Calling all DarTZeel owners - RCA or XLR inputs for your sources?

[buzzlulu]

Curious to know how DarTZeel owners are connecting DAC/Streamers to their preamps - via RCA or XLR?

My digital source is a dCS Rossini APEX + Clock. dCS provides both RCA and XLR outputs on all their units however they are on record officially stating XLR output is superior.

Hervé’ has designed the NHB-18NS to be single ended however the XLR input on my Model 2 is significantly upgraded - just about the equivalent to RCA as per my received emails from him.

As I have frequently said to several of my DarTZeel/dCS friends - it depends which religion one chooses to follow - the balanced XLR version from dCS or the single ended one from Herve.

When I was using the totl Chord MUSIC XLR and RCA cables I had a preference for RCA. I now have Silver Siltech RCA and XLR cables under test and I am back and forth - sometimes going towards XLR. The interesting thing is the 380 XLR I am testing is one level below the 680 RCA I have in for test - yet it remains highly competitive.

In the Absolute Sound review of the Vivaldi APEX Jacob Heilbrunn actually used a 50 ohm ZEEL cable from Herve with a RCA adapter on the Vivaldi end. The output impedance of the Vivaldi (and Rossini) at the RCA connectors is just about 50 ohms.

PS - as we know there are really no digital sources with BNC outputs other than the Playback Design.

 

[CJmooney]

RCA for me.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Wadax Ref dac into XLR for me. my EMIA phono into an RCA input. Ampex MR-70 tape preamps into either RCA with adapter, or switch the XLR from the digital. don't really hear enough difference to have a preference. but have not spent too much time on that question honestly.

 

[buzzlulu]

@CJmooney
I see you are using a dCS Bartok. How did you end up choosing RCA vs. XLR - since your Bartok and integrated provides the option to use either or. Actual demo or simply the case of just having a RCA cable? Thanks

@Mike Lavigne
Since you are one of the originals with DarTZeel - is there any difference between using:

a RCA cable from my dCS to a RCA input on my NHB-18NS
vs.
the same RCA cable from dCS but with a RCA/BNC adapter and using a ZEEL input on my NHB-18NS
(similar to how Jason of the Absolute Sound did in his Vivaldi review (although he used a Zeel cable))
I currently have an email into Siltech to find out if their RCA cables are 50 ohm impedance

For some reason I feel an all Silver Siltech cable may be better than a copper/aluminum 10mm ZEEL (which I happen to use to connect my pre with amp)
By the way Mike - although I'm on the east coast I am a long time friend of Chris Bell in your neck of the woods. 25 years of Naim ownership together

Best
Gregg

 

[Mike Lavigne]

@Mike Lavigne
Since you are one of the originals with DarTZeel - is there any difference between using:

a RCA cable from my dCS to a RCA input on my NHB-18NS
vs.
the same RCA cable from dCS but with a RCA/BNC adapter and using a ZEEL input on my NHB-18NS
(similar to how Jason of the Absolute Sound did in his Vivaldi review (although he used a Zeel cable))
I currently have an email into Siltech to find out if their RCA cables are 50 ohm impedance

hi Gregg,

i've not done any compares using adapters for years. but my preference would be to not add an adapter, and the 50 ohm spec would not apply with a 75 ohm RCA at one end anyway. it might not hurt, but not likely helping. it's possible Herve recommended it to Jacob, so maybe there is a benefit. but i cannot confirm.

For some reason I feel an all Silver Siltech cable may be better than a copper/aluminum 10mm ZEEL (which I happen to use to connect my pre with amp)

with cables you just have to listen with an open mind. i sure like my Evolution Acoustic 7.5m BNC zeel between my dart pre and amps.

By the way Mike - although I'm on the east coast I am a long time friend of Chris Bell in your neck of the woods. 25 years of Naim ownership together

Best
Gregg

oh, one of those Naim crazies. now reformed. good move. lol.

Chris Bell is a force of nature, and i love his room and Naim system. remarkable how great it sounds with all those windows and beautiful view. last connected with him a couple years ago now.

 

[CJmooney]

Buzzlulu:

darTZeel recommends single ended over XLR. I tried both, didn't feel there were huge differences. Ultimately, it came down to the single ended cables I had were a 0.5m longer and allowed me to get everything placed in my HRS racks where I wanted them!

 

[buzzlulu]

darTZeel recommends single ended over XLR

True however, as per my opening post, dCS is officially on record stating their XLR output provides "noticeably better sound quality" than their also included RCA output. From the dCS FAQ section:



It is up to whose "religion" (dCS or DarTZeel) one wishes to follow. Coming from 25 years of Naim/Linn and the "source first" dogma I am thus inclined to use XLR out. It's tough to argue with a manufacturer who states which is the better performing.

Interestingly enough I have some Siltech cables in for testing. Both the Classic Legend 380 XLR and the Classic Legend 680 RCA are between my Rossini APEX and DarTZeel preamplifier. The lower tier 380 XLR is providing a touch more than the higher spec 680 RCA cable. For me that implies XLR out is better at doing the business. I'm now leaning towards ordering the next category up in the Siltech line however in XLR form.

 

[manjy]

I use a 50ohm Zeel BNC cable from my EMM DAC to my NHB18-NS with BNC to RCA connectors at the DAC end.
Found this to be better over the few XLR and RCA cables I tried.

 

[marba_hr]

I only use RCA on my 8550 MKll

 

[JohnZ100]

Curious to know how DarTZeel owners are connecting DAC/Streamers to their preamps - via RCA or XLR?

My digital source is a dCS Rossini APEX + Clock. dCS provides both RCA and XLR outputs on all their units however they are on record officially stating XLR output is superior.

Hervé’ has designed the NHB-18NS to be single ended however the XLR input on my Model 2 is significantly upgraded - just about the equivalent to RCA as per my received emails from him.

As I have frequently said to several of my DarTZeel/dCS friends - it depends which religion one chooses to follow - the balanced XLR version from dCS or the single ended one from Herve.

When I was using the totl Chord MUSIC XLR and RCA cables I had a preference for RCA. I now have Silver Siltech RCA and XLR cables under test and I am back and forth - sometimes going towards XLR. The interesting thing is the 380 XLR I am testing is one level below the 680 RCA I have in for test - yet it remains highly competitive.

In the Absolute Sound review of the Vivaldi APEX Jacob Heilbrunn actually used a 50 ohm ZEEL cable from Herve with a RCA adapter on the Vivaldi end. The output impedance of the Vivaldi (and Rossini) at the RCA connectors is just about 50 ohms.

PS - as we know there are really no digital sources with BNC outputs other than the Playback Design.

I found my RCA’s to be a little bit better

 

[Zeotrope]

I use a 50ohm Zeel BNC cable from my EMM DAC to my NHB18-NS with BNC to RCA connectors at the DAC end.
Found this to be better over the few XLR and RCA cables I tried.

You should try to use an RCA connector and replace the BNC to RCA.