2. amps-preamps
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RCA to XLR vs XLR to RCA... Converting Input or Output - Does It Matter??

I just picked up a new DAC that only has RCA outputs whilst my preamp only has XLR inputs.  realizing that a DI box like the Jensen ISO-Max is the proper way to resolve this incompatibility, that's not an immediate solution for me.  in the short term, i was going to use adapters on either the DAC outputs or the preamp inputs.  given the following options, is there any benefit to one vs the other (emi/rfi, noise, etc)...

Option 1:
convert the RCA output on the DAC to XLR via an RCA Male to XLR Male adapter and connect the components using an XLR cable.

Option 2;
convert the XLR input on the preamp to RCA via an RCA Female to XLR Male adapter and connect the components using an RCA cable.

as an alternative to the above, i could also use a converter cable, RCA male to XLR male as a short-term solution.

i know none of the above will turn an unbalanced signal to balanced - these are really only to address jack incompatibilities - and the proper solution is a transformer.  until i'm able to implement that, is there a preferred method from those above?

thanks for any inputs.  
srosenberg

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srosenberg OP
209 posts
 
@sbank as was already mentioned, Jensen can configure their transformers RCA to XLR or XLR to RCA - take note of the order of the X and R in the product ID as this will indicate the ins and outs.  there are three units: PI, PO and PB as detailed here: https://www.cs1.net/learn/jensen_transformers_application_guide.htm

And as Inna mentioned, you can have cable made from a number of places... PAD, BlueJeans, Benchmark (yep, they sell cables, too).

@almarg thanks for the note... good to know there's not an absolute 'right way' to handle the jack adapters.
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