XLR or RCA for long runs (5M)?

[trponhunter]

balanaced cables will not always outperform single ended - depends on the design of the specific components you are using . 5mtr cables should be ok either way in most instances.

[redm]

Originally Posted by Parabellum

Hey there,

My first owned thread

I configured my listening room with my amplifier sitting alone in the middle of my speakers to have a more "audiophile" look. All of the other components are away stuck in a corner. Obviously, I need a run from my pre-amp to my amp. Those cables in long lengths can be quite expensive.

Now I wonder, is it better to go XLR or RCA for let's say, 5 M (16 ft)?

Thanks,

Serge

Serge, I would first check to make sure your equipment is actually balanced. Some equipment, like some Rotel parts, have XLR connectors but aren't actually balanced circuity. They add the connectors for flexibility. If you dont have fully balanced circuitry on both ends, there's no point in spending extra money on XLR.

Assuming your equipment at both ends is balanced circuitry, then hands down you are better with balanced cables. The balanced cables are identical to the RCA with the addition of the 3rd post with an inverted signal. This 3rd signal will allow the receiving end to pick up on any interference that's been added to the line through EMI etc and remove it. Thus the signal that you ultimatly amplify is as close to the original as possible.

This might be doubly true if you have all your equipment, power etc in close proximity.

Hope that helps.

[doggiehowser]

I have my gear behind my sofa which is about 2/3rd into the room. The speakers, subs and power amps are in front so I have about an 8m run for each component.

My AVR is only single ended for preouts so that's the only RCA run I have. My subs and L/R monoblocks have XLR interconnects.

For the most part, the RCA works OK. But when I turn the air conditioner on, I have a noticeable hum coming from the centre channel but not on the others. So I'd say go for XLR if your gear supports it.

As for the pseudo balanced XLR, I suspect it may work too cos my AVR is single ended feeding into my stereo preamp which has to convert that to XLR (so it's not a true balanced source) and that still has no hum.

[Good Times]

Agree with the others who say to check your equipment first. If both components are fully balanced, then use XLRs to be safe. But 5m is not long, people often quote professional applications and noise reduction, but they're dealing with 20, 40, even 60+ metres.

[Audiophilehi]

Originally Posted by redm

Serge, I would first check to make sure your equipment is actually balanced. Some equipment, like some Rotel parts, have XLR connectors but aren't actually balanced circuity. They add the connectors for flexibility. If you dont have fully balanced circuitry on both ends, there's no point in spending extra money on XLR.

Assuming your equipment at both ends is balanced circuitry, then hands down you are better with balanced cables. The balanced cables are identical to the RCA with the addition of the 3rd post with an inverted signal. This 3rd signal will allow the receiving end to pick up on any interference that's been added to the line through EMI etc and remove it. Thus the signal that you ultimatly amplify is as close to the original as possible.

This might be doubly true if you have all your equipment, power etc in close proximity.

Hope that helps.

How can you tell if fully balanced?

[JohnA]

5mtr will be fine for single ended.
I am running a 6mtr pair from my pre amp to my power amps with no loss of signal or any roll off in the top end.

Before i headed down this path, i spoke to a few cable manufacturers and the advice i was given was to use a cable with the lowest capacitance i could find.

I am very happy with the results

[Audiophilehi]

Originally Posted by Audiophilehi

How can you tell if fully balanced?

Anyone!

[Good Times]

You need to either find a reference to it in your manual, on the website, or contact the manufacturer. It's the only way to be completely sure.

I've found however that a good indication that a component is fully balanced is if the left and right channel inputs/outputs are at opposite ends of the rear panel, or at least wider apart than usual. It's not a hard and fast rule however.

[Audiophilehi]

Originally Posted by Good Times

You need to either find a reference to it in your manual, on the website, or contact the manufacturer. It's the only way to be completely sure.

I've found however that a good indication that a component is fully balanced is if the left and right channel inputs/outputs are at opposite ends of the rear panel, or at least wider apart than usual. It's not a hard and fast rule however.

Thanks GT.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by redm

Serge, I would first check to make sure your equipment is actually balanced. Some equipment, like some Rotel parts, have XLR connectors but aren't actually balanced circuity. They add the connectors for flexibility.

"If they use the term "balanced, then that is blatantly false advertising . The connectors do not make it any sort of "balanced" as one can send balanced outputs via a pair of RCA jacks.

Assuming your equipment at both ends is balanced circuitry, then hands down you are better with balanced cables.

Not necessarily. While balanced connections do reject noise induced in (long) cable runs, the price paid is that balanced inputs are, by necessity, noisier than an otherwise identical single-ended input due to the summed noise on each of the two legs. This is usually not an issue but it can be. Besides, most domestic situations are not electrically noisy.