XLR-RCA: Adapters or Custom Cable?

Which Lavry Dac do you have, some have SE outputs. Adapters do not "always ruin the sound." That is audiophile paranoia taken to the extreme. How can you make such a statement when you can't test it? If you can't use the DAC without an adapter how can you tell how it sounds without one?

If you are one who will sit and fret the whole time you are listening about what you might be missing by using an adapter then you should get a DAC with SE outputs. Otherwise get one and enjoy!

A balanced DAC has two output signals per channel. If properly designed they are exactly the same except one has inverted polarity. Feeding one of them to an SE input on your preamp will work just fine. You just need the proper adapter. Look at the link below. What do you have to lose? It will be $12 for 2 adapters. You could use one on either end of the cable but I think putting it at the DAC will be more solid and you won't have to buy a balanced cable.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/American-Recorder-Technologies-XLR-Female-to-RCA-Female-Adapter?sku=339513

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Thanks for the responses(for the most part). The Lavry is a Black DA10 so it only has balanced outputs. Others have reported that the Cardas adapters work well so I may end up going that route. From a technical standpoint, having a single piece of cable would seem to have an advantage but if that advantage isn't really audible then it's of no concequence. That was really what I was trying to find out. At any rate, I'll just have to play around with it and see what works best.

The main thing that you should make sure that you get right is the wiring configuration of the adapter or cable . . . the characteristics of 'balanced' outputs aren't exactly standardized.

If the DAC has a transformer-coupled or "active floating" output, then pin 3 needs to be grounded. If it has an active symmetrical ground-referenced output, then pin 3 shouldn't be grounded, it should be left floating. In either of these cases, ground goes to pin 1 and the unbalanced output positive goes to pin 2 . . .

. . . unless of course if it's wired to European standard (or "pin 3 hot"). Then the above applies, but with pins 2 and 3 reversed.

If you're unsure, it's best to contact the manufacturer of the DAC for their connection recommendation, and make sure that your adapter or cable complies with it.

If resale value is a major concern then you might consider an external transformer based balanced to singe ended converter. The downside is that you'll need two sets of cables.

Good point Kirkus, The Lavry DA10 manual shows how to configure the outputs for SE operation. It does show pin 3 as the non-inverted output. If the adapter I linked to connects pin 2 to the middle pin on the phono jack then you would be stuck with the inverted output but this could be corrected at the speakers by reversing red and black leads. Of course if you go DIY then you can configure things any way you want.