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Need help with balanced cables.

Bob C

Bob C

Active Member
I had my new turntable working fine, I noticed the owner’s manual recommended to use balanced cables, so I disconnected the input cable I ran from the Parasound Zphono XRM to the LV jack on my McIntosh MX136. Now I connected the balance cables from the XRM to the balanced jacks on my
MX136. No sound on any of the modes on the mc136. Can someone please tell me what I’ve done wrong?
 
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Before the balanced cables, I had SL1500c connected to the phono preamp and from the Parasound Zphono XRM to the MX136 using the LV input. I’m not using balanced cables to connect to the MC7205 amp. I don’t know if that’s the problem, I’ve never used balanced cables before. The new setup with the balanced cables: I ran rca cables from phono on SL1500C TT to the Zphono XRM and from XRM to the MX136 preamp using the balanced cables. Using the balanced cables, what selection would I use, aux,tv, etc?
 
Bob C said:
Before the balanced cables, I had SL1500c connected to the phono preamp and from the Parasound Zphono XRM to the MX136 using the LV input. I’m not using balanced cables to connect to the MC7205 amp. I don’t know if that’s the problem, I’ve never used balanced cables before. The new setup with the balanced cables: I ran rca cables from phono on SL1500C TT to the Zphono XRM and from XRM to the MX136 preamp using the balanced cables. Using the balanced cables, what selection would I use, aux,tv, etc?
Click to expand...

I glanced at the owners manual (I don't own the unit) and it appears you can go balanced in to the McIntosh then unbalanced out to the amp. My guess is there is a setting to activate the balanced input or designate it to a certain input. Closest thing to it in my experience would be an av receiver I had. It had labeled unbalanced inputs then it had 2 digital inputs that you could assing to any input, if that makes sense to you.
 
waggs098 said:
I glanced at the owners manual (I don't own the unit) and it appears you can go balanced in to the McIntosh then unbalanced out to the amp. My guess is there is a setting to activate the balanced input or designate it to a certain input. Closest thing to it in my experience would be an av receiver I had. It had labeled unbalanced inputs then it had 2 digital inputs that you could assing to any input, if that makes sense to you.
Click to expand...
I really appreciate you going out of your way. I think you’re right, it may be a setting from the preamps setup display, but I’m having trouble getting the menu to appear on my TV. I think I’ll just go back to my previous set up.
 
From that scant background that I know, would there really be much of a difference in going the "balanced" route?

The main purpose of the "balanced" is to reduce/eliminate EMI due to longer cables or for studio use wherein the cleanest signals are demanded and wherein industrial application would be the use thereof.

Would be interesting to do an assessment in your case to see if there is a contrast in end results.



Q
 
Quadman2 said:
From that scant background that I know, would there really be much of a difference in going the "balanced" route?

The main purpose of the "balanced" is to reduce/eliminate EMI due to longer cables or for studio use wherein the cleanest signals are demanded and wherein industrial application would be the use thereof.

Would be interesting to do an assessment in your case to see if there is a contrast in end results.



Q
Click to expand...

Not sure how big of a difference it would make either, especially since going back to unbalanced to the amp.

When I went from a standard vintage receiver to the current pro audio equipment I'm using which is all balanced the biggest thing I noticed is when using an aux cable. You know when you touch the end it will make a hum in the system. With balanced that is entirely eliminated.
 
Quadman2 said:
From that scant background that I know, would there really be much of a difference in going the "balanced" route?

The main purpose of the "balanced" is to reduce/eliminate EMI due to longer cables or for studio use wherein the cleanest signals are demanded and wherein industrial application would be the use thereof.

Would be interesting to do an assessment in your case to see if there is a contrast in end results.



Q
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice I will look into this in the morning.
 
waggs098 said:
Not sure how big of a difference it would make either, especially since going back to unbalanced to the amp.
Click to expand...
I does make some sense to use a balanced line from a TT due to the low signal level, even if it becomes unbalanced later. Hearing a difference is another matter.
 
When I look for the onscreen setup menu on different tv inputs on my tv, with input one,”channels” I get gooleplay and can’t get rid of it. Input two is Xfinity X1 HDMI 2, HDMI 3 (eARC/ARC) I get “No signal”. Airplay-USB drive-Media player-Netflix-Google Play store-YouTube-Google play Movies and TV- +edit. That’s all my inputs on my Sony Bravia XBR-65A8H.
 
Bob C said:
When I look for the onscreen setup menu on different tv inputs on my tv, with input one,”channels” I get gooleplay and can’t get rid of it. Input two is Xfinity X1 HDMI 2, HDMI 3 (eARC/ARC) I get “No signal”. Airplay-USB drive-Media player-Netflix-Google Play store-YouTube-Google play Movies and TV- +edit. That’s all my inputs on my Sony Bravia XBR-65A8H.
Click to expand...

Which hdmi input is the preamp hooked to? Not sure what all the other things you are talking about are. I assume its all the different input you have to the tv. You need to see which input you are connected to and set the tv there. Then turn on the setup menu of the preamp, maybe.
 
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