Don't even think about it. Just go XLR all the way!!!
When to choice XLR over RCA ICs.
If your IC connections are 1m or less is there a difference between using XLR over RCA Interconnects?
As one moves up the ICs cable lines with a manufacturer (ex. Audioquest) which connections would you upgrade first and in what order.
My system is McIntosh (C12000 two part preamp, Men220 room equalizer, MC611 mono-amps), Audioquest (AQ) Niagara 5000 line conditioner, and Hi-Fi Rose 150b streamer.
I am currently using AQ Black Beauty XLR ICs. I have a pair of 1m Firebird RCA ICs and would like to replace one of the Black Beauty ICs in system configuration. Future upgrades looking for recommendations.
Presently using a AQ 2m Thunder 20A power cord from wall socket to Niagara.
Using 4ft AQ William Tell (Silver) bi-wire combo speaker cable (mono-amps to 800d3 speakers.
Thank you, Please advise.
Bob
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I’e given a good deal of thought about this particular question and from my perspective a very well designed single ended interconnect cable is every bit as good, if not better than an XLR cable due to several factors pertaining to geometry, insulation and connectors.
However, for those that have both XLR connections and do not want to get into the design aspects of cables, but simply purchase an interconnect - then I would recommend going with an XLR cable for the following reasons...
Higher end cables like those from Audio Envy, Zavfino and Hijiri are a different matter altogether - either style of cable will perform well. For more details on cable design plase read this link Regards - Steve. |
@atmasphere Can you recommend some good bulk cable? I'd like to make a few balanced cables to try in my system. |
@ketchup Mogami Neglex is the gold standard of high quality balanced cables in the studio. They employ oxygen free copper and polyethylene dielectrics (the only thing better perforamance is Teflon, but it does not prevent oxidation of the conductor inside, so polyethylene might be the best thing out there), so in that regard are on par with cables from the high end audio world- I've seen Mogami products rebranded on that account. |
If all else is equal and the cables are being used between truly balanced components, I can’t imagine a scenario where unbalanced RCA connections could be better than balanced connections. |
- 61 posts total