XLR vs. RCA Experiment

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited April 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
Today I decided to try the RCA inputs on my Marsh amp. It sounded totally different compared to the XLRs. With the RCAs, there was more bass, but less detail and it was kinda boring, so I quickly popped the XLRs back on. I use RCA-to-XLR adapters on my interconnects. My preamp does not have XLRs.

If you have an amp with XLR and RCA connectors, try using the amp with both connectors, even if your preamp doesn't have XLR capability. The Marsh is supposedly "true balanced," so YMMV. Nevertheless, you may be surprised at the results.
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by Early B. on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited April 2007
    EarlyB - I had read this about the Marsh amps when I was researching the one I bought from you! I am ordering a set of Signal Cable IC's that are RCA to XLR. Now help me out on this one, do I need the female or male XLR termination to plug into the Marsh amp?
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited April 2007
    dkg999 wrote: »
    EarlyB - I had read this about the Marsh amps when I was researching the one I bought from you! I am ordering a set of Signal Cable IC's that are RCA to XLR. Now help me out on this one, do I need the female or male XLR termination to plug into the Marsh amp?

    Yes, you need a male XLR to plug into the Marsh amp.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited April 2007
    I take it they were the same cables, so I don't follow why they would sound different as you're not really running balanced if you're using the adpater.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited April 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    I take it they were the same cables, so I don't follow why they would sound different as you're not really running balanced if you're using the adpater.


    Yeah, they were the same cables. There was a big sonic difference. My friend and I both heard this difference. I dunno, but FWIW, it is my understanding that on the Marsh, the XLR runs through a different circuit than the RCA. I got the idea from a former Marsh owner. A professional reviewer also suggest using the XLRs on this amp.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited April 2007
    Thanks for the info
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,243
    edited April 2007
    My big Parasound has XLR's. I think with bi-ampin gI should have the same connection on each and and the 1000 doesn't have balanced inputs.

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter