Is the Schiit Magnius up to the task ???

@russ69 - yep - I already understood that.

But I can't figure out why do so many brands use XLR outputs when their gear is really designed for use in home audio situation there are very few cases where a 50 ft run is actually reqired.

For Example

• we see many source components (like DAC's) with XLR outputs, where it would be very unusual for them to be located more than a few feet from a preamp of amp.
  • the only two areas I can think of where XLR would be required is:
    • ​​​​​​​From the phono stage to the preamp/amp, assuming the turntable may be located in another room
    • or from the pre-amp to the amp(s), where the amps are located beside the speakers

More questions...

• Is there any advantage of having the additional voltage of balanced outputs?.
• do they put more "design effort" into balanced circuitry?
• If I had an XLR and RCA cable, that were similar electrical attributes
  • wire type and gauge, copper or islver
  • insulation type e.g. Teflon
  • length (i.e. overall resistance)
  • would the XLR perofrm better?

Thanks - Steve

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I always use XLR connection if possible even for 3 feet run. IMO, XLR provide more secure connection than RCA. 

I would put my money on your current single-ended setup being better than inserting an active Schiit component for no good reason. Honestly you’d have to put a gun to my head to get me to insert any Schiit into my analog chain.

If you’re concerned that the Simaudio’s balanced out has some magical sonic properties over SE - it might in fact only be using half its circuitry for SE outputs, in which case the balanced outs *might* sound better (maybe). In that case I’d go for a Jensen ISOMax line-level converter (XLR to RCA) before anything else. I’ve used one of these in the other direction - taking a SE phono stage into a balanced headphone amp - and it sounded great; there was distinct sonic advantage over full SE in that particular case, because that headphone amp only used half its circuitry in SE (note: an amp with differential input stage wouldn't have cared whether SE or balanced).

Somebody else can speak the the potential usefulness of simple XLR - RCA adapters (Cardas makes nice ones) in this application, but both the adapters and the Jensen box are handy to have in your audiophile toolkit :)

Audio by Van Alstine makes a single to balanced converter box that is much higher quality than the converter plugs you can buy.

If the itch is unbearable buy a fully balanced amp like one of Ralph's.