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XLR or RCA from C220 to MC352?

R

realcooltime

Member
I'm new to having a setup with balanced XLR connections on both my pre and power amp. I know that the C220 just "supports" balanced XLR cables, but the C352 is actually balanced. Will there be an improvement in sound quality running balanced XLR cables from the unbalanced C220 to the balanced MC352 or will the unbalanced C220 cancel any improvement out since it is unbalanced?
 
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There is a lot of debate about this issue here. Many like the sound of RCA connectors more. Seems to be more "personality" in using these cables as opposed to XLR. Some people think the XLR's sound "thin" or "dry". I use XLR's on C46 to MC402. Have tried a few RCA cables - high end. What I found in my system is that the stereo imaging is more stable and predictable with XLR's - and yes, the sound is somewhat less dramatic. But I think this is because the frequency response may be flatter with XLR - although I have no proof of this. To me, with XLR, no part of the frequency spectrum is emphasized - and that may be why they sound less dramatic to me. But when I turn up the sound level, the XLR's sound gorgeous with stable and precise imaging. I also found the XLR cables less fatiguing to my ears over long listening sessions.

The fact that my C46 is not a fully balanced preamp doesn't change my opinion about these two types of cables. Ron-C has said some interesting things re: XLR in prior posts. Maybe you can find these.

If possible, maybe you can listen to both types of cables - and let your ears decide. That's half the fun - right?

Pete
 
Just found this thread: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=193467&highlight=balanced. It discusses this ad nauseum and Ron-C chimes in too.

Now the solution the original poster of that thread came up with (using no power filter for his amp & preamp) has me wondering if I should lose my power filter. Only problem is that in my old apartment there is only one outlet, which accepts two plugs, within reach of all of my components. If I ran the pre and amp into those two I'd have to run an extension cord from the filter (where all of my sources are and would be plugged into) to the next nearest outlet. Looks like i have some experimenting to do.
 
Run your MC352 straight out of wall outlet. Most power conditioners will restrain your MC352. However, I think you can run the rest of your components from your filter - no problem.

I also have only two outlets. My Mc power amp is in the wall, but the rest of my components are plugged into my line conditioner. Works great.

Pete
 
Okay, I now have the MC352 power cord going straight into the wall outlet. I also stopped at a nearby pro audio store tonight and bought some cheap ($25 each) "microphone" XLR cables, just to get a sense of running in balanced as opposed to unbalanced. It sounds great, but it sounded great last night (my first night with the MC352) too. I think that the improvement I'm hearing in this amp over my old MC240 is so dramatic and whatever differences I'm hearing from these tweaks is more subtle in comparison that it's hard to judge right now. I think I'm going to just enjoy my music collection for a while now. :)
 
You probably should use some kind of surge protection for your McAmp, most decent power conditioners have a dedicated outlet for amps with minimal if any filtering on that outlet...
 
I experimented last night balanced vs. unbalanced, line conditioner vs. no line conditioner. I liked balanced with the conditioner best. Maybe my power is dirty, I don't know. I'm in an old apartment building so I wouldn't be surprised. I was quite tired last night though so I think more tweaking when I'm feeling more alive and into the music is in order.
 
Balanced vs unbalanced. I prefer the balanced in my setup with my 352. The unbalanced did have more "character" but I agree that the balanced does provide better stereo imaging and more even frequency response. Neither is better just different and it depends on what sound you are looking for in your system.
 
emblemex said:
Run your MC352 straight out of wall outlet. Most power conditioners will restrain your MC352.
Click to expand...

HUH?????? What the F@#$????????

Yeah go ahead she looks safe have unprotected sex with her .......... The condom will restrain your pleasure

that is what you are doing.........

If you can afford to buy a mac it should include protection - if you cant - dont

:tears::tears::tears:
 
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Bassmantweed said:
HUH?????? What the F@#$????????

Yeah go ahead she looks safe have unprotected sex with her .......... The condom will restrain your pleasure

that is what you are doing.........

If you can afford to buy a mac it should include protection - if you cant - dont

:tears::tears::tears:
Click to expand...

Pretty bold words there Bass....Ron C. has stated many times that plugging Mac amps directly into the wall is recommended. So, according to you, I shouldn't have my 352 simply because I can't afford an amp condom? I guess I should have just bought a Bose and been happy.
 
MC 352 plug in

I have read many times in this forum that Mcamps should be plugged directly into the wall. I have tried this with my MC 352 and get a meter reading of about 1 watt showing, without any imput device on. My guess is that I am picking up some grounding noise, although nothing is coming through the speakers. The rest of my system is running through a surge protector. When I plug the amp into the surge protector, the reading goes away.

I have tried changing the wall outlet to a hospital grade outlet, but get the same results. Is this just a grounding issue?
 
I'm curious why plugging a Mac straight into the wall is recommended.

Recommended over a surger protector, over a power conditioner, over any other option?
 
MacDogg said:
Pretty bold words there Bass....Ron C. has stated many times that plugging Mac amps directly into the wall is recommended. So, according to you, I shouldn't have my 352 simply because I can't afford an amp condom? I guess I should have just bought a Bose and been happy.
Click to expand...


hee hee Friday night posts - maybe i shouldnt drink & post. But if you ask me having any part of my system exposed to electrical damage is not worth the "possible" increase in sound. To be fair i think comparing a mc352 pluged into a power conditioner to a bose is a bit of a stretch?????

just my opinion - did not mean to be an azz
 
I used to have my amps plugged into my power conditioner. But I found things sounded better with the amps plugged directly into the wall. With the amps plugged into my power conditioner things sounded a little muddy.

After I found this in my system, I started checking the sound during the setups that I sometimes do for the local stereo shop. So far, in every setup it sounded better with the amps plugged directly into the wall. The most difference I heard was with some Sonic Frontiers tube amps, moving the amps power cables from his power conditioner to the wall made as big of a difference as a major preamp upgrade.

It does concern me to not use a power conditioner to protect my amps but I don't think this is as big of a concern as with the other equipment. Amps by the nature of what they are have large power supplies. These large power supplies with their huge coils act as a built in power conditioner.

Of course do what works best for you, but I do recommend trying your amps (McIntosh or others) plugged directly into the wall if you have not tried it that way yet.
 
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