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.  
128x128srosenberg
I was just wondering if replacing the adapters w/Jensen tranny and adding another cable would be likely to provide enough Sq improvement to justify the cost.
I doubt it very much. The less transformers in the signal chain the better IME.
@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
Thanks guys, I will take your advice and stick with what I have for now and if I run into an rca  to XLR cable down the line, perhaps I will give that a shot just to eliminate the adapters. Cheers,
Spencer