Audio Research amps - balanced & non

The quasi-balanced interface that I suggested (using a resistor to ground for the (-) wire) gets you the noise pickup reduction benefit of balanced lines. It is appropriate for equipment which is single ended internally, and useful (instead of an RCA/XLR adapter) if the power amp has only balanced input.

If the power amp has internally balanced circuitry, and performs poorly single ended, (as appears in this case) the transformer suggested by Bob_reynolds is the way to go. To describe such a transformer as "junk" reflects ignorance.

Sorry Eldartford, it's not ignorance, but rather observations with my system. I have played the game with trying to use transformers to achieve balanced signals out of DACs. And the result was a loss of low-level detail and truncation of harmonic overtones.

Once a device takes away detail, and I can survive without it, as far as I am concerned, it is junk. For high resolution system, transformers in the signal path absolutely affect the sound. I suspect this would not be observed with a system loaded with other bandaid devices such as equalizers.

Comparing advice from electronics professionals and their theories vs. observing the affects on such system configurations are very different worlds. And as much as a "corrector" may be a temptation because it looks good on paper, it often gets removed from the system. An example of this or me was the Rives PARC.

Rather than trying to tweak the circuit to accommodate a pairing of balance and single-ended devices, my advice is to use products of the same topology.

The advice to hunt down another D115 or D250 is good. Perhaps you might even find the rare and coveted M100s, a mono block version similar to the D115. The SP-10 and these amps are absolutely outstanding products. Don't piss away their musical magic through other attempts at "correction".

Eldartford,

To be fair to Jafox, I don't think he was dissing the quality of the devices (including the one I suggested) being recommended for use between the pre and power amps when he used the term "junk". Rather, it seems to me that he was advocating the "simplest signal path" philosophy shared by many hobbyists on this site. Whether you agree or disagree with that position, I'd cut him some slack as I think he meant no disrespect.

Marty

Never mind my previous post - Jafox has responded in his own fashion.

Marty

Thank you Martykl, yes I am a big advocate of the "simple signal path". As mentioned above, I tried a Rives PARC, against the advice of two A'gon members I highly respect. Yes it did what it was supposed to do, but the "side effects" that they told me would occur, well, they were right on. We know we should listen to those with much experience but often we need to learn the hard way. And I am simply giving a different perspective for Westchr to consider before going down a path of complication vs. choosing the "appropriate" amp/preamp combination.