|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
70.26.56.78
My amplifier (Audiolab 8200mb) has balanced and unbalanced inputs. Can I use both to connect my DAC with internal preamp via balanced, and my phono stage via external preamp using the unbalanced amp input, that is, not both at the same time in that one or the other will be turned off electrically? Thanks.
Follow Ups:
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies. Given the shorting pins, no switch etc. and Ralph's loading comment, what I'm considering is not a good idea.
It would probably be better if you could clarify your set up or what you are trying to do. All the DACs I've seen with built in preamp feature offer a fixed output so not sure why two connections to the AudioLab. Are you using he phono stage of another preamp? If so, a tape loop, I know rare these days, would be best connection to the single ended input.
Your main amp should isolate the balanced and unbalanced when one or the other is selected though. I've never seen unbalanced & balanced for the same input. Both my Krell & Pass that offered both XLR & single ended were like input 1 would be balanced, it was not shared by an unbalanced.
If your amp does offer both XLR & single ended to the same input I would not recommend using both. If possible use two separate inputs. If you had to do this for some reason I'd use some type of switch box to prevent possible damage.
As Ralph mentioned it is not a good idea. The unit that is off will present a non-linear load causing distortion. You will also see on your amp that a jumper is required on the XLR when using RCA. This is to cause the amp to run in single ended. This tells me the RCA and XLR are in parallel.
If the preamp has a mute relay, it may actually short the input and neither will work.
Dan Santoni
it can still be a load for the other source driving the amp.
So to do this the source that is not being used should be disconnected.
Yes. Make sure they are not connected to the same input, at the same time.
Opus 33 1/3
No most of them don't. More often than not the switch only shorts the inverted connection of the XLR to ground. On the back of the OP's amp it shows a jumper installed.
Dan Santoni
Perusing the online audio dealers, seems most do. In fact, in looking at 3 of the largest online audio retailers, I've yet to find a single stereo or mono power amp with both balanced and unbalanced inputs that doesn't have a switch(es) to select between them.
Opus 33 1/3
Edits: 04/16/15 04/16/15
Most have a switch. But it doesn't necessarily switch between the two inputs. It's usually there just to ground pin 3 of the XLR to cut noise.
This is from seeing amps for over 25 years.
Dan Santoni
Only 25 years? I built my first amplifier as a kit in 1965.
Opus 33 1/3
nt
Opus 33 1/3
Yes, you can mix balanced and single-ended inputs. Just make sure they are not sharing the same input. For example: CD input XLR & CD input RCA, only use one or the other for the CD input, however you can use the RCA for the tuner, phono, tape, etc.
Trio C-100 integrated has the RCA/XLR option on input one and it does have a slide switch to select one or the other.
I'd say the vast majority of all amps (power, integrated) with both balanced and unbalanced inputs have selector switches for those inputs.
Opus 33 1/3
I think that your good advice makes perfect sense if the OP was talking about sources connecting to a pre-amp or integrated amp. Actually he is referring to (in effect) two pre-amps connected to a single power amp at the same time, one via XLR and the other via RCA.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: