Balanced XLR to RCA Adapters: Good or Bad?

When I used adapters, it was clearly evident that the sound suffered...your system may be different.

Lewn.
"If, in fact, you do upgrade, keep a couple of things in mind. Not all equipment and not all cables that have balanced connections are really balanced. With equipment, it is expensive to make a component fully balanced because they have to double up on all the internal parts in the signal path. A lot of companies put xlr connectors and lable the connection balanced, but it is not really balanced. If you are not sure, there should be 2 sets of specs (balanced and non balanced) listed for the piece. If only 1 set of specs, it probably is not balanced. Cables need to be balanced as well, not just have xlr's. The cable should have 3 seperate conductors or, at the very least, 2 conductors and 1 shield. I hope this info can help you with your decision."

The above quote is from my response above. It looks like we are both in agreement. Your post basically says the same exact thing mine does, just in your own words. As far as buying the better connectors, I still have to disagree. It just doesn't make sense. I'm guessing that the used NAD is worth a few hundred dollars. By the time you get done reterminating the cables and/or buying the expensive XLR you will have a good portion of the total value of the NAD invested. The money can be used, instead, for better equipment. So when the OP wants an opinion on choosing either cables/connectors or equipment, I say why spend money to make a small difference when you can put it toward something that will make a big one. Also, if and when the equipment eventually gets upgraded, there is a very good chance that he will probably be going with balanced equipment anyway and will need everything just as it is now. Anyway, thats just my honest opinion on how I see it. Everyone does things their own way but as long as you end up where you need to be and are happy, that's all that matters.

If that is what you wrote, I apologize if I misinterpreted your post and then hung you out to dry for it. As to the advice you are giving the OP in the post just above this one, you are entitled to your opinion. But I don't know where "buying the expensive XLR" enters into it. The OP was wondering about re-terminating his phono cables, which as I understand it already are terminated in XLRs. So he would need to purchase a pair of male RCA jacks. There are many good choices that do not cost very much (e.g., Eichmann Bullet plugs for about $30 for a set of 4); the major cost would be in the labor to remove the XLRs and solder in the RCAs. It would take me 15 minutes to do that, but I am sure there are rip-off artists who might charge as much as $100 for the work. OP will by now be able to make up his own mind. Peace. Out.

I glanced quickly through some of the above posts where recommending adapters in the $75-$120. Given prices like that, I just felt the money can be put to better use. The main reason for this post is to include something I forgot yesterday. There is a better way than just taking chances and hoping for the best outcome. I have been dealing with a company for the last 15+ years. The Cable Company/Ultra Systems www.fatwyre.com (I'm sure most people on this site has heard of them) is the most reputable audio company I have ever dealt with - by far. They have a lending library of cables, accessories, components etc. that they lend out. At first it sounded like too much of a big deal but they do make it very easy and cost effective. All you have to pay is shipping and you can use the stuff for about 2 weeks (they are not picky if you need them for a little longer.) They do charge you 5% of the total cost of the equipment they send out but you can use it to purchase anything you want at any time. I use them all of the time even for small stuff like this. Aside from all of the valuable experience I have gained over the years from making some bad upgrade decisions, they are my most valuable resource. Again, just my own personal opinions but I think it may be helpful for the OP to just try all these solutions at no risk. I do have to admit, though, after all the varying recommendations, I am very curious to see the turnout of all this.

I very much appreciate the help of all of you who have responded, although I still don’t know what I want to do. I would like to respond in particular to Herman’s remark: “Come on Doug, you have more invested in a single cable than he has in his entire system” because curiously my speaker cables are probably the best part of my whole system. I have two 12’ Mark Levinson speaker cables bought in 1982 @$5 per foot (= $120). Similar cables (Mark Levinson 10 gauge) are being sold on Ebay now for about $1450 per pair. My speakers, bought in 1982 along with the cables, have also, I believe, stood the test of time better than the rest of my system (NAD amp and a 1996 Sota Comet with a Jelco LMT III tonearm): I have two 5’ Magnaplanar 1 speakers for which I paid $700-750. I tell you this not to impress you, but rather to give you a clearer perspective on the potential of my system for upgrading. I might also mention that I have 40’ of shelf space taken up by LP’s (3000 records I estimate) and that the alternative to the Clearaudio Ambient for me is the Clearaudio Ovation. I was thinking of getting before I saw the ad for the Ambient.