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Balanced XLR to RCA Adapters: Good or Bad?

I’m thinking of buying a Clearaudio Ambient turntable with a Satisfy tonearm which has Balanced XLR cable plugs. My old NAD 3155 integrated amp (http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ramps&1027213706&openusid&zz02pete&4&5) does not have XLR inputs jacks. They make adapters ( http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=240-430) which would allow me to connect the TT to my amp. [The amp works fine; it has been recently serviced.] But is it worthwhile to do this? That is, on the assumption that Balanced XLR cables are superior to RCA cables, would I, by using such adapters, undo the good quality of the XLR cables?

Should I go to the expense of buying a preamp with XLR input jacks and RCA output jacks, like the PS Audio GCPH phono stage? I listen to classical music and jazz.
franz456
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tdaudio
201 posts
 
Al, good point. I have an ohm meeter and I should be able to test that in the next day or two.

Thinking about it an adapter should have a tiny effect.

Just before the Triplanar here is what I had. A VPI Aries 2 with JWM 10.5 with the standard RCA output block. Having the Ayre balanced P-5X phono pre I special ordered an Audioquest Cheeta half meter (I could go that short) cable that had RCA plug goiing to the VPI rig with XLR for the phono pre. That cable is a balanced cable and keept the +/- phase signals floating even in that confiiguration. This is nothing more than a long atapter! It worked great. So I have a hard time expaining what I experienced with the Triplanar continous cable from cart clips to RCA plugs and the RCA/XLR adapters. But taking them out made clear difference.

TD
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Al, I have used these adapters from several well respected audio names. I don't wish to list them cuz I don't want to imply that their products are defective. The adapters made for Doug are the best I've heard against the marketed products. The use of an adapter does add to the circuit. I am not against doing so but some methods do work better than others. Then again, no extra component sounds even better. Well, to me anyway. :-)
ebm
9,311 posts
 
No i meant no Adapters at all are better.HELLO!!
hiho
451 posts
 
It's only $12 for the pair of adapters. Just get them and get the system working for now and decide later if you want to reterminate your connectors to conventional RCA plugs. In the meantime think about buying a soldering iron and learn to solder and it will save you a lot of money in the future.

Of course no adapter sounds better than having adapter, but sometimes people just don't want the hassle. And that's okay, too.

_______
lewm
13,344 posts
 
Hiho, This hobby is ABOUT hassle. No-hassle solutions are barred. It's not ok to avoid hassle.
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