Connecting amp

[kingweb50]

I received my emotiva xpa-3 and I was reading the manual for connecting to my receiver pre amp outputs. It recommends to use the xlr connection for balanced instead of unbalanced. My question is locally I have only been able to find a single RCA to xlr instead of both red/white RCA to xlr. Is that cable called something different or is it even necessary? Is running RCA to RCA a poor choice in connection?

 

[markw]

XLR (balanced) is really great if you're running long distances in order to minimize noise pickup, say in a professional/stage environmernt type of thing. In a home environment, it's not a big deal. Use those unbalanced RCA connections and you'll be fine.

 

[kingweb50]

Ok thanks Mark. Easy simple answer

 

[ImcLoud]

I can not hear the difference between balanced and rca's, I use balanced for one of my 2.2 systems but its because I bought the cables when I bought the dac, I did then try and switch back and forth and heard 0 difference in sq... They look cool though since that system is mounted on an amp stand and you can see the cables..

 

[Speedskater]

The only times you might hear differences between unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR interconnects is when there are noise or interference problems. For short (2 meter) RCA interconnects between two components plugged into the same AC power outlet, this shouldn't be a problem.

Note that not all interconnects (both RCA & XLR) (and adapters between the two) are well designed. We often see photos of boutique or DIY cables that are bad designs.

 

[RichB]

XLR's reduced the noise connecting the AV8801 to the Parasound A51 with 3 foot connectors.
My mileage varied so yours may as well

- Rich