Triplanar RCA out to Balanced out for MP-1

Convention for a balanced connection:

Pin-1: shield (balanced signal ground)
Pin-2: positive signal
Pin-3: negative signal

You have two options:

1. Run single ended into your balanced system as stated the posts above:

Pin-1: jumper to Pin-3 (connect RCA ground to balanced ground)
Pin-2: connect your positive RCA wire
Pin-3: connect your negative RCA wire

2. Create a balanced connection. This has been the subject of heated discussion over the past 12 months. From your perspective, you could care less. I'd try to take this approach.

Pin-1: find a tonearm chassis ground point and connect it to pin-1.
Pin-2: connect to your positive RCA wire (as above)
Pin-3: connect to your negative RCA wire (as above)

Comments on running balanced on the Atma-Sphere site:

http://www.atma-sphere.com/support/se.html

Strictly speaking, Ralph mentions only line level sources in detail in the first paragraph - assuming your tonearm manufacturer will wire your tonearm cable for you. The same principles apply from a wiring perspective for a tonearm - save the discussion on whether or not a cartridge is balanced or floating single ended. For your purposes, you don't care. It's the sound you're after, so wire up in balanced mode and have at it.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Dear Cousin: You don't have to " find " anything ( like Tom say ), everything you need for a proper balanced connection is on the Neutrik connector and your cable.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Thom, I've been thinking that your scheme #1 for hookup is the way you'd do it if a cartridge really had a hot and ground side, i.e., the way to do it if you were to hookup a single-ended CD player to a balanced input preamp. Scheme #2 is the "only way to go", in my view. In fact, in my case I just hook up the tonearm cable shield to pin 1. This works fine with the MP1.

Hi Raul,

By "finding" something, I was referring to establishing electrical continuity between pin-1 and the metal on the tonearm.

If you're lucky and the tonearm cable has a shield which has electrical continuity to the tonearm's body, all is well. I think this is what you're assuming, and in most cases it should be the situation you'll encounter.

Tonearm cables are almost always shielded. Still, I would verify electrical continuity with the tonearm's body just to make sure.

An alternative would be to use the ground wire for this purpose - splitting it into a "Y" to run to the pin-1 of both left and right connector.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Thank you all.

I have built enough RCA cables to be proficient at that, but, balanced is a whole new ball game, especially coming from the tonearm. I think sending the tonearm back would be best.

I will likely buy some balanced cables here on Audiogon. I am leaning towards the Acoustic Zen Silver Reference ll, any comments or recommendations?.

I will now position my MA-1 Silver amps behind the speakers, but will need to build my own balanced cables. I already have DH Labs BL-Ag shielded cable, and Vampire gold plated balanced connectors. Should both lengths be equal, or can one cable be longer. Any comments?.

Tom, thank you for joining us. I once had a Teres 360 (very few made), it was too soft for me, so I sold it. Next year I will be looking at a new table (presently using a J.A. Michell Gyrodec, highly modified), chances are the new table will be one of your incarnations. This year I have purchased the Tri, a Universe copper, and now the Atma-Sphere MP-1, budget spent.

Raul, I have always enjoyed your points of view, you hold nothing back, your as anal as I am, LOL.

Do any of you know Frank Schroeder personally?. When I purchased my Teres, the DPS that came with it was broken (string). I sent it back, 4 years ago, and have still not received it back. If you could put in a good word for me, that would be much appreciated.

Next weekend I am going to Montreal. Am hoping to hear the new Tenor amp, just a wee bit out of my price range, but still excited.

Bill