[PD] (OT) safely connect piezo transducer to soundcard as microphone

[Matteo Sisti Sette]

On 04/21/2012 12:38 AM, Martin Peach wrote:
> You could put a resistor in series to limit the current or a pair of
> diodes in parallel to clamp the voltage. Probably a pair of 1N4001s like
> this would work:
>
> IN---+------+-----OUT
> | |
> ^ v
> | |
> GND--+------+-----

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. If I understand correctly, here the 
non-ideality of the diodes is what does the trick, and this would limit 
the voltage to below the diode's drop, right? which is about 1V or so...

Now, thinking about it, wouldn't the following be even better? (this 
hadn't come to my mind before)

  IN---+------+-----OUT
  |
  v
  |
  |
  ^
  |
  GND--+------+-----

with two ZENER diodes of appropriate reverse voltage? Facing each other?

So within the "allowed" voltage range there would be no (or much less) 
distortion?

Maybe I'm being too naive here?