XLR or RCA for my new DAC
Looking at the specs for my amp and in some general reading, I see that the input/output impedance, voltage, and sensitivity are all about double for the XLR connections. I am not sure if those stats equate to a sonic difference. Here it is for my pass labs amp: Input Impedance: 50 / 100 (SE & BAL kOhms) |
If the cable length in question is less than about 4-5 feet, a SHIELDED RCA cable is almost as good as an XLR. Otherwise, XLR starts to win. Be aware some RCA cables you buy are NOT properly shielded. Here is one I use that I KNOW is properly shielded: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016QVZF06/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 |
I do like using RCA: more open. (For short distance). XLR is more ‘direct”,more black/white, miss a little bit “the feeling” of music. Both are detaifull , I’ve tried both, but RCA, brings me more ‘into” the music. (system: CEC (cd-player), Auralic (streamer),Metronome technologie C6 (dac), Daniël Hertz M6L (préamp) , Wavac MD 805m. (Monoblocks) and the Ilumnia Magister ( speakers) |
Just wanted to thank you all for taking the time to reply and share... @guy-incognito, thanks it's fun writing my impressions of the DAC :) Unfortunately damn work gets in the way so I'll have to be away from my new toy for the next 9 hrs or so...HOWEVER, I just put in for Monday-through Wednesday of next week for a little r&r time with my new Bifrost. Gonna spend most of that time re-listening to my "new";) cd collection! That's how super crazy excited I am over this thing. You know what seriously? I've listened to Iron Maiden "Live After Death" literally countless times over the last 25+ years. I mean over and over and over. Every road trip, every night with the boys going back to when I was a late teen Live After Death always came with or was playing. It's a staple in my cd collection. And I am truly going to ask that this cd go with me in my coffin (I will never go any journey without my Maiden :)). It's classic Maiden so you just pop it in and turn the volume up to full and just jam out!...Last night was the first time I listened to it differently for the first time ever. I didn't blast it, I didn't want to. I heard detail and nuances I truly never have before (and maybe that's because I've always listened to it so loud that about midway through the first track the ears go numb-but it's Maiden that's what you do). At the risk of coming close to using the typical cliché, I won't go there and say it was like listening to it for the first time, but I will certainly say I listened to it and heard it very differently for the first time...That's about the best way I can convey what this DAC has done for me... |
