Using XLR to Rca adapter

As has been indicated in the prior posts, using an adaptor to connect your system through the balanced inputs has no advantage and may actually be disadvantageous. For one, using the balanced inputs does not mean that the signal would be balanced since an adaptor will not convert your standard signal to a balanced one. You seem to be thinking that the adaptor will provide you with a shortcut to having a balanced system. It will not. Secondly, the fewer connections, the better. Adding yet another interface between the signal and your amplifier or preamp will more than likely increase noise, to say nothing
of adding to the likelihood of hum.

It's highly doubtful... but will sound no worse.

I have (2) sets of the Cardas XLR to RCA adapters running into my ARC preamp that have phono stages at the other end and I hear NO noise or any other anomolies. I ran out of RCA inputs, so I had to use the balanced inputs. My phono stages are RCA out only, so this works VERY well for me. I agree with Blindjim.

Ridding yourself of as many adapters as possible is a good thing.

2nd Stringreen.If the signal is not balanced to begin with.