XLR to RCA plugs or cable

The Neutrik are fine I think.  Do you have Cardas cables?  Ken

Custom. Less connections. 

4. make a custom cable.

 

On a StarQuad I wired it as:

XLR RCA
Pin1 - Cable shield (And ran the shield out before the RCAs and tied it to the phono stage chassis ground.
Pin2 - RCA Center
Pin3 - RCA barrel

It would be interested in to know how your option 3 is done, and whether the option 2 and option 1 differ. I am a fan of Neutrik…

I think you could be better off with option 3 if your cable length is ideally just over a standard size.

OK that assumes good solder equipment

and skills no?

OK that assumes good solder equipment
and skills no?

 

It is not very hard, but the custom cable (option 3) is easier.
A good iron, solder, some desolder wicking, flux, and a vice is maybe $100.

What lengths do they need to be?
And how much does the custom cable cost?
Do you have other cables that could benefit from custom lengths?

It is not hard, so it is whether you would ever use it again, which I do, but you may not.
No easy answer here.

I am not messing with you!  I can solder small stuff and have done many speaker wire terminations.I do model trains and the decoders inside them now with LED lighting and resistors takes a learning curve. I was just trying to point out that it is not for everyone, but manufacturers can do it!  I agree the less stuff the better and I especially dislike adapters.  I will run my ethernet straight through the wall vs using a cheap plate that installers love so much.   TAKE CARE!  KEN.

Both Cardas adapters are great. No sonic difference with the clear adapters. I have 2 sets in the system. RCA phono into XLR preamp and preamp out into RCA amp. I tried the cheap ones and they did alter the sound.

Do you mean Neutrik? 

I recently bought (and returned) the premium (~$200/pr) Cardas XLR-to-RCA adapters that I had hoped would perform the same function as the OP describes. Turns out the Cardas adapters are wired internally to join Pin 2 and Pin 3 together. The result for me was no sound whatsoever. In an XLR, the two signal conductors (Pin 2 and  Pin 3), when joined together, cancel the signal completely! Why Cardas does this is beyond me…

I have the Cardas that I am not using and a Benchmark RCA to XLR cable (reverse also available) from my Benchmark DAC3B to my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp. It sounds the same as my Audience AU24 SE XLR to XLR from the same DAC3B to my VM-1a amp. A pleasant surprise since the Benchmark cable cost very little.

The Cardas sounds OK too, but I feel that there are more connection points using the Cardas. While the Benchmark is just a single cable.

One thing to keep in mind is that RCA inputs prefer to see an unbalanced consumer -10 dB level. Most balanced XLR levels are at bare minimum +4 dB output. Without stepping down that level, it’s possible you could overload the RCA input, not to mention creating some nasty ground loops, by using a simple XLR to RCA converter cable. The more correct way to do this is with a passive step down isolating transformer device; like the Jensen PC-2XR.

PC-2XR

The Ebtech Line Level Shifter accomplishes the same task for a cheaper price (and still has a ruler flat frequency response). With the Ebtech however, you have to use a 1/4" TS (tip/sleeve) cable to RCA, instead of an RCA to RCA like on the Jensen model.

Ebtech LLS-2-XLR Line Level Shifter

Are there no RCA output jacks on the phono stage? If there are, exactly what are you trying to accomplish here by using the XLR outputs?

@dlcockrum 

Turns out the Cardas adapters are wired internally to join Pin 2 and Pin 3 together. 

Most solid state opamps do not want to be driven in that fashion, and will probably overheat and fail over time. I'm not sure how comfortable a tube's + & - output would be, if driven in this fashion, but I'd personally never want to risk it myself. 

One thing to keep in mind is that RCA inputs prefer to see an unbalanced consumer -10 dB level. Most balanced XLR levels are at bare minimum +4 dB output. Without stepping down that level, it’s possible you could overload the RCA input, not to mention creating some nasty ground loops, by using a simple XLR to RCA converter cable.

@dpop I don’t think a phono cartridge to phono stage is close to -10dB.

I don’t think a phono cartridge to phono stage is close to -10dB.

@holmz @lohanimal There was no mention of gain of the phono preamp (input vs output). If the phono preamp has a RCA line output, then that output is generally speaking rated at -10 dBV (just like any other RCA output). If it has a balanced XLR output, then that output generally speaking is probably rated at +4 dBV (just like any other balanced XLR output). That’s the general consensus of RCA vs XLR outputs. Now of course the voltage of those two outputs will vary, but if we're going to categorize RCA and XLR outputs, that's how they're categorized (-10 dBV & +4 dBV respectively).

Differences Between Mic Level and Line Level

You’re right @dpop - I has read it as into the phono stage, rather than out of it.
(Sorry Mate.)

That Jensen isolator is making a lot more sense now in that context, but also I would try a Neutrik first, and then the OP already has the XLR cable in case they need the Jensen.

+2 for the Jensen transformer. I would even call them and ask for the model needed. When I called, they even offered a discount.

YMMV

Bob

You can buy an interconnect from Morrow Audio, and choose which connectors you want.....one RCA and one XLR. I've used Morrow interconnects (both XLR and RCA) for years, and love them. I'd recommend the  MA4 interconnect which lists are $164 for 1 meter, you can even choose the quality of the connector. 40% sale on with SAVE40 code

 

@vthokie83 + 1

I would add Audio Envy to this list.  I had a 1M pair of O'Nestian interconnects made with XLR on the source end and RCA on the destination to run from my DAC to my headphone amp.  Price was < $200, if memory serves.  Very solid performers for the price point.

 

Here's another article on the subject, and here's a quote from it:

If you need to connect a +4 output to a -10 input (12dB too hot), then you’ll need a pad (a resistor network) to drop the output voltage.

Understanding Signal Levels in Audio Gear

Radial J+4 2-channel Signal Level Driver

I have decided to get a custom made pure silver cable with XLR's at one end RCA's on the other.

@lohanimal ask if pin 1 and 3 are being connected to the RCA shell, or just pin 3 please.

@lohanimal - what custom cable did you end up ordering?  I am trying to connect a KAB RF1 rumble filter between amp and phonostage.  I bought a pair of XLRF-RCA and XLRM-RCA (Mogami) from Amazon and it works fine.  However, I might go down the silver cable route like you.

 

@rdk777 I bought a custom made cable called AFA Audio - pure silver.

 

I can't tell you about how good or bad they are as i need to get my EMT 950 back which requires the cable