XLR or RCA?

[laurelkurt]

Can running balanced from pre/pro cause it to run hotter than RCA? I recently started using balanced since I finally got an amp with XLR ins. I noticed the volume was much higher. I reran my Audissey XT32 setup and it set channel volumes 5.5 db lower. I never noticed my preamp running as warm/hot as now, but maybe I never paid it much attention. I'm probably going to try with RCA cables. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[lovinthehd]

They run at different voltages....curious if that would be it, tho. Could be you just didn't notice, too.

 

[laurelkurt]

They run at different voltages....curious if that would be it, tho. Could be you just didn't notice, too.

Integra dhc 80.3 definitely runs cooler through the unbalanced outs in spite of outputs being raised 5.5 db. For me, cooler is better and the amp runs barely warm either way. There is also not more hum or hiss, actually none to speak of at all.

 

[lovinthehd]

Integra dhc 80.3 definitely runs cooler through the unbalanced outs in spite of outputs being raised 5.5 db. For me, cooler is better and the amp runs barely warm either way. There is also no more hum or hiss, actually none to speak of at all.

What hum and hiss were you having and with what connections?

 

[Speedskater]

It sound like a design issue. There's not enough audio output current in either system to heat anything.

 

[laurelkurt]

What hum and hiss were you having and with what connections?

None to speak of with either connection.

 

[laurelkurt]

It sound like a design issue. There's not enough audio output current in either system to heat anything.

Please explain...Whenever you run electronic equipment, heat is generated. When I was playing music my preamp, via its xlr outs, it ran noticeably warmer than when I ran rca cables to my power amp.

 

[lovinthehd]

None to speak of with either connection.

Thanks, wondered if there ever had been such the way you worded your response.

 

[TLS Guy]

Integra dhc 80.3 definitely runs cooler through the unbalanced outs in spite of outputs being raised 5.5 db. For me, cooler is better and the amp runs barely warm either way. There is also not more hum or hiss, actually none to speak of at all.

A pre/pro will not get significantly hot, unless you place it in a closed box! Most of the heat will be generated by the processor. When you use a balanced connection you will be using double the circuitry in the final section of the preamp, but I can't imagine the increased heat would be detectable, as there is no appreciable power drawn from a voltage driven output. Even if your fingers are that sensitive it does not matter.

 

[laurelkurt]

A pre/pro will not get significantly hot, unless you place it in a closed box! Most of the heat will be generated by the processor. When you use a balanced connection you will be using double the circuitry in the final section of the preamp, but I can't imagine the increased heat would be detectable, as there is no appreciable power drawn from a voltage driven output. Even if your fingers are that sensitive it does not matter.

Thanks, I've read on other forums about integra's 80.3 HDMI boards burning out prematurely. That's why I was fretting about a little extra heat. I have plenty of space around my components as well.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks, I've read on other forums about integra's 80.3 HDMI boards burning out prematurely. That's why I was fretting about a little extra heat. I have plenty of space around my components as well.

Yes, I know there are HDMI issues from that quarter, but it has been shown to them using cheap caps. Heat is an issue in this as it increases the rate of deterioration of the caps. However a pre/pro runs much cooler than any receiver and this will not be an issue. In my view a pre/pro is the way to go, as receivers put the heat producing power circuitry in the same box as fragile processing circuitry and high gain circuits. This is not a good plan or design and I don't do it and won't.

 

[PENG]

Can running balanced from pre/pro cause it to run hotter than RCA? I recently started using balanced since I finally got an amp with XLR ins. I noticed the volume was much higher. I reran my Audissey XT32 setup and it set channel volumes 5.5 db lower. I never noticed my preamp running as warm/hot as now, but maybe I never paid it much attention. I'm probably going to try with RCA cables. Any advice would be appreciated.

What kind of power amp? In many cases the level should not change, or at least not that much, because on the power amp side there are usually some kind of selector to lower the sensitivity. If there are no selector, that means the power amp has XLR input only (usually, not necessarily always), and then it depends on gain of the amp.

 

[3db]

Can running balanced from pre/pro cause it to run hotter than RCA? I recently started using balanced since I finally got an amp with XLR ins. I noticed the volume was much higher. I reran my Audissey XT32 setup and it set channel volumes 5.5 db lower. I never noticed my preamp running as warm/hot as now, but maybe I never paid it much attention. I'm probably going to try with RCA cables. Any advice would be appreciated.

Why are you running XLR? Do you have problems with induced noise being picked up by the interconnects? If noise is NOT an issue, stick with RCA and save yourself some coin.

 

[Irvrobinson]

A pre/pro will not get significantly hot, unless you place it in a closed box! Most of the heat will be generated by the processor.

My Marantz AVR running just as a pre-pro in low energy mode (the amplifier channels are not connected, ECO mode is engaged, and only L/R speakers are defined), and the AVR still dissipates more heat than the ATI AT602 amplifier it drives. I'm guessing there are several line-level op-amp ICs and DAC ICs running in a static-level power mode contributing to the surprising BTU output. One of these days I'll stop being so lazy and download the schematic, but my Reed Instruments power meter says a pretty consistent 36 watts while playing 4K video from the Roku box to the display and stereo audio to the amp. It runs hot enough to need a fan in the cabinet.

 

[Speedskater]

Please explain...Whenever you run electronic equipment, heat is generated. When I was playing music my preamp, via its xlr outs, it ran noticeably warmer than when I ran rca cables to my power amp.

The peak power of the interconnect audio signal is only something like 2 milli-watts.

 

[Verdinut]

My Marantz AVR running just as a pre-pro in low energy mode (the amplifier channels are not connected, ECO mode is engaged, and only L/R speakers are defined), and the AVR still dissipates more heat than the ATI AT602 amplifier it drives. I'm guessing there are several line-level op-amp ICs and DAC ICs running in a static-level power mode contributing to the surprising BTU output. One of these days I'll stop being so lazy and download the schematic, but my Reed Instruments power meter says a pretty consistent 36 watts while playing 4K video from the Roku box to the display and stereo audio to the amp. It runs hot enough to need a fan in the cabinet.

Why don't you just use one of the AC Infinity or Noctua 80 mm fans on top of the AVR? I'm also using my SR5010 as a pre-pro with the ECO mode engaged and I left the three AC infinity fans on it's top to prolong its life.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Why don't you just use one of the AC Infinity or Noctua 80 mm fans on top of the AVR? I'm also using my SR5010 as a pre-pro with the ECO mode engaged and I left the three AC infinity fans on it's top to prolong its life.

I really need one or two fans to blow hot air out the back. I've just been distracted and haven't got around to it yet, but now I'm on it.

 

[Speedskater]

Please explain...Whenever you run electronic equipment, heat is generated. When I was playing music my preamp, via its xlr outs, it ran noticeably warmer than when I ran rca cables to my power amp.

Get a 'Kill-a-Watt' meter. Connect it to the pre-amp. Measure the V, I & W using the RCA's then the XLR's.

 

[fabiocz]

Somewhere I read that over short distances there is no difference between xlr and rca, whether it's true or not, I can't tell.

 

[lovinthehd]

Somewhere I read that over short distances there is no difference between xlr and rca, whether it's true or not, I can't tell.

Pretty much, maybe a slight spec difference that isn't audible....