Audiolab M-DAC+...RCA signal quality…….

[TasoTaso]

HI, is the RCA output of the same quality as the XLR or does it go through an additional stage like in the Cambridge Dacmagic with XLR outputs?
In this case it would perhaps be better to build an XLR > RCA cable.

Thank you

 

[DR ANALOGUE]

To my knowledge it takes the HOT from the balanced output for RCA.
I remember for sure that only the output DC voltage setting of the XLR is required, HOT setting also effective for the RCA output.
And the RCA output has a lower impedance 🙂

Best

 

[TasoTaso]

thanks for the reply, so the audio quality of rca is identical to that of xlr (taken with an xlr > rca adapter)?

 

[DR ANALOGUE]

Yes, it is. And you do not have to pull the cold to ground, which might have strange effects...

 

[TasoTaso]

Ok, thanks for the advice. Is your advice applicable to any device or specifically to M-DAC+?
Usually, even audio device manuals tell you to short pin 1 and 3 and take the signal from pin 2.
Thanks

 

[DR ANALOGUE]

I have the M-DAC. But the M-DACplus has the same main board, and therefore the same analogue output stage.
XLR PIN1 is not grounded internally - it is open.

From my experience, I can only recommend to use the RCA when your amplifier receives RCA input:

• You have the right signal level
• You have lower (half) output impedance and can run longer cables
• Capacitance of the cable is usually lower compared with an XLR-RCA-one-side-grounded

This is valid for the MDAC(plus) without additional output stage.

My LKS with an additional stage for RCA sounds terrible compared with XLR. But that was not your question 🙂

Best