arrays and extensions of the L1 Pro8 and L1 Pro16 will fit each other, no sound comes out.

How do I connect one L1 Pro to another L1 Pro (Daisy chain)?

Use an XLR female to 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) Tip-Ring-Sleeve to connect the L1 Pro Line Out to a second L1 Pro (any model) channel three. For complete details see L1 Pro Daisy Chain

Inputs and Connections

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How do I connect a mixer to the L1 Pro

If the mixer has XLR outputs

• Mixer mono out → XLR‑to‑Tip‑Ring‑Sleeve → L1 Pro Channel 3

If the mixer has 1/4-inch (6.3mm) Tip-Ring-Sleeve outputs

• Mixer mono out → 1/4-inch (6.3mm) Tip‑Ring‑Sleeve cable to → L1 Pro Channel 3

For more details, see Mixer to L1 Pro

Can I use XLR cables from my mixer into Channels 1 or 2?

You can, and it 'might' work. Click for details

And yes, there are even pictures of this in the L1 Pro manuals.

However, using XLR to XLR connections can lead to problems.

1. Some mixers can output mic‑level on XLR — most cannot

If your mixer allows switching its XLR outputs from Line to Mic, then it may work. But this is uncommon. Using XLR → ¼″ (6.3 mm) Tip‑Ring‑Sleeve into Channel 3 is far more reliable.

2. Most mixer XLR outputs are line‑level, which is a poor match for the L1 Pro’s mic‑level XLR inputs

This mismatch can cause:

• Input clipping
• Harsh distortion
• Unpredictable behavior

3. You can sometimes “make it work,” but it’s not ideal

You might avoid clipping by:

• Turning down the mixer output
• Turning down the L1 Pro channel volume

However:

• Lowering the mixer output reduces signal‑to‑noise ratio (more hiss)
• Turning the L1 Pro channel knob very low gives almost no usable range
• Volume may jump from too quiet → too loud with tiny adjustments

4. Channel 3 avoids all of these issues

Channel 3 is designed for line‑level sources and provides:

• Proper level matching
  • Lower input sensitivity (less likely to clip/distort)
  • Full +24 dBu headroom
• Predictable behavior
  • No ToneMatch presets
  • No Reverb
  • No DSP gain steps

This is why the recommended method is: Mixer mono out → XLR‑to‑Tip‑Ring‑Sleeve → L1 Pro Channel 3

Why are the 1/4-inch (6.3 mm) Tip-Ring-Sleeve Inputs on channels 1 and 2 louder than the 1/4-inch (6.3 mm) Tip-Ring-Sleeve Input on Channel 3

By design, the input sensitivity on channel 3 1/4-inch (6.3 mm) Tip-Ring-Sleeve is lower than on channels 1 and 2, so that when using line-level inputs, channel 3 is less likely to clip. You can get the same output from channel 3, but you may have to turn up the volume control higher to do it. You are most likely to notice this difference when connecting a third-party mixer to the L1 Pro. For more information see Mixer to L1 Pro