"paul m" wrote in message
ups.com

Thanks for the responses. I should clarify - I am using a Tascam US
428, which can take both line level and XLR mike inputs. Therefore I
should be able to get around the internal amp issue, no problem.

So it sounds like the jack is the way to go, thanks eveyone.

What you're missing is the fact that in most inexpensive mixers, the line
input is attenuated to avoid problems with overloading, and then passed
though the mixer's mic preamp. You end up putting the music through two mic
preamps in a row. It's pretty easy to make the sound dirtier this way, but
its pretty hard to make it cleaner.