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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

Showing 3 responses by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I WOULD take that bet, at least if I could do the comparison in my system. I know from experience that we'd hear the difference easily.

I've used RCA/XLR adaptors. The commercially available ones all sounded like mud. My preamp designer then built me a custom pair from higher quality components and they were much better. However, best of all was when I got suitably terminated interconnects and dumped the adaptors altogether. No small improvement.

The Seller's advice was wise. Have the TT outputs reterminated to single ended and skip the adaptors.

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
True enough, Herman...

For some reason I clicked on YOUR system and was responding with that in mind, which of course isn't relevant to the OP either. Pre-new year's lack of sobriety?
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Ebm wrote:
Im using Cardas xlr to rca very good none is better.
Compared to what? No one's in a position to state that "none is better" because no one's heard everything out there.

I've also used the Cardas adaptors. Compared with my Doshi-built ones or with no adaptors at all they sounded sludgy. I might say, "none is worse" but I'm not so bold... something may be.
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