I have used XLR to RCA adapters on my BigMac amp without issues. There is no secret sauce using XLR cables. They are designed for long runs and the output is often 3 db higher by design. In some cases that can make the amp noisy with high efficiency loudspeakers. RCAs have been in use a long time and unless you have noise issues or very long runs, they solve a problem that often doesn't exist.
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.