Cable conundrum: Parasound A21 with RCA AND XLR

Ja2austintx,
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Jdub39,
Yes, I have read the same about XLR on A21. I am hoping to get the cables this weekend. Thank You for the info.

ALRIGHT - received the XLRs, installed in the system and finally got the answer I was looking for. Without keeping you guy waiting, here it is - JUST GO for XLR.

Did not take more than 15-20 seconds to realize this with 2 CDs I used - Famous Blue Raincoat and Hobo (Sara K).

FBR is well recorded and I have used it on multiple occasions to test various components. Listening to "Bird On A Wire" it was immediately apparent that the stage depth and height had increased. Hobo is also very well recorded. But my constant complaint was that the recording sounded thin. With the XLRs in place this is no more an issue.

Here are the changes that I noted with XLR compared to RCA:
1. Superb dynamics (big, bold, lifelike presentation)
2. Excellent depth
3. Subtleties became so apparent
4. Increased stage height
5. Pinpoint imaging (separation of individual sound?)
6. Center vocals do not move to sides if you move your head
7. More muscle to music
8. Increased gain

That last point above is what I don't understand. I had to go down 2 notches on the volume control. Why did this happen? My CDP remains the same. Only the connection from preamp to amp changed. If someone could care to explain, it will be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

I can say this confidently - if you are not utilizing the XLRs on the A21, then you are only listening to $1000 amp. Use the XLRs on the A21 and now you are listening to the $2300 amp that you really paid. You really don't know what you are missing on the A21, unless you listen to it using XLRs. I am not going back to RCA on the A21 for sure.

For people who are using passive preamps or TVCs - XLRs is THE way to go if your amp is A21. You will be surprised by the "gain" that you gain (no pun intended). I am pretty happy with the positive change in my system, that the XLRs have bought. Though the CDP is the weakest link in the chain now, I am in no hurry to replace it - since all my old CDs are NEW again and I need to listen to them again - at least once!!

There is typically a 6 dB gain difference between balanced and unbalanced connections. In a balanced connection, the signal is differential -- e.g., when the positive leg increases by 1 volt, the negative leg decreases by 1 volt, and there is a net 2 volt differential signal. In an unbalanced connection, we only see one leg, or 1 volt of signal.

Twice the signal = 6 dB of added gain.

That last point above is what I don't understand. I had to go down 2 notches on the volume control. Why did this happen? My CDP remains the same. Only the connection from preamp to amp changed. If someone could care to explain, it will be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

Pretty simple answer - Balanced output is in general twice the output in voltage (typically 4V vs 2V but that also depends on the manufacturer). Balanced was designed for professional setups where 50+ feet are needed. Also balanced has better noise rejection.

That being said I did a shootout about a year ago with Nordost Frey's and found the soundstage to be wider which I really liked but found the gain to be too much which I really hated. I went with the Rca's. My cd is a meridian G08 and my integrated is an Octave V70SE which both have a true balanced output and input. Just upgraded to the Tyr2 w/rca's.

Ja2austintx/Xti16,
Thank You for explaining. Please note that my current CDP only has RCA and that is how it is connected to the TVC.
I was under the impression that for TVC, there is no real gain, as it does not have electricity input. I think a TVC only attenuates. I was aware that if I changed my CDP and the new one had 4.0V out instead of the current one's 2.2V, then I would stand to have a "gain" in my system.
Xti16 - for me the increased gain is a welcome change.