I wanted to use adaptors while I researched best XLR cables. However I decided to believe that basic high quality pro XLR cable would be fine, so I just ordered 7 Canare Star Quad cables with Neutrik connectors from B&H Photo. Also got the Emotiva XLR to RCA adaptor for my sub out, as the Velodyne sub only take RCA. Thanks for everyone’s input!
Is mixing RCA and XLR cables bad?
I’m getting a new Lyngdorf HT processor and it only outputs via balanced XLR connection. All my current cables are RCA and I don’t feel like replacing them all yet (till I research XLR cables), so I’m going with an XLR to RCA adaptor cable.
Lyngdorf specifically mentions that any adapter must have pin 3 lifted. I found only one appropriate adaptor, made by Emotiva. I can use this for all connections, but my McIntosh mc452 also has specific RCA/XLR instructions that confuse me, so I though maybe I’d buy XLR cable just for the Mac for now. Is this bad? Will the pure XLR connection have different volume output versus the XLR to RCA adaptor connection? Does it matter?
Appreciate any advice/guidance.
Showing 2 responses by jeffkad
To add to my concerns, just read this from Cable Solutions website: “When considering the use of adapter cables, please keep in mind that while unbalanced to balanced conversion cables typically work well, the reverse is not true - balanced to unbalanced conversion almost always requires a converter device, such as the Jensen Transformers PC-2XR.” This is exactly what I’m doing, ugh. So I’m addition to my question about mixing XLR and RCA cables, am I still creating a problem just by using the XLR to RCA adaptors? |