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Preamps with Dual XLR Outputs

I am looking for preamps with dual XLR outputs to drive 2 separate stereo amps which are connected to 2 different speakers sets. My understanding is the Mola Mola Makua w/DAC and streaming board that is ROON READY can do this. It costs $20K and is my leading contender for my next preamp + DAC + streamer. I am going to output the signal to a Benchmark AHB2 amp + KEF LS50 speakers for one path. The other path is Luxman m900u amp + Yamaha NS 5000 speakers. My understanding is that turning off one of the amps stops the preamp from using that signal path. Perfect. I have heard all the components except the Mola Mola Makua so I will likely do a home trial on that.

My question is what other brands have an analog preamp with dual XLR outputs to do what I describe above? The preamp does not need to support an internal DAC. I could go for an external DAC like a LUMIN X1 or Denafrips Terminator.

BTW - if the Mola Mola Makua or any other brand cannot support my use case (I have been told it can). I will buy 1 preamp, such as the Benchmark LA4 to go to the AHB2 + LS50 system and also buy a DAC, such as Lumin X1,  to go direct to the Luxman + Yamaha system. Both speakers will be in the same room.
yyzsantabarbara
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,821 posts
 
One exception to atmasphere's comment directly above is a pre-amp using a transformer to create the balanced output(s). That's exactly how Tim de Paravicini does it in his EAR-Yoshino pre's. There is an EAR 868PL (phono and line stages) listed on Audiogon at the moment, and it has two pair of both XLR and RCA outputs.
bundy
127 posts
 
My McIntosh c2300 has three sets of outputs. 3 balanced and 3 unbalanced. You can control 2&3 on/off by remote. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,841 posts
 
One exception to atmasphere's comment directly above is a pre-amp using a transformer to create the balanced output(s). That's exactly how Tim de Paravicini does it in his EAR-Yoshino pre's. There is an EAR 868PL (phono and line stages) listed on Audiogon at the moment, and it has two pair of both XLR and RCA outputs.
Actually if a transformer is used, it has to have a switch so one side of its secondary can be tied to ground in case the output is to be single-ended. So a switch is required.

The only way to do balanced otherwise using a transformer and no switch is a a transformer with a center-tap. But this would sacrifice a lot of common mode rejection performance since the center tap can't be exactly placed at the center of the transformer windings. which is why no-one does it that way (as far as I know).
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,821 posts
 
Hmm Ralph, that's interesting. The EAR pre's don't have an XLR/s-e switch, yet have multiples of both outputs (double of each on the 868). I'll have to look for a schematic to see what's what.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Ralph & Eric ( @atmasphere , @bdp24 ) I looked at a schematic of the EAR 864 preamp, which is included in the owner’s manual that can be found at hifiengine.com.

Its output coupling transformer has two separate secondary windings. One connects to pins 2 and 3 of its single (per channel) XLR output connector. One end of the other winding connects to the center pins of its two paralleled RCA output connectors (per channel) via a 100 ohm resistor, with the other end of that winding connected to circuit ground. Pin 1 of the XLR connector and the ground sleeves of the RCA connectors are connected to circuit ground. There is a 1K resistor across each of the two secondary windings.

So the use of two secondary windings explains why there is no XLR/RCA switch. Presumably the 868 is similar in that respect, and I’d imagine that these and perhaps other EAR designs are fairly unique in that respect.

Best regards,
-- Al


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