2. amps-preamps
  3. 195149-194577

Bi-amping question - XLR out split

I am currently bi-amping my Legacy Focus speakers and am liking the sound so far.  But I am looking at getting a new preamp so I can use XLR connections from preamp to my two amps, both have XLR ins (please let’s not get into the XLR vs RCA benefit rabbit hole). My question is related to purchasing a new preamp with one XLR out pair or two XLR out pairs.  If I buy a preamp with one XLR out pair and then get an XLR Y cable to send to my two amps, will this lead to any degradation of the sound?  vs just having a preamp with two XLR out pairs (assuming same signal in both XLR out pairs) ?

Thanks - Kevin

kevinshunt

Showing 2 responses by cleeds

cleeds
6,246 posts
 
atmasphere

For example the input impedance, balanced or single-ended, of our class D amplifier is exactly the same. 

Yes, that's not uncommon, particularly when the balanced component is AES compliant, which of course is a feature of your products that you often tout.

Some balanced inputs are low impedance (particularly in studio gear) so might be quite a lot lower input impedance than the single-ended input. 

Quite so.

cleeds
6,246 posts
 

mulveling

...  some amps spec a much lower input impedance on their XLR inputs versus RCA, in case that becomes a factor. Though rare, you could find use cases where RCA is the better choice, based on that alone.

That’s a fair point but it’s actually the other way around - you’ll get the higher input impedance on the balanced (XLR) inputs.

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