2. amps-preamps
  3. 181242-145450

Okay to use RCA adapter on a fully balanced amp?

Not a XLR is better or RCA is better question BUT if I have an amp (Digital Amplifier Co) that is fully balanced and only has XLR inputs, if you use a converter and go RCA from a Preamp, are you losing out in quality?

 

Here is something from audioholics and their review of one of their amps - 

"The MEGAschino is a true fully balanced differential amplifier from input to output. It is essentially two  amps for each channel, and one amp per phase. This means it really should be used in a fully balanced system.The manufacturer supplies an XLR to RCA adapter, but these should not be used. If a balanced connection cannot be used, note that the amp cannot be driven to full power from a 2-volt single-ended output, the limit of most receivers."

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Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,543 posts
 

OP,

Any difference is likely to be small. In this price range of gear cables tend to be less important than in really pricy stuff.

There are no absolutes in audio, but audio components are like scientific instruments, the better and more resolving they get the more small differences tend to make a big difference. So, for instance, the manufacturer of my amp and preamp recommends using XLR interconnects. So, I tried both. I really couldn’t tell the difference. I did not spend weeks comparing… but I still went ahead with the XLR (this was a $17K preamp and $22K amp). I think the quality of the interconnect typically makes a bigger difference.

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