In Lon’s case, wanting more voltage. It makes sense to use XLR. I’m guessing I would prefer Lon’s system with the ZBIT in play too. My experience is that generally, 2+v output from the source sounds better than, say 1-1.5v output.
WBT Locking RCA are very nice and make a fantastic connection. Both type can be bad or great.
If a XLR to RCA adapter that shorts one phase to ground is used, that is problematic.
Quote:Most balanced DACs just output the + phase on the RCA output, and while I’ll never say anyone is crazy for preferring that option you are throwing away half the information, that’s an arithmetic fact.
How is that throwing away half the information? Isn’t the positive phase the whole signal?
I might be proving my ignorance on how balanced works…this is how I understand it. Balanced takes the waveform, splits it in to positive and negative phase (Inverts one.) amplifies both separately, then sends both the positive and the negative down separate wires. When the signals get to the destination, the negative signal is inverted again, then compared, only what is the same is summed. Anything that isn’t the same is ignored and not passed on. This is how it achieves noise blocking and ground loop elimination. Therefore, it’s 2x the voltage because it’s taking two of the same waveform and summing them.
Any differences between the amplification of the two phases, inputs, and cable lengths, summing stage. Will result in less information being passed. Yes, it is a slight difference. It’s still there.
RCA amplifies the signal it, then passes it to the next component.
Wouldn’t more information get passed via RCA than XLR? We are talking about very small differences. Also there is a lot more to "get right" a lot more parts with Balanced XLR vs RCA. This could be why people say you're not getting full value, you are paying a lot for parts and engineering that isn't being used.
In high electrical noise areas, XLR is most likely the better option.
RCA is a more pure signal, IF noise doesn't contaminate it. So which is better, the noise and distortion from the more complex balanced XLR circuits or the noise (distortion) that is picked up and not rejected on the RCA? It comes down to the individual system and environment.