Audio Research reference amplifiers used with RCA IC`s and unbalanced preamplifiers

newbee

... how much of that appeal is really important if you have short runs and no noise issues ...

The OP will give up 6 dB of s/n if he uses the single-ended connections. That's why I don't see the wisdom of buying balanced electronics such as ARC and then running them single-ended.

As these amplifiers are fully balanced and don't have an RCA input, can I use RCA interconnects with a conversion plug from RCA to balanced at the amplifier input and will it work in my system?

@nsp I think the answer is no.

IIRC, these two amps, while 'fully differential', have a poor Common Mode Rejection Ratio at their inputs! What this means is that it makes a big difference to them if the balanced input is driven properly. In support of this (again, IIRC), I was told by the front man at ARC (Kalvin, since retired) that the amp will make significantly less power and significantly greater distortion if driven single-ended.

+Atmosphere! Better from the horse's mouth than the horse's ass. :-)

nsp, re impedance issues you referred to. The 300K input impedance should make it a good match, impedance wise, to any SS or tubed preamp, or source directly connected. But, FWIW, I think the other impedances you attribute to ’amplifiers’ refer to the input impedance of your preamps. What is relevant however, as it relates to your amp, is the preamps output impedance.

cleeds

yeah ouch!! Not looking for added service expense/shipping  if possible. I don't repair but am capable of changing tubes, biasing, changing fuses. 

I do have an audio technician who does repairs for me at a reasonable cost