2. amps-preamps
  3. 149317-132962

It is balanced or not?

Hello everyone, I am new to this page, I thank the Audiogon team for allowing me to be here with you, I have a question: I have the preamp and DAC: "Emotiva Differential Reference XDA-1" it has the following digital inputs: "S/PDIF (optical and coaxial) and AES/EBU (XLR)", the XDA-1 has balanced outputs for an speakers amplifier, inside it has the amplifier: "Texas Instruments Burr Brown OPA2134" and I want to know if it really works balanced; the XDA-1 has the DAC: "Analog Devices AD1955" inside. thanks
joser9616
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
@joser9616  There is an easy way to tell if you have a DVM (Digital Volt Meter). If you don't the best way to find out is to talk the manufacturer.
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
@joser,
That was Ralph (Atmasphere).
B
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I just checked....it is differentially balanced according to their site...(but are your amps)
joser9616 OP
29 posts
 
Than you very much to all!!!!! thank you than you :-) yes stringreen, the Crown D-75 and Crown D-75A are balanced, they are studio amplifiers(pro) oh ok gdnrbob.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
@joser9616 - One point.   Just because they are "studio amplifiers" does not mean they are fully balanced.  The analog input stage of the amp may be balanced, but the amplifier itself is single-ended.  You can tell because the amp can be bridged-mono to double the power output.   You would not be able to do this on a balanced/differential amplifier.

In actuality, pretty much all studio equipment is not fully balanced.  "XLR balanced" was developed as a way to transfer analog signals between equipment devices, sometimes a very long distance (50-100+ feet).  In almost all cases I have seen, the XLR input on a studio equipment will always convert to single-ended analog internally for purposes of volume / equalizer / mixing / etc.  Then, on the output, it will convert back to "balanced XLR".
More to discover