Does Nord Grand Need Preamp? Very Quiet through Monitors

[ATLNord]

Help!

When I'm running my Nord Grand into a couple 650W speakers (Barefoot 01s), it's incredibly quiet. I've tried going direct, through a Yamaha mixer, and through the Audient iD44, all the same? The speakers are very loud with a computer input, but anything with the Nord is extraordinarily quiet?

Do you all typically use a pre-amp? How does one make the Nord loud through studio monitors?

Thanks

[FZiegler]

What is 'incredibly quite'?

I do encounter a less hot output signal on my Nord Stage 3 than from other sources. It's somewhat lower but still clear and powerful enough for a direct use with monitors.

Your studio monitors seem to have (balanced) XLR input only. If you try to use the unbalanced ouptput of your Nord to go directly into the XLR-in of your monitors (without a DI box or the like), it's at least 6 dB lower anyway (because only half of the expected signal comes in).

You don't combine both channels, right? That could result in phase cancellation and might lower the level down to almost nothing.

I'm not sure which would be the best solution: Maybe a preamp, maybe an active DI box (sort of preamp, too). For me as a live player, a passive DI box and a mixing console is the right solution, but for studio purpose, there will probably be other solutions.

[maxpiano]

I agree with FZiegler, those monitors provide only a XLR balanced input (while otehr also provide Jack balanced/Unbalanced and some also RCA unbalanced) so they are not conceived for direct connection with an unbalanced source such as the Nord; the best option is to have them driven by an audio interface or a mixer with balanced XLR Outputs (to which in turn you will connect your Nord).

[cphollis]

Might be that your monitors expect a stronger output? You'll always get better results gain staging your Nord Grand through a small mixer/preamp/powered DI of some kind. Plenty of gain in all situations that way. Doesn't have to be expensive, either. I use a powered DI from Behringer which is pretty clean.

Also, check polarity on your cables. If one is backward, the stereo signals are cancelled, making it sound very thin and very quiet.