I’ve used xlr to rca adapters as a test. I’ve used them on a First Watt J2,and a pair of Monarchy Audio amps. I don’t run a balanced pre,but I wanted to see if there was a noticeable difference. I could not detect any. Now,if I was running a balanced pre, I’m guessing the outcome would have been different with end to end XLR cables.
Okay to use RCA adapter on a fully balanced amp?
Not a XLR is better or RCA is better question BUT if I have an amp (Digital Amplifier Co) that is fully balanced and only has XLR inputs, if you use a converter and go RCA from a Preamp, are you losing out in quality?
Here is something from audioholics and their review of one of their amps -
"The MEGAschino is a true fully balanced differential amplifier from input to output. It is essentially two amps for each channel, and one amp per phase. This means it really should be used in a fully balanced system.The manufacturer supplies an XLR to RCA adapter, but these should not be used. If a balanced connection cannot be used, note that the amp cannot be driven to full power from a 2-volt single-ended output, the limit of most receivers."
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- 33 posts total
OP, Any difference is likely to be small. In this price range of gear cables tend to be less important than in really pricy stuff. There are no absolutes in audio, but audio components are like scientific instruments, the better and more resolving they get the more small differences tend to make a big difference. So, for instance, the manufacturer of my amp and preamp recommends using XLR interconnects. So, I tried both. I really couldn’t tell the difference. I did not spend weeks comparing… but I still went ahead with the XLR (this was a $17K preamp and $22K amp). I think the quality of the interconnect typically makes a bigger difference. |
A similar discussion came up on a Denafrips DAC forum. Because the Denafrips are R2R ladder DACs and fully balanced there’s four ladders to support the left (signal A and signal -A) and right (signal A and signal -A) channels. By using a single ended connection only the signal A ladders are contributing to the output being sent to the amplifier. If you use a unbalanced RCA cable with an XLR connector on the amplifier end I would expect that the signal -A pin on each channel would not be connected. Components that are not fully balanced but do have balanced outputs use something to create the signal -A by inverting the signal. If your amplifier doesn’t have unbalanced inputs then it probably doesn’t have any mechanism to create the signal -A which would mean your amplifier would only be using half of it’s internal bits. In your shoes, I’d absolutely work towards a balanced preamplifier. |
@soix, is correct! Mike |
- 33 posts total