balance zen line stage input and output

[hc167]

hi:

I am new here. so if I ask something stupid, please forgive me. I want to build a PASS balance zen line stage preamp. and wondering how do I do it with unbalance input and unbalance output? let's say that my amp will have one input and one output, so how do I construct it in a way that the input and output can support both balance and unbalance? thanks a lot for any kind of help.

additional question, what do you think will be the match pass lab diy power amp for this preamp?

[Zen Mod]

ancient approach from Pro world:
make it balanced input and balanced output
make balanced volumes and balanced selectors
use XLRs for both input and output case connectors

then-if you use balanced source (or load) connect it balanced
accordingly -if you use unbal source (or load ) just tie minus and ground on CABLE xlr plug.....

[hc167]

this will work too, but my objective is to have both unbalanced and balanced input/output for the preamp that I am going to DIY. for example, I want my pre-out to have both XLR and RCA connectors. Is there any possible ways to do that?

[hifimaker]

Read Neson's BOSOZ construction guide on www.passdiy.com. THe BOSOZ manual is here: http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/balzenpre.pdf

I've built this BOSOZ as stated in the manual with both balanced and unbalanced in and out. My source selector has balanced in for 1 input and 3 unbalanced inputs.

Good luck,

-David

[thomasfw]

Dear HC167,
The attached may be what you want ?

Thomas

[hc167]

dw8083:

sorry but I was not able to find anything about balanced and unbalanced input/output physical connection information. This is what I can found so far from the file.

So is this the anticipated Bride of the Son of Zen? I suppose it is. It has
an identical topology and is perfectly suited for driving the Son of Zen,
but there is much utility to this circuit. It also serves as a nice balancedin
to unbalanced-out or unbalanced-in to balanced-out converter.

and also the following.

The circuit amplifies a differential input to a differential output. Given a
single input, it will amplify it into a balanced differential output, and is
useful to convert unbalanced signal to balanced, either because you
wish balanced operation or because you wish to convert a conventional
stereo amplifier into mono bridged operation.
Of course the circuit is happy accepting a balanced input, and besides
using it as simply a balanced gain stage, you can choose to view either
output polarity as a single-ended output of each phase. Thus the circuit
also functions as a general balanced and unbalanced converter.



But I do not understand how do I construct it in a way to support both balanced and unbalanced. sorry that I was being stupid

[hc167]

thomasfw:

your diagram made sense. and is definitly something that I can consider. but, what if I want both balanced and unbalanced preamp output? With this design, is that mean I have to have a switch (or selector) to control the output signal go to my RCA jack or the XLR plug? I just want to have a design that made sense. sorry if I ask stupid question again.

[Zen Mod]

you really didn't understand what I wrote or what?
if you use strictly balanced topology with connectors on case,volumes and selectors,then for bal-unbal switching you just use xlrs (cannons) on cable ends.........
what ever you (or anybody else) do-can't be simpler and tidier;

in any case-you can have both style of connectors in parallel ;switching to unbal is easy-just put shorts in appropriate XLR or put switches for that purpose (instead shorts)

[hc167]

Zen Mod :

from the wiring connection point of view. I understand what you said. however, in the document (http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/balzenpre.pdf) of balance zen line stage, it mentioned that "It also serves as a nice balanced in to unbalanced-out or unbalanced-in to balanced-out converter." I am just wondering if I want to take advantage of this part of circuit, how am I suppose to do that, the document did not mentioned anything like that. I just want to take the advantage of the original design.

[Zen Mod]

Originally posted by hc167
Zen Mod :

from the wiring connection point of view. I understand what you said. however, in the document (http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/balzenpre.pdf) of balance zen line stage, it mentioned that "It also serves as a nice balanced in to unbalanced-out or unbalanced-in to balanced-out converter." I am just wondering if I want to take advantage of this part of circuit, how am I suppose to do that, the document did not mentioned anything like that. I just want to take the advantage of the original design.

OK

regarding wondering----- easy-just ground minus leg of input (or output -depending what you need)