xlr vs rca

Balanced is not better because it is "balanced" but beecause so many rca's are really bad conncetion wise. Balanced sounds worse to me in many cases, but I prefer the sound of XLR's to RCA's. A contradiction??? No, I use pin 1 gnd, and pin 2 +, and avoid pin 3 and use the XLR's. Balanced cable is good if it is shielded, and you have a long run, say more than 10M and a noise issue. No noise issue, no need for balanced cable. I like the no 3 pin setup best. Jallen

Dear Jamiek: What make a balanced unit is not the interconect cables but that the electronic audio link ( item ) was/is designed in balanced way.

There are units that are fully balanced ( input to output ) where you need a balanced cable at the input and output ( not because it comes with XLR ), this means that the cable internal configuration and connection to its XLR termination connectors are true balanced.
There are other units that are a only output balanced design with unbalanced( RCA ) inputs.

So it is not the cable termination the one that tell you if it is balanced or not but the audio electronic item internal design.

One advantage on balanced designs is that noise/distortions canceled between the balanced design.

So you don't have any advantage if you use XLR connectors in a unbalanced audio elewctronic item because this item accept only unbalanced audio signals.

Rauliruegas's statements confuse the issue. A completely balanced design component has some advantages over single-path designs but it is not necessary to accrue the advantages of balanced connections. Balanced connections, with their increased immunity to induced noise, require only a balanced output connected properly to a balanced input.

Kal

Jamiek,

If you use XLR to RCA adaptors on each end, the XLR cable in the middle will be performing just like a RCA cable. You don't get any noise cancellation property of a XLR cable. There is absolutely no benefit to do that except higher cost.

Listen to Kr4. If the gear is all truly balanced... using xlr cables is best.

if there is a lack somewhere, using an adapter is not a terrible thing. I went all BAT power train using xlr. My source was not balanced so adapters were in use. it sounded great IMO.

Sold the preamp, kept the amp, bought a SE preamp so again, adapters were needed... best sounding rig I've owned at that time.

I used Cardas adapters, BAT adapters, and some pro adapters, in fact I use a pair now on my DAC so I can run SE/RCA cables.... the noticed diffs from one set to another was negligible. In fact I doubt in a blind test one could actually pick out which xlr to rca adapter was being used.

That's the truth as I know it... see for yourself. $50 - $100 for upscale adapters. $15 for pro. Maybe you will hear adiff. I did. It just didn't justify the extra $35 - $85. it was that slight a diff.

Enjoy.