I upgraded from a Zesto Andros 1.2 phono stage that only had RCA outputs to a Zesto Andros Deluxe II that has both RCA and XLR output connections. I had been using a 32” Wywires Diamond RCA interconnect on the Andros 1.2 and used the same cable on the Andros Deluxe II for about 3 months. I experienced a significant improvement in sound quality and enjoyment with the upgrade. The designer of the Zesto equipment, George Counnas, recommended I try an XLR cable from the Deluxe II phono stage to the preamp instead of the RCA cable. I was somewhat skeptical, but he promised me it would be a worthwhile improvement. Because I have found the Wywires Diamond cables to better every other cable I have tried in my system, I purchased a Wywires Diamond XLR cable to replace the Diamond RCA cable. George was right and I was very surprised at the improvement the XLR cable made. The bass was better defined and more powerful, highs were more extended and airy, the background was quieter, images were better defined, and the overall sound was richer and more dynamic. While not as large an improvement as the upgrade from the Andros 1.2 to the Andros Deluxe II, the change from the RCA cable to the very same model XLR cable was another significant jump in performance. I can’t say this same improvement will hold true for all equipment, but in the case of the Zesto phono stages it certainly does. |
My Recording Engineer friend & I always get into this argument and just let him win out of respect to my Elders 😁. He insists that XLR is only for long runs and recording situations. I totally agree. But I love XLR’s because they are easy to solder (just remember pin 1 is GND) and you can join them together for longer runs in the home situation. I HATE RCA CONNECTOR SOLDERING !!! My entire rig is XLR input to output except for a pair of RCA’s for my TT, another pair that I built for my Headphone Amp’s inputs, and my Atmos Channels. Also I refuse to mute or turn off equipment just to plug/unplug cables. RCA single ended gives you that nice ’BANG" & "BUZZ" that you don’t get from a properly Balanced XLR circuit. As Paul McGowan once postulated in one of his earlier YT Video’s. Let’s just do away with RCA altogether just go balanced on everything. Circuit components are dirt cheap nowadays so why not ? I’ve also chopped off many and old 3 conductor Monster & Audioquest Cable and converted them to XLR use with no issues. It’s not about sound quality. It’s about convenance. When will "Audiophools" get it through your thick heads ? It’s taken me forever BTW. Cheers, Joe |
Simple answer - Two meters or shorter, use unbalanced (RCA) cables. The common mode rejection which makes balanced line and mic cables suitable for long distances is not an advantage here. If anything, it is a disadvantage, requiring an additional gain stage to ramp up -10dBm signal to +4, and to invert phase in order to filter cable-borne interference (that's the common mode part: the source component inverts phase, the amplifier inverts it again getting it back to normal, cancelling out interference and noise that could have entered along the length of the cable). Even better: Unshielded cables. Lower capacitance = greater signal purity than cables with a coaxial shield but still very effectively shielded with twisted pair construction. Like these: Stager Silver Solids Pure Silver High-End Audio Cables
|
