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Balanced to Single Ended Cable?

BroonsBane

BroonsBane

raisn em up waxin em down
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I'm asking because I don't know.

I have a power amp with balanced inputs. My preamp has rca outputs. Is there anything wrong with having a cables made that's balanced on one end to fit the inputs on my power amp and single ended on the other to fit the rca's in my preamp's output? I'm also asking because one of the single ended inputs on my amp does not work. Thanks for helping steer me in whatever direction it is that I need to go here.
 
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No problem.

Take 2 conductor+shield wire, and put XLR's on one end, then RCA's on the other. Connect the cold and ground to the barrel of the RCA connector, and you're set to go. I recommend Switchcraft RCA's and XLR connectors based on personal experience.
 
If you DO have any issues, you can try something like an Art Cleanbox (I think that's the brand and item?) and it will convert your RCA line to XLR and will also give you about 6 db's boost in gain (if I recall)

$50/$100 if I recall?
 
BroonsBane said:
I'm asking because I don't know.

I have a power amp with balanced inputs. My preamp has rca outputs.
Click to expand...
Have a look here

If you're comfortable with a soldering iron.....

Scroll about half way down the page. I make my own cables and when starting out, found this page to be extremely helpful.

Pick your desired flavour from the matrix, then look at the matching wiring diagram below.
 
vinyldavid said:
Connect the cold and ground to the barrel of the RCA connector, and you're set to go.
Click to expand...

Note that some active balanced outputs don't like to have low and ground tied together. For these, just use pin one ground and whichever pin is high to the RCA tip. Tascam equipment specifically cautions against this in their manuals.
 
Had a local music store tech whip up a couple of connectors for me. They work great :yes:

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Coytee said:
If you DO have any issues, you can try something like an Art Cleanbox (I think that's the brand and item?) and it will convert your RCA line to XLR and will also give you about 6 db's boost in gain (if I recall)

$50/$100 if I recall?
Click to expand...

I would advise anyone needing a level-matching/balanced to unbalanced converter for hi-fi use to avoid the ART Cleanbox. Unless recent production has been redesigned, the low end frequency response exhibits pretty ugly roll-off well into the audible spectrum.
 
whoaru99 said:
I would advise anyone needing a level-matching/balanced to unbalanced converter for hi-fi use to avoid the ART Cleanbox. Unless recent production has been redesigned, the low end frequency response exhibits pretty ugly roll-off well into the audible spectrum.
Click to expand...

Oh, well. That sucks.... Almost bought one, thanks for the heads up. On the other hand, I tried out the Henry Engineering Matchbox and it sounds very neutral with flat response, no roll off. It even comes with 8 pin sockets and is ready for op amp rolling.

Best of all it has + and - 15 volt supply voltages. You need this for headroom, meaning high levels don't clip the op amp like the Samson Scon bump boxes do.

But I have not found it needing this, op amp rolling that is. Don't remember what op amp it comes with though.
 
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