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Help: getting around balanced inputs on pre/pro?

All:

Many of the best prepros need balanced input for 2 channel bypass. My cd/dvd doesn't have balanced output. My questions:
1)Obviously, I could use an rca/xlr adapter, or similarly a cable with rca and xlr connectors, but would that degrade performance?

2)Assuming the DAC's in my pre/pro (still to be purchased) are very good, can I can simply go digital in and use the pp's dac and get best 2 channel SQ?

3)I also have a Sonos with an Apogee MiniDac. The Apogee (great little dac btw) has balanced output, so I can use that through the bal inputs and improve that experience as well, right?

Just need to be clear before I pull trigger on used pre/pro purchase, as I want to get best 2 channel performance.

thanks Jeff
jeffkad
jcilarry
6 posts
 
The Cary Cinema 11 will accept RCA or balanced just FYI
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rleff
1,065 posts
 
Thanks Bob_Reynolds even though I am not in this type of a situation I did not know that such a device other than the adapters existed;thanks for putting your solution up as a excellant suggestion.How is the performance of this for you in your system?
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jeffkad OP
211 posts
 
I've looked more closely at the Cinema 11, and it does allow Input One to be deemed bypass and to use either rca or xlr. However, I also realized that this is the only input I can use to bypass processing, and I have both a cd/dvd (pioneer dv47a) and a Sonos via outboard dac (BelCanto or Apogee) that I want to run in bypass. I don't know if the Cinema's (or the Parasound C2's) dacs are as good as those found in my cd/dvd or the BC/Apogee. So unless there is a great pre/pro that allows several analogue inputs to bypass processing, or has a great dac, I'm starting to think that CKoffend and others who are preaching the virtues of running a sidecar 2 channel setup may be right. I can get a preamp or integrated that takes multiple inputs, and either use their HT Bypass or get the Niles amp switcher that switches on voltage signal, with default to my Pioneer vsx49tx receiver, so my kids don't get confused. Hmmmm.....
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