RCA inputs are generally designed for relatively low level line outputs, such as you get from CD players etc..
The thing is, the only thing that is happening is SOMEWHERE, two stereo signals are being summed to a mono signal. Either in the arranger itself, or in the Bose. But nothing else should be happening.
Trouble is, at some point you are either losing signal or gaining it, it you claim to be able to hear things get 'fuller' (which is usually a perception of a volume increase, as well as POSSIBLY a timbral change as well).
The only way to be SURE that what you are hearing is not simply a result of it simply being a bit louder (you can easily read up anywhere about the ear's tendency to equate small volume differences into perceived EQ changes - look up 'equal loudness contour' if you want more info) is to do the test I outlined earlier.
But you can't equate what happens with a Yamaha with what will also be true for a Korg, or Roland, or anything else. One thing that is obvious from the PSR series is that Yamaha have cut a LOT of corners to produce the thing as inexpensively as possible. Inexpensive case, inexpensive action, inexpensive buttons, etc., etc., (but don't get me wrong, it's still a great arranger, but simply built for the home market, who, to be fair, are unlikely to ever hear it in mono anyway)... It strikes me as likely that they MIGHT have cut corners with the stereo to mono summing, and perhaps chosen to do it passively (basically, simply connecting the two wires together like using a splitter cable) rather than actively (using electronics and circuits to do it electronically). There's a REASON you don't hook gear together by simply touching the wires. I mixer is MUCH more than simply connecting the wires. There's all sorts of electronic buffers, resistors, capacitors, whatever, to ensure that the signal remains the same as it gets mixed.
Now, I'm not doing anything but speculating, but this might be what is making the PSR's so different for their owners in mono externally or internally mixed. But until SOMEONE gets the urge to actually test this out, that's all it's ever going to be.
Speculation.
Personally, I HAVE tested my G70, and hear no difference between internally and externally mixed mono. And, to be honest, for any other non-budget arranger, I would be very surprised if there was a difference. PA800, I wouldn't imagine that there's any difference between using one cord mono out to mono in, and using a stereo cord to a stereo in (upon which the mixer mixes it to mono), other than PERHAPS a change in gain slightly.
Trouble is, that small change in gain MIGHT still lead you to perceive a small timbral change. But it will likely be very small. Nowhere near what PSR users report, anyway.
We've been talking about this issue for YEARS. Surely SOMEONE is willing to take a few minutes to answer the question once and for all?
), but I think the 'more fuller' comment, at least in Yamaha's case, is MUCH more to do with the summing engine (and phase issues with the samples and effects themselves) than mere volume. If it were equal across manufacturers, it might simply be the volume issue, but it seems that the Yamaha's have definite issues.
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