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All DECWARE products are made in the USA

























































 

MODEL ZBIT
Zen XLR Balanced to Unbalanced Converter

Wholesale price includes Lifetime Warranty
 

Made in USA
 






"The ZBIT is a unique balanced XLR to RCA converter that gives you a variable output level up to the full voltage of your balanced source! "

Imagine connecting the balanced output from your DAC to a ZBIT and getting a fully adjustable output of up to 7 Volts!

Most balanced to unbalanced converter designs make the mistake of shunting the secondary of the transformer with a load resistor to drop the voltage to the industry standard of 2 volts.

We don't drop the voltage but rather allow you to use as much or as little of it as you want via a level control.... this translates into gain, which means it can work like a preamp!

When you let the full voltage breathe without the typical 2 volt shunt it can develop the crushing dynamics and tremendous air and space that balanced outputs are known for. The ZBIT does this with a special wide bandwidth transformer feeding a high impedance load with a variable tap feeding the RCA jacks.  This allows you to find the magic voltage that works best with your preamp or amplifier and do it completely by ear as you turn the level control knob on the front of the ZBIT!

Customer Comment

"I hooked my DAC up via the RCA jacks like most people probably do, and getting what I thought was great sound.  I actually got the ZBIT so that I could listen to my tape machine which only has balanced XLR outputs.  The ZBIT worked great with the tape machine, but then I decided to try it on my DAC, which also has XLR outputs and I was simply STUNNED at what happened.  I'm not exaggerating when I say it made my DAC sound twice as good...  I just couldn't believe how much weight and density the sound got, and the imaging has never been this good. The DAC now sounds as good or better than my tape machine so I put it back in the closet."

- Robert Z


 


Options can be selected and priced from within the
shopping cart.
  • Single or Dual Output Level controls
  • Stepped attenuator(s)
  • Your choice of knobs


KNOB CHOICES






ZBIT stands for Zen Balanced Input Transformer.  It's purpose in life is to take the XLR balanced output from a source component or preamplifier and convert it to an unbalanced RCA jack that can feed your unbalanced audio component.

The output from the RCA jacks is fully adjustable from 0 to anywhere between 3 & 10 volts ~ basically the full output voltage of your balanced component.  It is designed to be adjusted relative to the volume control on your preamp or amplifier if you're not using a preamp.  Running the ZBIT adjusted high and the volume control on your preamp or amp low sounds completely different than running the ZBIT adjusted low and the amp or preamp adjusted high. This large difference in sound lives in an infinitely adjustable window between the two extremes giving you great control over the magic spot where it will sound best.

The ZBIT is ideal for low powered amps of all types, or high-powered amps that either have a gain control (input level) or use a preamp.

The ZBIT is also ideal for taking advantage of balanced cables over longer distances. While cable quality is a factor, it is far less of a factor with XLR cables than with RCA cables, so when we need to run over 6 feet, we use balanced cables that feed a ZBIT located 1 meter away from the amp or preamp. From the ZBIT we use, the best 1 meter interconnects we have to feed the amp or preamp.  

The transformer in the ZBIT is made in the USA by Jensen and has a bandwidth from 10Hz ~ 95kHz.  It is unmolested by Zobel or RC networks leaving it to do what great transformers do.... impart shimmering liquid highs with a massive improvement to dimensionality.

This balanced to unbalanced converter is hand built in the USA by DECWARE  High Fidelity Engineering Co. It comes with a lifetime warranty to the original owner. If you purchase one secondhand and ever have questions or technical problems, we WILL be happy to check it out for you and service it at a very reasonable rate.

We also have a support forum with many people who own our products whose experiences you may benefit from.


You may read reviews on our gear here.



Weight 4 lbs.
Dimensions 2.5" H x 6" W x 10.5" D
Bandwidth 01Hz ~ 95kHz
RCA jacks
 		Gold or Silver
Impedance IN
 		13 kohm with a 10 kohm load
Rejection
 		107 dB at 60 Hz
Levels
 		Up to +20 dBu at 20Hz







We offer this unit with a 30 day money back trial
so you can hear one in your own room!





FRONT   V I E W


  MODEL ZBIT
  Zen Balanced Input Transformer

 Made by hand in the USA and sold wholesale to the public with a
L i f e t i m e   W a r r a n t y  !