[sdiy] Installing good looking XLR panel connector on rack equipment?

[cheater cheater]

On Tue, Jun 16, 2026 at 3:34 AM Slope 114 via Synth-diy
<synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>
> Whatever you do_ Don’t accidentally plug the output into something with phantom power & not notice it for a while.
> The processing section will all stop working .

Have you experienced such breakage with dbx gear, or are you talking in general?

The dbx output board has a bunch of passives on both input (probably
for providing phantom) and output (and I wonder if this is for
protection against phantom).

Can someone make out what's happening on the board?

The connectors are:

J1 - XLR input
J2 - TRS balanced input
J3 - TRS insert send/return
J4 - TRS balanced output

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325546155545

>
>
> On Monday, June 15, 2026, Tony Mowbray via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>>
>> Slow and steady is the best process. If you don't feel benevolent towards it, wait until later.
>>
>> Excellent work can be done without the fancy tool (and sometimes they cost quite a few dollars) just how slow and steady
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>> Tony Mowbray
>>
>> Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: "Chromatest J. Pantsmaker via Synth-diy" <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
>> Date: 16/6/26 9:20 am (GMT+10:00)
>> To: synth-diy at synth-diy.org
>> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Installing good looking XLR panel connector on rack equipment?
>>
>> I've done pretty well using a step drill and a small file.  You definitely want to punch the exact center of the XLR though.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Monday, June 15th, 2026 at 4:04 PM, Tom Bugs via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>>
>> > I've used a few Q Max punches of various diameters - they're very good.
>> >
>> >
>> > On 15/06/2026 23:16, cheater cheater via Synth-diy wrote:
>> > > I won't be replacing the TRS socket, I'll be putting the XLR in an empty space.
>> > >
>> > > Thanks for the product suggestions so far, I'll check them out.
>> > >
>> > > On Mon, Jun 15, 2026 at 9:26 PM BrightBoy via Synth-diy
>> > > <synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>> > >> In the USA, Greenlee has been the defacto chassis punch manufacturer since the industrial age started.
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> I also recommend getting the stout automatic center punch to make sure your drill doesn't walk
>> > >> on the mounting holes.
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> My favorite? The heavy duty Starrett #18C
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> Good luck!
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> BB
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> -----Original Message-----
>> > >> From: Mike Bryant <mbryant at futurehorizons.com>
>> > >> Sent: Jun 15, 2026 3:12 PM
>> > >> To: synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>, cheater cheater <cheater00social at gmail.com>
>> > >> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Installing good looking XLR panel connector on rack equipment?
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> Lots of punches available, but the problem for you will be making something of the exact diameter of the TRS socket to centralise the punch.  Then make up a template to punch the mounting holes.
>> > >> ________________________________
>> > >> From: Synth-diy <synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org> on behalf of cheater cheater via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
>> > >> Sent: 15 June 2026 19:45
>> > >> To: synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
>> > >> Subject: [sdiy] Installing good looking XLR panel connector on rack equipment?
>> > >>
>> > >> I have a couple dbx 286s units, and in their infinite wisdom dbx did
>> > >> not include XLR output, only input, so I'm looking for a good clean
>> > >> way to install a high quality xlr output plug. It already has balanced
>> > >> TRS, so electrically it isn't anything spectacular, but I'm looking to
>> > >> punch the enclosure in a nice way and then install the plug. I was
>> > >> wondering if anyone had experience with this, and can recommend a good
>> > >> combination of panel mount XLR jack and a punch that makes holes that
>> > >> fit it well. I know Neutrik do panel mount XLR, so that would be my
>> > >> go-to, but I don't know how best to go about doing the hole punching,
>> > >> so I would appreciate any suggestions or experiences. Thanks.
>> > >> ________________________________________________________
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