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RCA to XLR vs XLR to RCA... Converting Input or Output - Does It Matter??

I just picked up a new DAC that only has RCA outputs whilst my preamp only has XLR inputs.  realizing that a DI box like the Jensen ISO-Max is the proper way to resolve this incompatibility, that's not an immediate solution for me.  in the short term, i was going to use adapters on either the DAC outputs or the preamp inputs.  given the following options, is there any benefit to one vs the other (emi/rfi, noise, etc)...

Option 1:
convert the RCA output on the DAC to XLR via an RCA Male to XLR Male adapter and connect the components using an XLR cable.

Option 2;
convert the XLR input on the preamp to RCA via an RCA Female to XLR Male adapter and connect the components using an RCA cable.

as an alternative to the above, i could also use a converter cable, RCA male to XLR male as a short-term solution.

i know none of the above will turn an unbalanced signal to balanced - these are really only to address jack incompatibilities - and the proper solution is a transformer.  until i'm able to implement that, is there a preferred method from those above?

thanks for any inputs.  
srosenberg

Showing 2 responses by almarg

almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
@sbank, I have no reason to doubt Ralph’s good comments. And especially given that the Nagra is battery-powered, which eliminates any possibility of ground loop issues with the Nagra/BAT combination, that a Jensen transformer would be able to resolve.

Best regards,
-- Al
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Bob, to be sure it’s clear, while Spencer wants to convert RCA inputs to the transformer to XLR outputs from the transformer the PC-2XR will do the opposite. Spencer, the PI2-RX would be suitable. You can find it at the following link at a slightly better price than if it is ordered directly from Jensen. (Choose RCA input connectors in the drop-down menu near the bottom of the page).

https://www.cs1.net/products/jensen_transformers/PI-2XX.htm

Note that this device requires XLR cables on its output side that are short (e.g., one or two feet or so), and do not have high capacitance per unit length. The RCA cables on its input side can be any reasonable length.

A single-channel version (PI-RX) is also available, for use with monoblocks.

SRosenberg, I doubt that which of the two options you described would be best can be predicted with any certainty, and I suspect that whatever difference might result would be component and cable dependent. And very conceivably there may be no difference at all.

Best regards,
-- Al
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