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

Tue Jun 16 20:49:30 CEST 2026

good to know - thanks so much, I'll be careful.

The phantom voltage blocker circuit is relatively simple:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/phantom-power-blocking.1513464/

Maybe that's what the passives on the jack board do? It's the only
explanation I have for them.

In which case it would be surprising your dbx died, but also maybe not
connected to phantom power.

On Tue, Jun 16, 2026 at 8:43 PM Slope 114 <dankedout415 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> My dbx286s recently stopped working.
> I like to use it to compress vocals on the way into EHX 95000 looper. Didn’t notice the phantom button on back of the EHX was accidentally pushed in. By the time I noticed the processing section of 286s stopped working. Preamp still works, still outputs a signal but the compressor is dead.
> Havn’t opened it yet.
> It got a lot of use from us though. Every gig for about 8 years.
>
> On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, cheater cheater <cheater00social at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> 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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