|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
150.148.218.189
In Reply to: RE: "one is a more laid back setting, the other a more aggressive setting... it's like having two different posted by oldmkvi on February 01, 2014 at 09:45:02
Nearly all amplifiers require no more than 2V for full output. Many, if not most, can be driven to full output with less signal voltage than that, even. Moreover, most of us are not (ever) driving our amplifiers to full output. Their statement that 4-5V gives better bass response has a bogus ring to it.
Follow Ups:
Not fishy at all.
Have you guys tried this? I have experienced this with my Parasound A21 and my Promitheus TVC. When I had an RCA between the two, the sound was thin and kind of lifeless. But an XLR made it so "full". It gave the necessary "heft" to the sound.
I don't know why, but from personal experience I am not going to go back to RCA between my TVC and my amp. If ever I change to an active line stage, then it is a different story.
So that experiment tells you that for your system, balanced (XLR) sounds better than single-ended (RCA). I can understand that. However, your experiment does not prove at all that the reason balanced sounds better has anything to do with the stated difference in max signal voltage between XLR and RCA.However, with a TVC, I can imagine one way in which the greater output voltage of the source component could be of value for a "fuller" sound. The TVC attenuates by reducing the signal voltage that reaches the amplifier through converting voltage into current. The high output voltage of the source is reduced for presentation to the amplifier input, depending upon which of the many taps from the TVC secondary you are using, while current is proportionately increased. (The product of current X voltage has to remain constant, for a perfect transformer.) Thus, depending on the output impedance of your source and the input impedance of the amplifier, the 4V of the balanced outputs may be of some value for maintaining or establishing a wider bandwidth. Also, did we say that the balanced outputs have a different output impedance, as well? That would add to the number of moving parts in this situation. Lower output impedance would be additionally favorable. Interconnect length and capacitance also play a role in bandwidth, even with a TVC.
Edits: 02/05/14
I've been switching between the SE and XLR inputs of a Parasound JC-2, an analog stereo preamp, with output from an Oppo BDP-105. There appears to be no level nor sound quality difference between the two. When I switch with a CD or SACD playing, it sounds continuous even though the indicator lights show a switch has occurred.
I plan to try the same comparison using the Sony XA5400ES, assuming both SE and XLR outputs are simultaneously active. Oppo claims there to be no quality difference between SE or XLR stereo, but Sony makes no such claim AFAIK.
db
When I switch the Parasound JC-2 input from XLR to SE from the Sony XA5400ES the level is decidedly higher, presumably because of the difference in Sony output impedance. I do not notice a difference in the quality of sound, but it is a more difficult judgement than with the Oppo BDP-105 where the sound seems continuous as you switch.
In essence, the sound quality from either the Oppo or the Sony in either SE or XLR is superb.
db
My Mac C2500 connected to my 275 amp, sounds fuller/richer with RCA, a little dry/recessed in balanced.
Playback Vol is virtually the same.
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: