Rolls MX42 4-Channel Passive Mini Stereo Mixer

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

It's a four-channel, stereo mixer. Since it's passive, you can't amplify a signal with it, and it has no EQ's and no mic pre's, etc., so it's no suitable for any use except sub-mixing a bunch of stereo line-level signals. But if you have multiple synths or sound modules, and you record everything inside your PC, this will let you hear them all together without gobbling up a power outlet, or a rack space, and the passive nature of the mixer means that you're not compromising your signal quality with cheap op-amps or line noise. Simple, effective, I like it.

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

Five computers hooked up to one set of speakers. You could also use it to attach multiple devices to a mixer and mix them all together. Very cool!!

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

You can combine up to 4 line level sources to one source on the fly...Great for those Mic+SBD matrixes!

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

I use the MX42 mixer to route my CD player, mini-disk, audio tuner and recorded mix from my DAW through the RCA tape inputs on my home studio mixer. Perfect for freeing up the 1/4" inputs on my mixer. Only complaint, it is small and if you hook up all four inputs it will most likely not stay on its feet. Not a big issue...

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

I'd take a star in lieu of my own ignorance but that seems inappropriate. This device does exactly what it says it does so I can't take stars for that.

However, I can't really think of a situation where losing 12db of signal is good, acceptable yes, but not good. For example, I can compensate for for the signal loss by connecting the output to an amplifier and adjust the volume from there. But mixing a bunch of devices from their 1/8" headphone outputs and trying to listen with headphones or record using PC's 1/8" line-in would be unacceptable.

I'm tempted to try and breadboard a simple stereo amplifier circuit with the gain set to a static +12db so I can use the mixer with my headphones or PC's line-in without the use of more equipment.

This was probably the wrong mixer for me but it performs the way it was intended to and it's construction is pretty solid ... so 5 stars.

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

This little mixer is a dandy. I use it to combine 2 computers (a Mac and a Windows box) and an XM radio receiver. It's passive, works great with line-level signals, and of course, is super-quiet. It's very well built - all metal - no cheap plastic, here. I would definitely recommend it. The price may seem a bit high for a passive mixer, but considering the quality, it's worth it. I really have nothing "negative" to say. I did have to buy some 3.5mm-to-RCA adapter cables to match my computer audio outputs to the mixer, but these are inexpensive (less than $3 apiece).

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

I use this mixer to combine audio output from 2 CD changers, an MP3 player, and a PC so that all of these components can be heard through one stereo receiver auxilliary input. That way I never have to plug/unplug components. Works great, is compact in size, well built, and doesn't require another external power supply.

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

this is no frills, but it is really quiet, solid and sounds very transparent

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

I've been looking for a 4 channel stereo mixer to go with my 4 port computer (KVM) switch and single set of powered speakers. Having the ability to hear the speaker output of any/all of the computers without switching between them is very helpful. This product does an excellent job!

Comments about Rolls MX42 Mini Stereo Mixer:

I have my computer, TV, and iPod dock all connected to the same loudspeakers... but I wanted to hear alerts from the computer even if we were listening to one of the other sources. Problem solved. This little box is built like a tank, completely passive (who wants yet another "wall wart" power supply to plug in?), and mixes four stereo inputs with no degradation in sound quality. The only problem is that the box looks a bit clunky and is so small that it can actually be dragged off the shelf by the weight of the attached audio cables.