Unbalanced to Balanced Converter Circuit with 0dB Gain


I have created an unbalanced to balanced converter using a Jensen transformer - JT-11P-1. The circuit was designed by Jensen Transformers. It is the right hand circuit in the Jensen AS060 drawing, which is available online.

I assembled it into a Hammond enclosure. 

Performance is as I expected.  It reduced my already low 60, 120, 180 Hz noise peaks by an additional 10dB. These peaks now are at 90dBV, which is exemplary for my SP-6B (AR refurbed) tube preamp of early 80s vintage. My normal signal level (music) is about -10dBV, highly variable of course. Baseline RMS noise is unaffected as this noise is stochastic (random).

There is a 2.7 dB insertion loss (0.73x). The XLR output is fully balanced with pins 2 and 3 equal in magnitude but 180 deg apart.

This circuit is notable as it does not increase the signal. Commercially available converters of this type are usually -10dBV (unbal) to +4dBr (XLR), which is a "gain" of 4 (12 dB). I can't tolerate this high a signal as the SP-6B gain is already a bit high for my system at the optimum 12 o'clock position on the volume knob. One can obtain a converter box with gain. This uses an active transistor or opamp circiut for gain. The box I made is passive all the way. 

The frequency response is very flat from 20-20KHz, with only a 2dB drop between 19 and 20 KHz.

The transformers are a bit expensive - $120 each. Resistors, box and panel mounts are inexpensive. I believe I paid about $300 for everything.

Assembly is quite straightforward and not difficult if you can solder.

Finally, I should point out that my system did not suffer badly from noise problems before I added this circuit, even though I use a mix of RCA and XLR cables. I've been careful to connect all components into the same wall plug. I made sure all components are grounded properly. The box I made had a -10dB effect on the signal. I expect noisier systems will see more reduction

kevemaher

Nice!  Thanks for the info!  I am thinking of doing something similar to my system as well.

Given that the OP's ARC 6B preamp is unbalanced, it isn't clear just what's happening here. How can your system be "a mix of RCA and XLR cables,"  @kevemaher? Is it just that you're running balanced now from preamp to amp??