• Registered: 2019-06-19
  • Posts: 16

Topic: XLR vs. RCA

I currently connect ADI 2 DAC using RCA to my amplifier. Lovely sound! I am looking at a higher powered amplifier with XLR input.  I have read some materials suggesting that XLR will provide no benefit over RCA unless both the sender (DAC) and the receiver (amp) are fully balanced internally throughout. Can anyone provide any insight into this topic? e.g. will I perceive a sonic improvement is the DAC is balanced and the amp is not?

  • Registered: 2019-10-01
  • Posts: 675

Re: XLR vs. RCA

Hello!

To answer your question, no you won't perceive any difference. It would be the same, as what you have read is absolutely correct. Both sender and receiver should use balanced connections to cancel the noise.

Here's a good article, explaining the differences:

http://www.aviom.com/blog/balanced-vs-unbalanced/

RME Gear: Digiface USB, HDSP 9632

3 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2020-04-29 08:29:55)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,648

Re: XLR vs. RCA

But even with fully balanced it will sound exactly the same. Balanced has better noise rejection from outside sources like radio interference, which can be an issue with low level audio (microphones) on long cable runs, but not with short cables and line levels.
There are no other differences, otherwise unbalanced would be completely unusable if it had an inherent loss.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
Babyface pro fs, HDSP9652+ADI-8AE, HDSP9632