BGW 250e and xlr cables

[The Fuxtor]

Hi everyone, I have a bit of a problem , I have been using the 1/4 headphone style jacks which are the unbalanced inputs from my preamp , they are specifically a rca patch cord with 1/4 adapters at amp end....OK this amp offers as an alternative, xlr connection, balanced or unbalanced. In the manual it states that to use the xlr with unbalanced lines that a special jumper plug must be used in the transformer sockets. I do not have said jumper plugs although the previous owner has soldered some wires which I would believe are shorting the required pins for unbalanced lines ( 1/4 jack inputs ?? ) . Now for my problem.... I read how much better the xlr cables are because of the more secure connection and the fact that the speakers won't make that thump noise when reconnecting cables for whatever reason. OK so I ordered a set of rca to xlr cables from Monoprice, they arrive and I proceed to replace my rca cables with the new set. They plug in nice and snug into xlr connectors and then I plug the rca ends into my preamp ........ No sound? I put the rca's back with adapters and sound. Am I wrong to assume that an xlr cable that is rca at one end must be unbalanced?? What should I do to get my new cables to work??
Do I need unsolder the pins? I thought with the pins shorted like said plug would do, the amp would only work in unbalanced mode. Can one not use a xlr cable that is unbalanced??? I wouldn't really mind using the other inputs, but one channel seems fairly worn out and kinda loose feeling, drops connection every now and again , need a slight nudge and it reconnects.... Annoying. Help!

 

[Ziinda]

You will need to use balanced XLRs to run that amp without the transformers that fit those sockets. I have 5x A150 BGW amps and they are the same. I think 1 of mine did work using ¼" inputs but I can't say if it was because it was a balanced cord or something else. I set it up quickly to have sound for a speaker sale and I don't recall exactly what happened but I know 3 others didn't work with that cord and since I've never seen them work unless they have a balanced XLR. Some pieces like EQs and crossovers will automatically put out a balanced signal as long as you have the cable wired right it will work. You won't be able to plug in anything that is not a balanced output. I know I couldn't connect my phone using a mini aux to XLR cable directly to the amp but if I ran it through an EQ it was converted and worked fine, same with crossovers.

 

[The Fuxtor]

Wow. Thanks...
This is a bit of a zombie thread!

 

[Ziinda]

Wow. Thanks...
This is a bit of a zombie thread!

I figured I'd post some info regardless if the op was still interested since I know I had those same questions years ago and had to figure it out on my own. Their manuals provide all info needed but it only makes sense if you already know the answer. The manual is written in a way that goes out of context and then later other info is presented in a way that confuses readers. Especially if you don't even understand the difference between balanced and unbalanced in the first place. They act as if there's no such thing as a balanced ¼" connector. It just may be something with their design since it is not covered in the manual.

(You know I hate it when I'm typing on my phone and I see the words spelled correctly as I typed and then I'm done and post it just to see 3 or 4 words where somehow changed to completely different words that don't fit. I think AI is going to be putting many words in our mouths soon. They tend to think they know what I'm saying better than I.)