XLR vs RCA interconnects
In the internet world where most folks thinks 2$ crappyshack cable is same as a MIT cable, i dont have a luxury to ask this question else where.
So here it goes for a given setup like polk LSIM's , pre, amp would it make a difference between XLR cable and RCA cable if the length less than or equal to 5 feet.
Like..., for a system with Parasound A51, Cary SLP tube pre, 707s will there be a diference between MIT shotgun RCA and MIT shotgun XLR's?
So here it goes for a given setup like polk LSIM's , pre, amp would it make a difference between XLR cable and RCA cable if the length less than or equal to 5 feet.
Like..., for a system with Parasound A51, Cary SLP tube pre, 707s will there be a diference between MIT shotgun RCA and MIT shotgun XLR's?
Post edited by Sumerian on
Comments
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XLR can lower floor noise or reduce hum if those are a problem in your system. XLR makes the largest difference if the electronics were designed balanced, which sometimes is hard to figure out. You could buy some cheap matching (monoprice) RCA and XLR and do an A/B comparison.
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...You could buy some cheap matching (monoprice) RCA and XLR and do an A/B comparison.
That is good advice. The cables and connections themselves are not inherently better or worse, so it comes down to how the individual components implemented their connections and internal circuitry, as zingo alluded to. On some pieces SE may sound better, on some they may sound the same, and on some balanced may sound better.
In my system, balanced sounds better for a couple of real reasons: 1) on my DAC, the S/N ratio is much better for the balanced output, and 2) on my preamp, the only "direct" input is a balanced input. My power amp is balanced only, but that's a different story..2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
I use XLR on all my MIT and Shunyata inter-connects. Since I never bought the same cable in both flavors I cannot state whether one is better than the other. This is how I see it.
RCA gives you more options if you ever buy other gear that does not have XLR inputs.
XLR gives you a secure, locked connection, and a theoretical lower noise floor.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
IMO, the XLR connector is vastly superior, I wish all hifi would switch over to it and the Speakon."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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I use XLR on all my MIT and Shunyata inter-connects. Since I never bought the same cable in both flavors I cannot state whether one is better than the other. This is how I see it.
RCA gives you more options if you ever buy other gear that does not have XLR inputs.
XLR gives you a secure, locked connection, and a theoretical lower noise floor.
BlueFox, it's absolutely not a theoretical lower noise floor. It is absolutely a real lower noise floor (depending on what is causing the noise of course).
IMO, I agree with Face that the XLR jack is vastly superior.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."![:\](https://forum.polkaudio.com/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
IMO, the XLR connector is vastly superior, I wish all hifi would switch over to it and the Speakon.
I agree........Lets throw in BNC2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
After too long, I am finally installing my Aleph 30 this weekend . . .
The Volksamp Aleph 30 User Manual states, "single ended Class A operation is the least efficient operating mode." I think I'll takes Mr. Pass' word for it . . . I'm sure I'll experiment with single end down the road . . .AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
Pre Cary SLP-05
Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Rythmik F12 -
BlueFox, it's absolutely not a theoretical lower noise floor.
Depends on the equipment. Could just be an XLR connector on a non-balanced circuit with the noise being the same between RCA and XLR. Hence theoretical.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
He is refering to the class of amplification not differential vs single ended connections at it's input.The efficiency he is talking about is the percentage of power drawn from the AC line that is actually useful for driving the actual speaker load.In the case of single ended Class A it pisses away >80% of the power consumed in the form of heat.Whereas a typical Class A/B design will have efficiency in the 40-50% range,with Class D on the order of 90%.
The Volksamp Aleph 30 User Manual states, "single ended Class A operation is the least efficient operating mode." I think I'll takes Mr. Pass' word for it . . . I'm sure I'll experiment with single end down the road . . . -
He is refering to the class of amplification not differential vs single ended connections at it's input.The efficiency he is talking about is the percentage of power drawn from the AC line that is actually useful for driving the actual speaker load.In the case of single ended Class A it pisses away >80% of the power consumed in the form of heat.Whereas a typical Class A/B design will have efficiency in the 40-50% range,with Class D on the order of 90%.
After re-reading the statement, you are correct, Sir!
It is understood that Class A is very inefficient . . .
So I'll be using Class A in the winter months (this sucker draws 200 watts continuously) . . . . then playing with Class D in the summer months
The best of both worlds!! . . .AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
Pre Cary SLP-05
Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Rythmik F12 -
I've had a low noise floor with both XLR and SE gear. (Single ended-RCA). Even with a 15 foot long SE IC to amp. Like mentioned, it depends....
I'm back to XLR due to discrete balanced output on my diy DAC; SE output is op amp. Not bad, but discrete balanced output sounds better to me.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
After too long, I am finally installing my Aleph 30 this weekend . . .
The Volksamp Aleph 30 User Manual states, "single ended Class A operation is the least efficient operating mode." I think I'll takes Mr. Pass' word for it . . . I'm sure I'll experiment with single end down the road . . .
The single ended referred to in the manual is the amp topology. The Aleph can be run balanced too, and it's still a single ended amp. I ran it both ways and in my rig I prefer the RCA's to XLR.
Get that puppy hooked up and burning..........
P.s. the terminology is the same (single ended) but it means something different. Single ended or push/pull is an amp topology. Singled ended or balanced connections is something a little different.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Depends on the equipment. Could just be an XLR connector on a non-balanced circuit with the noise being the same between RCA and XLR. Hence theoretical.
Good point. I was just assuming it's a balanced circuit. Otherwise, why have an XLR jack? But, if it's not a balanced circuit then the noise floor would be the same. Inversly, if it is a balanced circuit, the noise floow will definately be lower. That is not theoretical (and that's what I meant, sorry for the confusion).
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
Good point. I was just assuming it's a balanced circuit. Otherwise, why have an XLR jack? But, if it's not a balanced circuit then the noise floor would be the same. Inversly, if it is a balanced circuit, the noise floow will definately be lower. That is not theoretical (and that's what I meant, sorry for the confusion).
No problemo, good buddy. It's hard for me to convey what I mean since I am a hunt and peck typist on an iPad virtual keyboard. Now let's see if the 'test' format smilies work. :biggrin:Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Thanks for the replies guys,
So these is what i get from the reading.
It might not be a day and night difference.
for the length mentioned above (5 feet or less) there might not be a significant difference, if we are using decent components.
at the end you can never put a end to this thing you always have a freaking weak point some where.
