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Signal Degradation Balanced Output

Has anyone developed a workaround that solves signal degradation when splitting. The problem that I have occurs even when the preamplifier has two balanced outputs.

Years ago I became aware of this problem when using my Sonic Frontiers Line 3, which has 2 pairs of balanced outputs, to drive a Theta Dreadnaught amp and a pair of Entec LF-20 subs. I thought the sound was excellent until oneday, I disconnected the cable to the sub and that’s when I heard what I had been missing from the Wilson Cub I, transparency and reverb that allows you to hear deep into the music.

Now, I’m running Focal Mini Utopia Be, Denafrips T+ DAC to Athena Pre, which has 2 pairs of balanced outputs driving a ARC VT-130 and a Focal Sub6. Same problem! I’ve tried inserting my Jeff Rowland Model 112, then tapping off the speaker terminals with a Jensen ISOMAX transformer which then goes to sub.. the problem persists.

The problem isn’t huge, it’s just that the higher the resolution of the components, the more noticable it is. My setup needs the lower fundamentals that a sub brings, but at a cost I’m not happy with.

Any ideas?




cathy062
unsound
7,332 posts
 
While I am typically rather entrenched in the solid state camp, I can't deny that the Sonic Frontiers Line 3 is amongst best line stages I've ever heard. The SF3 is not your typical tube pre, and ironically the biggest complaint against it seems to be that if doesn't have enough tube "magic", that it's too solid state sounding. Before condemning it as having the typical tube technical issues, take a look at this :

Sonic Frontiers Line 2 line preamplifier Line 3 Preamplifier, July 2000 | Stereophile.com
 
unsound
7,332 posts
 
I should add that a dear friend used a SF3 via balanced interconnects into 4 factory matched B&K M200's into Dunlavy SCIV's and the sound was glorious. The advantage of 4 mono amps over just 2 was not subtle.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
 Would the same thing be the cause here as well?
Yes, your at best halving the load impedance seen by the dac they would come back to the same dac buffer/s only depending how it's configured one could have the load of the rca and 1/2 of the xlr on it, the other the other half of the xlr, so it's load sharing could be bit lopsided also.

Best to use all from the RCA output or all from the XLR output and hope that either will have enough low impedance drive to handle the parallel load impedance of what your driving into.

Cheers George    
cathy062 OP
15 posts
 
Thanks George.
cathy062 OP
15 posts
 
It sounds like there is no workaround to the problem, however.  
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