Thoughts on MIT AVT Proline XLR
gmcman
Posts: 1,806
With the B&K 200.2 on the way, I am thinking of trying the balanced connection and I have seen a few of the 1M pairs of the AVT's at a good price, around $200. Seems there is a big fan club here on MIT so I wanted some thoughts on these if anyone has them.
I understand BJC has a XLR cable but I'm finding out that with this setup becoming more revealing, my cable search is now more tedious. I was switching back and forth last night between the Hero and the LC-1 RCA and I didn't notice it before, but with the REF 50 the LC-1 sounds totally rolled off at the high end, very distinct difference.
The rabbit hole has opened up again and I want to try to keep this purchase under $300 for a set of interconnects. I have read the countless posts on balanced vs. unbalanced but I feel I need to give the balanced a try...how else will I know?
CD player is Denon 2910 so no balanced outputs, however the BJC Digital coax has much improved the overall sound.
I understand BJC has a XLR cable but I'm finding out that with this setup becoming more revealing, my cable search is now more tedious. I was switching back and forth last night between the Hero and the LC-1 RCA and I didn't notice it before, but with the REF 50 the LC-1 sounds totally rolled off at the high end, very distinct difference.
The rabbit hole has opened up again and I want to try to keep this purchase under $300 for a set of interconnects. I have read the countless posts on balanced vs. unbalanced but I feel I need to give the balanced a try...how else will I know?
CD player is Denon 2910 so no balanced outputs, however the BJC Digital coax has much improved the overall sound.
Post edited by gmcman on
Comments
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Need to bump this also to add more information.
I'm looking at either the BJC balanced, Signal Silver Resolution, or even the above mentioned MIT Proline. These will be balanced and 1M in length.
I have cold feet now with the Belden from BJC just because of how the LC-1 seemed slightly muted on the top end. Has anyone used silver with SDA's through a B&K Pre & amp? I know it's ultimately my ears but I don't want it too harsh on the top end. -
IMO, you can't beat MIT's, but I am biased. :cheesygrin:Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Has anyone used silver with SDA's through a B&K Pre & amp? I know it's ultimately my ears but I don't want it too harsh on the top end.
Can only answer part of your questions - I have used silver IC's with my Odyssey set up (Candela linestage and Stratos Stereo PA special edition) for 8-10 years and never experienced harshness that I attributed to the silver. The sound of silver really depends on a lot of factors including the front end and the design of the cables. I've read that IC's require low capacitance, with inductance not such an issue. The ones I use are based on the CVH design with 32awg Teflon insulated silver wires that have the pos and neg conductors spiraled and parallel to each other (they never cross), and Eichmann silver bullet RCA plugs.
Outstanding throughout the frequency range. The only drawback is they're delicate so great care must be taken when disconnecting and connecting."Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer -
There's only one way to find out...have a "Cable Shootout". As long as the cables come with a return policy you have nothing to lose. Which ever one's sound best to you are keepers & the others are sent on their merry way. You'll get 1,001 cable recommendations which can drive you batty. Don't overthink the whole cable scenario."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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Of course it's dependent on equipment used, I have never used anything silver so this will be a first. I definitely want to keep the price tag under $300, I have read through the numerous posts on balanced vs. unbalanced and I think I am going to try balanced this time.
There's a few options at this price point but again I can see it's going to come down to the BJC 1800F, Silver Resolution or the Proline.
So another thing is will a $300 RCA win over the above mentioned balanced cables at a 2' length? I like the fact the XLR has a lower noise floor which is probably why I want to pursue it. -
Of course it's dependent on equipment used, I have never used anything silver so this will be a first. I definitely want to keep the price tag under $300, I have read through the numerous posts on balanced vs. unbalanced and I think I am going to try balanced this time.
There's a few options at this price point but again I can see it's going to come down to the BJC 1800F, Silver Resolution or the Proline.
So another thing is will a $300 RCA win over the above mentioned balanced cables at a 2' length? I like the fact the XLR has a lower noise floor which is probably why I want to pursue it.
From my limited knowledge but extensive reading it seems like the XLR is the way to go if your gear is truly "balanced". Most gear is not truly "balanced" yet the manuf.'s like to throw that term around rather loosely as if their gear is. Also it seems that unless you have a long run (15' or more, I believe) the XLR isn't a real advantage. Now I don't have any 1st hand experience because none of my gear is balanced so for me it's RCA all the way."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
pearsall001 wrote: »From my limited knowledge but extensive reading it seems like the XLR is the way to go if your gear is truly "balanced". Most gear is not truly "balanced" yet the manuf.'s like to throw that term around rather loosely as if their gear is.
I want to say that it is balanced, at least from the preamp to the amp. Of course my Denon 2910 is only using digital coax to the pre.
Here's a pic. -
You still have to double check to make sure. Just because the gear has XLR connections doesn't necessarily make it truly balanced. Most of the time they're simply glorified connections to make you think it's balanced. I don't know if B&K is fully balanced or not. Maybe others here would know the answer."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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B&K is not fully balanced. One of the few that are is BAT.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
B&K is not fully balanced. One of the few that are is BAT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmA7Nm4qvGE -
That was great gmcman!Home Theater
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What you run into with some balanced gear is the design is balanced input, then converted to single ended for processing/amplification then converted back to differential balanced output. It is a balanced design, they are not lying, but there is conversion taking place. Some gear has the balanced circuit fully balanced throughout. Some builders will include an XLR connection on a single ended pre and tell you straight up it isn't a balanced connection. That's where questioning the mfr comes in if it isn't stated in the manual or product faq.
I went balanced after I built my DAC as it was the only way to get fully discrete balanced output from it. It made enough of a difference to be worth it. Before I ran SE, or single ended, RCA. Much depends on quality of gear and design as to what benefit you get.
Stereophile had a decent article on balanced.
http://www.stereophile.com/features/335/index.htmlSalk 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 * -
B&K is not fully balanced. One of the few that are is BAT.
Simple. Just upgrade your gear to BAT.
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 -
Simple. Just upgrade your gear to BAT.
Yeah, I'm hearing ya......it's that darn rabbit hole....SCompRacer wrote: »What you run into with some balanced gear is the design is balanced input, then converted to single ended for processing/amplification then converted back to differential balanced output. It is a balanced design, they are not lying, but there is conversion taking place. Some gear has the balanced circuit fully balanced throughout. Some builders will include an XLR connection on a single ended pre and tell you straight up it isn't a balanced connection. That's where questioning the mfr comes in if it isn't stated in the manual or product faq.
I went balanced after I built my DAC as it was the only way to get fully discrete balanced output from it. It made enough of a difference to be worth it. Before I ran SE, or single ended, RCA. Much depends on quality of gear and design as to what benefit you get.
Stereophile had a decent article on balanced.
http://www.stereophile.com/features/335/index.html
Thanks, that does explain a lot.
I was thinking there was a conversion somewhere along the line but hoping there wasn't. I suppose the balanced will provide somewhat of an improvement but likely not what I'm hoping for. I guess the only way to find out is to try and see what happens, difference may be subtle enough to keep the balanced cables but will give it a go. -
SCompRacer wrote: »Stereophile had a decent article on balanced.http://www.stereophile.com/features/335/index.html
That was a good article, thanks. Now it's mainly curiosity, but leaning on the side of common sense the unbalanced may win on this one. I definitely don't want to sacrifice soundstage on a SDA over a noise floor that's already low. Each manufacturer is different and I'm curious now how B&K approached this since they tend to lean on the side of using fewer components to ensure a more pure signal transfer.
