Hi, I was just wondering how many people use RCA single ended vs. XLR cables to their amps that sit next to their speakers (longer runs).
Do you use XLR or RCA single ended to your near speaker located amps?
- Thread starter Folsom
- Start date
XLR. XLR seems to work best with any component that offers it I have found, especially designs that give more gain with XLR like Audio Research. Since I got the Ref 5SE preamp, I have gradually been going all XLR. I like the positive connection of XLR and the better performance.
I'll be honest I'm mostly interested in numbers. I've seen both personally, but I haven't seen as many systems as there are on here.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Currently 4.5m (15 feet) RCA. Previously 7.5 and 9m XLR.
The choice is only due to the equipment being used. IMHO none is intrinsically better than the other.
The choice is only due to the equipment being used. IMHO none is intrinsically better than the other.
I use the XLR's on my active speaker bed channels and RCa on my active speaker FH and RH channels.
.
XLRs enable balanced operation. Balanced operation cancels inter-component ground noise. Ground noise voltage between components causes ground noise current to flow across an unbalanced interconnect's ground conductor. Ground noise current through the resistance of the ground conductor then develops an undesired noise voltage that gets amplified by the system as though it were a desired signal. The greater the resistance of the interconnect's ground conductor the louder is any ground noise. Since unbalanced interconnect ground conductor resistance is proportional to the interconnect's length,mground noise is more audible with long unbalanced interconnects. I should note that ground noise current ( a form of common-mode noise) can also flow across a balanced signal interface, it's just that a balanced interface cancels noise common to both conductors by design.
Components having balanced outputs amplitude twice that of their single ended outputs probably utilize differential signal stage topology. Differential signal stages offer several benefits, such as reduction of even order distortion, reduced signal induced modulation of the power supply and increased effective slew rate. Differential circuitry is not, however, synonymous with an balanced signal interface. In fact, a single ended signal stage can utilize a balanced signal interface just as effectively as can a differential stage.
Components having balanced outputs amplitude twice that of their single ended outputs probably utilize differential signal stage topology. Differential signal stages offer several benefits, such as reduction of even order distortion, reduced signal induced modulation of the power supply and increased effective slew rate. Differential circuitry is not, however, synonymous with an balanced signal interface. In fact, a single ended signal stage can utilize a balanced signal interface just as effectively as can a differential stage.
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For live amplified music XLR yes (habit, runs vary), @ home just for listening usually no (short runs, RCA).
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Is the purpose of the poll for XLR and the sonic boost? or is it for the security of the terminations.
IOW Lamm uses XLR inputs to amps and outputs from the preamp however they are pseudo balanced
IOW Lamm uses XLR inputs to amps and outputs from the preamp however they are pseudo balanced
Unfortunately it is much more complicated than you summarize. Each system has its advantages and drawbacks. Cancellation of noise in balanced mode is not perfect - the common mode rejection ratio depends on frequency. Balanced mode changes the spectra of distortion of a signal in the way you say.
Because balanced mode cancels the easily and immediately audible low frequency hum people tend to believe this it is a perfect mode - far from being true. Although balanced is almost mandatory in professional use, in domestic listening rooms we can afford to choice according to our beliefs and preferences.
In the manual of my pre/pro it said the XLR connections were better. When I compared the XLR to RCA in stereo the XLR sounded like nothing, like there wasn't even a cable, no constraint in dynamics what so ever. My RH channels were connected using a wireless device so i didn't have to run a long cable from the front of the room. That device only offered RCA connections so I used the same cable for FH and RH.
Steve,
Pseudo balanced is a confusing and non standard mode. In Lamms they are simply XLR plugs used with pin 3 shorted to ground. It means it will short the output of the previous balanced driving stage - it can be a very bad think with some electronics. However when using a Lamm preamplifier it allows us to correctly use a XLR cable. BTW, some manufacturers use a resistor of equal value to the device input or output impedance to shunt pin 3 to ground.
As far as I found, the hybrid Lamm amplifiers have real balanced inputs.
It's the signal-to-noise ratio:
Technically, Balanced > Pseudo-Balanced > RCA S.E.
For true Balanced, one must ensure the gear doesn't suffer from the Pin 1 problem. c.f. Neil Muncy and others about this.
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