@soix stated it well. I agree with doing the OPs ask totally wastes the abilities paid (probably dearly) for.
The only way that he is going to find out if it sounds worse to him is by comparing it Most of what is around here is theory.
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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Jensen makes a box that’s incredibly handy to have for these scenarios. It takes SE / RCA inputs and converts to balanced / XLR outputs via transformers (you will also need an extra IC). I have this and can confirm its transformers are transparent enough to improve SQ versus just feeding "half your amp" via RCA => XLR adapters. Great to have in your audiophile toolkit! Ralph Karsten of Atma-Sphere @atmasphere (I’ll try not to get this wrong but I’m no authority here) will probably point out any amp like yours is not really "balanced". A true balanced amp should take any input, even an SE signal on its XLR inputs, and still operate fully differentially. To achieve this, the amp needs a differential input stage. This can be done either with transformers (like the Jensen box), or with special active circuitry. Amps that use an inverting opamp on their RCA inputs are to be avoided - that’s not a proper differential stage! When high-end headphone’ing was a "new" hobby, the first balanced headphone amps did not have differential inputs. Later on the Kevin Gilmore designs starting using "Super Symmetry" (SuSy or SS for short) input stages that are just wonderful - RCA, XLR, or even SE on XLR: it’s all fully balanced throughout. NO performance penalty for RCA inputs or SE-on-XLR (besides whatever noise & aberrations the signal may be subjected to on the way there via cable). I believe the DIY community even released an SE-to-Balanced conversion box using this circuitry (all discrete, very linear). Most of the electrostatic headphone amps (Stax) also have differential inputs. |
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