Cable conundrum: Parasound A21 with RCA AND XLR

Having got this amp over the weekend, I am more than eager to know what Evergrey found out and which was better (RCA or XLR)? Some people claim that RCA is more musical than XLR. To them XLR seems more clinical.

Everygrey,
Hope you have got the amp back by now. How do you like the sound now?

Evergrey,
Was your issue resolved? What reply did you get from Parasound?

Mglenn,
I believe that the A21 is not a "true" balanced design and so you are able to listen to some music when the switch (balanced/unbalanced) is in wrong position. But some manufacturers are of the opinion that RCA is more musical than Balanced.

Good to know that Parasound provided you a great service. I am simply stunned by this amp every time I listen to my music. Which tube pre-amps are you considering?

Re-opening an older thread. I have ordered a pair of XLR cables to go between my preamp and the A21. Of course, they are Signal Cable Silver Resolutions.
Very keen on knowing what others have experienced when they switched from RCA to XLR on the A21.

Ja2austintx,
?

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!!

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.

Finally got a simplistic answer I was looking for, on the gain that I gained in my system using XLR connection:

The A21 gain is 6dB higher when the balanced connection is used. The output of your Promentheus is also 2x, or 6dB higher than unbalanced. Each "leg" or "phase" of the XLR is the same voltage as the RCA and two legs is 2x more which = 6dB. The same thing occurs at the XLR inputs of the A 21.