Main Features:
Put it on the speakers!
Yes, the xpector has speaker outputs for powered speakers. One push of the speaker button activates the speakers and mutes the engineer’s headphone. You have all controls of the engineer’s side available such as adjusting your own mix, a big level controller and different monitoring modes.
But what happens if you frequently switch between headphones and speakers with different volume levels? The xpector also has a solution for this, the Trim controller. It allows you to balance and adjust the volume difference between speakers and headphones. Use the swap switch to determine whether your speakers or your headphones should be the output reference for the trim adjustment.
Sometimes you just have to listen to music on speakers to really enjoy it!
Tune your headphones.
Have you ever had the situation where your mix wasn’t quite finished but the vocal recording was about to start? Do you have two pairs of headphones of the same quality for you and the artist? The built-in equalizer for the artist side of the xpector helps you to balance out these situations.
With the high shelf you can add brilliance and presence to your monitoring signal and the low shelf provides the drummer or bassist with the right amount of punch they need for the perfect recording session.
Of course, you can also turn your personal headphone audio experience into something extraordInary with just two controllers to make listening to music a pleasure again!
Loop in and loop out.
Your interface has a limited number of outputs, but you want to provide your musicians with individual mixes? Do you want to enable true zero-latency monitoring during recording?
With the xpector’s loop outputs you can connect multiple xpectors in series fast and efficiently. This allows each musician to decide for themselves how much signal from Direct or DAW should be present in their personal mix.
For example, in a recording situation you can connect a preamp like the skulpter to the direct signal and let the playback output come from the DAW – all latency-free. The artist can then put together their own mix and you can focus on the actual recording with your individual engineer mix.
The custom qube backplate enables this enhanced connectivity compared to standard 500 Series modules.
Of course, other combinations are also possible, check out our application examples below.
Get connected.
The xpector has mirrored headphone outputs for the engineer and the artist on the back. If you want to connect speakers or your studio monitors you can use the balanced XLR outputs to use the xpector as your monitor controller and benefit from the superb audio quality and true three-dimensional stereo image.
The stereo Direct and DAW inputs feed signals to the corresponding mix controllers at the front so that engineers and artists can adjust their mix to taste. But we’re not stopping. If you want to daisy-chain multiple units you can. Or use the Loop outputs to feed the output signal of a preamp connected to the direct input to your interface. There are multiple possibilities using the xpector – see the application examples below.
Puristic Power.
It all starts with a strong foundation. We designed a super-low noise internal Power Supply just for the xpector. To give you the best experience in Audio Quality. So you just concentrate on your music and relax knowing that the signal flow is simply the purest you can get.
Only possible with qube
Enhanced Connectivity - more than you xpect.
The qube is our ultraportable and loved chassis for professional audio wherever you need it. Our customers love the versatility and connections of the qube, so we decided to make a custom backplate for the xpector.
The in - and outputs that we needed for a dual headphone amplifier without compromises just can’t be offered by the 500 Series format. With 12 audio connections on the back panel the xpector meets every requirement – from home enthusiast to professional studios.
Applications:
Mixing and Audiophile Listening
Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can bring you great joy. The xpector can significantly enhance your listening experience, whether you’re in the studio, in a recording session, at a rehearsal or listening to music at home.
Connect the audio output of your interface or converter to the DAW input of the xpector. If you want to improve the signal on your headphones a little more, use the equalizer on the Artist page.
If you want to connect active speakers, use the XLR outputs on the engineer side and enjoy the pure audio signal using the DAW controller.
For example: If you only use the DAW input signal, turn the DAW controller all the way to the right and adjust the volume with the level controller.
Connecting an external Preamp
Latency has become an important issue in the digital world of recording. The xpector solves this problem with its pure analog monitoring.
To give artists the best performance, connect an external preamp such as the skulpter directly to the xpector. Use the direct input labeled L(M) for this. Connect the playback from your DAW to the DAW stereo input.
Now you can set up your personal mixes for the artist and the engineer using the two controllers (Direct and DAW). Adjust the general volume of the headphones with the level controller.
This allows both vocals and instruments to be monitored without latency during recording.
Cascading multiple xpector
Imagine several musicians in a session wanting a slightly different mix. Normally, you would have to provide multiple AUX channels and adjust them individually for each musician.
With the xpector, you can provide a high-quality headphone signal to many musicians at the same time, which everyone can easily adjust in the mix. You can expand the two stereo inputs of the xpector using the loop outputs and provide individual mixes in a session.
For example, you can create a band mix and a vocal mix. Connect the band mix to the DAW input and the vocal mix to the direct input. Now everyone can decide for themselves how much of each mix should be audible in their own headphones. Simple and clever.
Cascading and Direct Monitoring
The next step, once you have connected multiple xpector, is for each musician to individually mix their own instrument or voice into a mix. This is also fast and easy to implement.
We have designed the Direct Input exactly for this application. If you use an external preamp such as the skulpter or connect a DI input, the signal can be mixed into a shared band mix that the musicians share. Most of the time you want to hear your own instrument or voice more clearly, so use the direct controller to adapt the musician’s own signal to their listening habits.
With this application, recording sessions with more than one musician are no longer a problem.
Everything is latency-free for the best performance.
Tech Specs
Frequency response: <10 Hz – 400 kHz (-3,0 dB)
Level:
Input: +22 dBu
XLR Outputs: +22 dBu
Impedance:
Input: 45 kOhm
Output: 0,09 Ohm
Max output power:
@22 Ω : 2 x 150 mW (RMS)
@600 Ω: 2 x 150 mW (RMS)
Dimensions (W x H x D, incl. Knobs):
4,1” x 5,39“ x 8,4“ (104 mm x 137 mm x 212 mm)
Weight:
3,17 lbs / 1,46 kg
Power consumption:
9 Watts