I am using the Ayre P-5x phono pre which has balanced and single ended inputs. I use the balanced inputs with a custom made Audioquest Cheeta cables that have RCA connectors on the side that plugs into the VPI Aries (VPI did not have a xlr connection block option at the that time, they do now) and xlr on the other side for the P-5x. This option was described in the P-5x manual as the second best option for connectivity and works well for me.
If you think about it the phono pre end of the cable is like any xlr while the other end the cable the two balanced wires are connected to the rca center hot and the shield. AQ cable are a "balanced" design so it is a slight disadvantage to have the RCAs on the one end.
If I was starting now I would get the VPI xlr connection block, but at this point the things are electrically correct and it works.
TD
If you think about it the phono pre end of the cable is like any xlr while the other end the cable the two balanced wires are connected to the rca center hot and the shield. AQ cable are a "balanced" design so it is a slight disadvantage to have the RCAs on the one end.
If I was starting now I would get the VPI xlr connection block, but at this point the things are electrically correct and it works.
TD