Audio Research reference amplifiers used with RCA IC`s and unbalanced preamplifiers


I am considering purchasing used audio research reference amplifiers either 150se or 75 SE. My question is this

As these amplifiers are fully balanced and don't have an RCA input, can I use RCA interconnects with a conversion plug from RCA to balanced at the amplifier input and will it work in my system?

I don't have any balanced interconnects and don't want to go through the extra expense. Only one of my three preamplifiers has an XLR output and there's nothing indicating the preamplifier is fully balanced.

I find this balanced/ unbalanced criteria confusing.

 

nsp

I have all ARC stuff. I had high end single ended interconnects when I got my ARC amps. Audio Research recommends using balanced (preamps and amps are internally of balanced design). So I got an identical balanced interconnect and tried it. I could not tell the difference. I did not carefully listen for weeks… so there was probably a small difference… that I would have heard over time. I still swapped them all for balanced. Getting the absolute most out of a system is the sum of small differences… so some of us never let anything go at less than perfect.

So, applying this to your situation. The sonic difference in using converted interconnects is likely to be very small.

The fact that you own three preamps and are conserved with cable costs suggests you like experiencing different sound types as opposed to achieving the ultimate sound quality you can. So, I would go ahead. You are going to get the Audio Research sound from these components. Then if you get hooked on the sound you invest in balanced to get the utmost out of them.

@newbee 

 

With the 25’ balanced / unbalanced comparison. Where they identical interconnects that were fully broken in?

No, they were different brands. I guess my point was that cable construction was probably more important than whether or not it was balanced or unbalanced unless you had noise problems to deal with. 

cleeds

Thanks. My 2 current amplifiers are both tubes class a/b so I don't think I would incur any extra electric expense.

I understand I may not get maximum performance but as 2 of the 3 preamps are rca only I did not want to spend money on IC's that can only be used with one preamp. 

newbee

Thanks for input. I have no IC'S longer than 2.5 meters in the system.

I was wondering if the output impedance of my preamps makes a difference?

relating to the input impedance of the ARC amps . The ARC amps are both 300k ohm input impedance while my amplifiers are 47kohms and 25 kw input impedance,