Can I plug speakers via TRS directly in to the back of an X

Newbie question here - Can I plug speakers via TRS directly in to the back of an X or do i need to buy an audio interface Focusrite etc?

Many thanks,

Do NOT do that!
Only if your speakers are 'active' speakers i.e. they have their own built-in amplifier [with balanced line input] can you make that sort of connection.
A normal loudspeaker [called 'passive'] has what is called a low impedance and requires quite a large current to drive it. If you connected such a speaker to your MPC ouputs you would likely damage the internals of the MPC X. Such loudspeakers require an amplifier - even if you go the audio interface route you would still need an amplifier to drive a passive loudspeaker. Passive loudspeakers should not have inputs that are jack sockets anyway - but that is not something that is guaranteed. You should know when you bought your speakers what type you were getting - maybe it is in the info that came with them.
All the best.

Oh come on. While they never specified, very few people just have passive monitors sitting around. This person likely has active studio consumer monitors. Even if so, if passives are passive, it is unlikely they would damage an MPCX by connecting to the outputs.

Plug them in, just watch your levels. Done.

Ah ok. I have some Genelec 8020DPMs (active) so guess it will be ok.

I used to have a Arturua interface but sold a load of gear including that. Thanks for your help both.

Wanderer wrote:A normal loudspeaker [called 'passive'] has what is called a low impedance and requires quite a large current to drive it. If you connected such a speaker to your MPC ouputs you would likely damage the internals of the MPC X.

No you would not.

Wanderer wrote:Do NOT do that!
Only if your speakers are 'active' speakers i.e. they have their own built-in amplifier [with balanced line input] can you make that sort of connection.
A normal loudspeaker [called 'passive'] has what is called a low impedance and requires quite a large current to drive it. If you connected such a speaker to your MPC ouputs you would likely damage the internals of the MPC X. Such loudspeakers require an amplifier - even if you go the audio interface route you would still need an amplifier to drive a passive loudspeaker. Passive loudspeakers should not have inputs that are jack sockets anyway - but that is not something that is guaranteed. You should know when you bought your speakers what type you were getting - maybe it is in the info that came with them.
All the best.

This is terrible advice.

Yes you can plug your speakers into outputs of your mpc.

I feel like you just need to say line level here, and be done with it.

The assumption that the TRS connection is to a passive speaker that needs to be amplified, while possibly true... it is just as likely that it has balanced connection in which case using a TRS or TS to the speaker would be fine.

Well, Well. Some unexpected critical reactions here. I do apologise if I gave the OP the wrong advice - and I hope I did not panic them - but my intention was merely to stop them from trying it out before they checked what sort of speakers they had. After all they did say they were new to this. There is no bad in that, is there?
As it happens they had ‘actives’ so no probs.
But ‘passives’ are different. The very word conjures up images of gentleness and non aggression. Beware! Their impedance is low [around 4 or 8 ohms usually]. A line out [balanced or unbalanced] is designed to drive a high impedance input [maybe around 10kohms] with very low current.
If you connect passive loudspeakers to line level it is almost like shorting that line level between signal and ground with a piece of wire [which is what a passive speaker coil is]. Now, Akai may well have designed their op amp circuitry with safety features to limit the output current in the event of shorting between signal and ground. I would expect that in this day and age. [It wasn't always the case]. Thing is, I wouldn't want to put it to the test with my equipment.
Quite likely the OP would only have heard nothing or just a low volume tinny sound. Or perhaps the MPC X would have been damaged. The thing is - I did not know, and in the absence of further info from the OP neither did anyone else. If anyone feels the need to educate me, I am happy with that. So, better to be cautious before, than sorry after.
May I wish everyone and the OP happy beatmaking.

Wanderer wrote:If you connect passive loudspeakers to line level it is almost like shorting that line level between signal and ground with a piece of wire [which is what a passive speaker coil is].

This is not true, and I think you misunderstand how it works. Any passive loudspeaker - ANY - will not damage the MPC if you hook them up to its line level outs. Full stop. It has nothing to do with impedance or shorting anything. Will it power them so you can hear anything? Probably not, or it would be so low it would be useless, but there is zero risk to burning anything out on your MPC just by hooking a set of un-powered passive speakers to them.

On the flip side... yeah definitely do not hook the outputs of an amplifier intended to power passive speakers up to the line (or phono) inputs of your MPC

NearTao wrote:On the flip side... yeah definitely do not hook the outputs of an amplifier intended to power passive speakers up to the line (or phono) inputs of your MPC