balanced output VPI

Mordante, the process described by Atmasphere requires that the output end of your phono RCA cable be reterminated with a XLR output. The turntable connection does not change, but you may want to add another ground post wire to allow a separate lead to each channel's pin 1 on the L and R XLR.

Brf, Since Mordante uses a RCA to RCA cable with a separate wire for earth ground, I think Ralph is saying the opposite, that Mordante CAN use his RCA cable and still effect a balanced connection to his preamp. But at the preamp, we need to know what that switch really does, to be sure one way or the other. Further, and even more important, we need to know whether the phono stage itself is a truly balanced device, internally. The presence of the XLR input jack is not proof of that. If the circuit is not balanced, then there is little to be gained by doing anything.

Mordonte, contact the mfg and find out what that switch does. I used a balanced Ayre phono pre amp with both RCA and XLR inputs. The single ended / balanced switch simply grounded the inverting (or negative) signal. So leaving it in the balanced position even while using the RCA inputs gave me connection to both inputs of the phono pre diff amp inputs. Its not the ideal way to do it but electrically it was sound. There was a clear difference in the sound with the switch in balanced vs the single in favor of the balanced. You might be able to tell just by experimenting.

As was said above, having a seperate ground wire is required.

BTW I have a VPI XLR junction box that I got for my
Aries II that I never used if it would work for you should you want to go that way.

TD

What does the manual say?

The Phono stage has only RCA inputs. There is a diagram in the manual describing how to wire an RCA interconnect to go from RCA phono box to the RCA input. As I interpret it:

The cable needs to have two wires and an external shield.

One wire is for the +ve (Middle pin), the other for the -ve (Barrel)
The shield is not terminated to the barrel.
The shield is terminated for both interconnects to the ground wire at the source end only. The ground wire to the junction box.

Imagine something like Belden 1800F, where instead of using XLR's you use RCA's.

Here is a link to vinyl engine that has a post on this:

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?p=110009