RCA to XLR cable ok from DVP to Pre/Pro?

If you get it good cable, it won't degrade, though you won't be taking the advantage of a balanced design (if truly balanced).

I'm a fan of balanced as well. In a true balanced circuit, the noise floor is said to be lower. Their are some mfg who only make single ended compoents, i.e., Conrad Johnson, etc., so I guess they don't agree with that philosophy. There is gear which just sounds better through using the balanced outputs (Esoteric, Musical Fidelity, etc). Not loooking to start a flame war... Just what I have read and what I have heard.

Just to throw in my other two cents, I do have some balanced to single ended cables (Innersound, not expensive) and prefer using single ended high end cables (Tara Labs The One) rather than the Innersound Cable. What I am getting at is in my preamp, I only have one pair of balanced inputs (used for CD player), so while my benchmark has balanced and single ended outs, I went with the single ended and much better Tara Labs The One cables rather than (what I feel to be) inferior balanced to single ended cable. If I were willing to spend the dough, I would have Tara make a custom pair of The One's with balanced/single ended terminations. Being I lose the benefit of a balanced circuit with the single ended on one side, why spend the money. If you have no choice (only balanced out on source and only single ended on input device, you may not have a choice. When I started experimenting with balanced, I purchased inexpensive musician cables, which easier to hook up, but heard no sonic imporvement over single ended. In fact, I picked up noise (cheap, long runs). Once I got into the high end balanced cables, I just wouldn't go back from balanced.

Jeffkad,

The 6Moons review was for the SA-60, and, agree, they felt the RCA was Much better, but on the X-03, it was the balanced which sounded better. I know the DV-60 should be closer to the SA-60 than the X-03 but I think you should hear it first. A good buddy of mine wants the X-03 SE after hearing mine, but he only has single ended inputs on preamp so is going for the Ayer instead. (The balanced just sounded so much better, he won't spend the money on a model he can't enjoy to it's fullest potential. I really think you have to audition a broken in cd player in your system before making the plunge. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

Just reembered...I auditioned the DV-60 for 2 weeks before I went with the X-03SE and I used both single ended and balanced (both Tara Labs The One) and, in my system, the balanced did sound noticibly better. It was back in December and forgot I even had it in the house. I do have a full balanced system, though.

The dynamics were better, more air around the instruments and blacker back ground.

I guess I am enjoying the X-03 so much that I forgot all about the DV-60. The DV-60 was a great sounding unit but I didn't need the video capabilities (never even hooked the video up) and felt I didn't want to pay money for a circuit I would never use (I have a separate dedicated home theater). Since my budget allowed, I went with the X-03 SE. I gotta say, though, I could have easilly settled for the DV-60 if cost was an issue.

Jeffkad, I have heard many good things about the modded Denon. And that is a great price for the Sunfire. Good luck and I hope you're very happy with both. Please let us know your thoughts after all is broken in.