Forgot to mention: If I had to pay AL for the knowledge gained from him via this forum I would be broke!
Recommnedations for moderately price balanced IC's, and adaptors to an RCA end
The title of the thread may be a bit unclear. However, I need recommendations for a "moderately" price balanced interconnects. Also, are there quality adaptors to convert a balanced end into an RCA input or output without major signal loss??
I want to use my Rogue Sphinx hybrid integrated as a pre-amp because it has a variable output (pre-out) for an second amplifier, and connect it to a Balanced Audio Technology VK-200 amp that will only accept balanced. IC's
The Rogue integrated has all RCA input and outputs .Therefore, I also need a recommendation for two XLR to RCA adapters. Eventually, I will buy a separate pre-amp, possibly the new Rogue RP-1.
Thank you
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To Almarg, Mensch and those who responded: I bought the BAT VK-200 amp and hooked it up to the Rogue Sphinx integrated amp's variable output (pre-out) using a pair of Signal Audio Cables (that is, XLR male to RCA male). They supposedly take 50 hours to break in. The VK-200 is an excellent sounding amp with deep bass, and detailed midrange. Almarg was almost right on the money about some loss of volume because of the IC cable used Actually, this is not totally conclusive on my part I first played Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" CD, and it was loud at 12 to 1.00 o-clock I followed with a specially produced classical music sampler offered by the magazine, HI-FI Plus. This CD was produced to showcase microphones produced by Neumann and Sennhiser engineers The CD's sound quality is very good, but not spectacular. When I got to the excerpt from Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" ( the Finale), I gunned the volume a bit more, and discovered that at a point it got no louder. I looked at the volume control and it was at 5 o' clock. The difference in volume levels between the two CD's "may" (I say may) be attributable to the output level that each CD was recorded. It also could be what Almarg suggested a consequence of not using a XLR to XLR interconnect, despite the fact that the amp is designed for both balanced and unbalanced operation. The latter needing an adaptor. or XLR to RCA cable. Cheers, Jim |
Sunnyjim & Mesch, thanks very much for the nice words. Jim, I'm hard-pressed to think of a musical passage that is more likely to bring out a marginal volume range/system gain condition than the finale of the "Firebird," due to its incredible dynamic range. Perhaps that is why you chose to listen to it in your initial evaluation. I have on LP the digitally recorded version of the Suite that was issued by Telarc ca. 1980, with Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony. Like most or all Telarc recordings it was subjected to little or no dynamic compression when it was produced, the result being that the whisper-like level of the opening notes will tempt one to turn up the volume control higher than on pretty much any other recording I can think of. While some of the notes a few minutes later, especially the one at the very end, will reach or exceed the maximum sound pressure level that can be produced by many highly regarded systems. Depending on how much dynamic compression was introduced when the version on your sampler was engineered it seems conceivable to me that both of the factors you mentioned, plus the dynamic range of the recording, plus the possibility I mentioned earlier that the unspecified gain between the Sphinx's line level inputs and its variable line-level output may be little or none, may all have contributed to the fact that you max'd out the volume setting on that recording. Hopefully that will not happen with very many of your other recordings, until such time as you purchase a preamp. Best regards, -- Al |
P.S: For those who may be interested, the finale of the Robert Shaw/Atlanta Symphony/Telarc recording of Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" that I referred to begins at 17:23 of the following YouTube video. You'll have to turn the volume on your computer speakers **way** up to hear anything at that point, but be sure to turn it down as the music gets louder! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Or4x6RXyU Regards, -- Al |
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