?Cable from PWT > PWD MKII...unbalanced, balanced

[medward0]

I'm starting the process of upgrading all the interconnects in my system and I'm starting at the source, the sometimes noisey but otherwise beloved PWT.

Obviously, I've got a range of connectors that I can choose from between the PWT and PWD MKII.

My preamp and amp only have unbalanced single-ended (RCA) connectors, but I'm wondering if I should use the balanced connection from PWT > PWD for lowest noise. I hear that it is a very quiet connection.

However, I've also heard that a system should be either all balanced cables or all unbalanced cables. So, perhaps I should use the std 75 ohm coax between the PWT > PWD.

Any thoughts?

[Still-One]

I would't worry about mixing balanced and single ended connections in your system. Most of us have single ended mixed in somewhere along the line.

I am not overly familiar with the PWT & PWD but I thought the best connection was called ISS or something like that.

Jim

[Face]

I would use I²S.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Face

I would use I²S.

Thanks Mike, at least I was close on the name of the connection.

[Face]

No problem Jim.

FYI: ALT + 0178.

[GaryProtein]

If you have a short cable distance between your source and preamp, it probably doesn't matter if you use single ended or balanced as long as the cables are good.

As long as the individual components allow a combination of single ended and balanced, you can mix them without any problem.

[medward0]

Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.

I'm using the I2S right now with a Harmonic Audio-only HDMI (here), but I'm looking at some Transparent cabling. So I'm trying to decide between their HDMI for the I2S or the 75 Ohm or 110 Ohm cabling for the other inputs.

Don't know if the Transparent is better than the Harmonic, but I am looking to move everything to Transparent over time.

[US Blues]

medwardo- a friend has this combo and he is using a Wireworld HDMI cable for the I2S connection. When he replaced the stock PS Audio cable with the Wireworld the sonic improvement was not subtle. iirc PS Audio recommends using the I2S for the best signal transfer.

[Face]

Originally Posted by US Blues

medwardo- a friend has this combo and he is using a Wireworld HDMI cable for the I2S connection. When he replaced the stock PS Audio cable with the Wireworld the sonic improvement was not subtle. iirc PS Audio recommends using the I2S for the best signal transfer.

This makes more sense than the "using the same brand throughout" argument.

[Vhiner]

IMHO, the best connection to the MKII is NOT the I2S and a number of users who have tried many combinations agree. The new digital lens now allows users to get back to the better digital pipeline: coax. I have A/B'd the I2S with the RCA and XLR inputs, using Shunyata's Zitron digital wire and Moray James' latest (This can be done on the fly with the MKII) Every guest has preferred the coax over the I2S in my system. Maybe one day someone will make an I2S cable worthy of the unit, but it hasn't happened yet.