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XLR vs RCA

I recently purchased a new Streamer/Pre/Dac (Linn ADSM/3 w/Katalyst) and a PS Audio S300 power amp.  I hooked them up using some high-end RCA cables and they sounded great.  After doing a little reading and from advice for PS Audio I orders some XLR cables (Mogami).  They are decent but not overly expensive cables.  They arrived today so I got it all changed over.  I gotta say it is a significant difference.  I realize they have a higher gain, but I am amazed about the change in the soundstage.  It just blossomed.  One of my favorite albums is Aaron Neville - The Soul Classics.  I have played this hundreds of times, so I am very familiar with it.  Today I heard in a whole different light.  Awesome.

rjinaz86323
steakster
2,033 posts
 

XLR & RCA are simply connectors.   The important question is what are they connecting to?    Is it a truly balanced circuit - which uses XLR?  Or is it a single-ended circuit - which uses RCA?     

Are both components balanced?  Or is just one balanced? Or are neither balanced?  Or is the XLR connector on the chassis a fake balanced circuit.  The manufacturer simply daisy-chained the XLR connector to the RCA internally in the component. This is for convenience and to look cool    Homework is needed to determine what kind of circuitry your gear has.  It should be in the specs.

More info here.

rjinaz86323 OP
31 posts
 

From everything I have been able to find out, both the Linn and PS Audio a fully balanced.  But either way it sounds fantastic.

jeffbij
250 posts
 

Just an FYI, the PS Audio S300 amp is a "true" or "fully" balanced design.  I have also noted that when connected to a "fully" balanced preamp, it sounds better with XLR cables.

soix
10,429 posts
 

What RCA interconnects were you using?

gdnrbob
4,509 posts
 

There is a reason why sound recording studios use XLR instead of RCA. Having equipment that satisfies the AES standard brings you closer to the original signal.

B

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