The ICEpower stuff at least from what I saw doesn't appear to be balanced differential, but a lot of audio equipment actually is balanced differential. Many of the Pass Labs preamps are, such as the Aleph P, etc. Some power amps appear to be as well, such as the Schitt Tyr, which appears to be differential all the way through.
I did see the above posts which is why I made the comment.
Taken from the ICE 100AS1-2 datasheet, pins 2&3 pins 5&6 balanced inputs. . Full datasheet attached.
6.4 P102: Audio Input Connector
Type: JST, B6B-PH-K-S (LF)(SN)
PIN Function Description Type
1 GNDA Signal shield, channel 1 Analog ground
2 In1+ Non-inverting input signal, channel 1 Analog audio input
3 In1- Inverting input signal, channel 1 Analog audio input
4 GNDA Signal shield, channel 2 Analog ground
5 In2+ Non-inverting input signal, channel 2 Analog audio input
6 In2- Inverting input signal, channel 2 Analog audio input
I didn't want to have to do this.....but not all ICEpower modules are the same! Like every company, they make a bunch of different products. They have 2 different series of modules, The AS and the ASX. One series does indeed have balanced inputs, and the other does not.
I don't understand why you didn't even attempt to reconclle the evidence I produced with your understanding! And proving they have a balanced product does not prove the absence of an unbalanced product!
If you had specified the actual module model it would have saved a lot of posts arguing whether the amp had balanced inputs or not.
Folk are trying to be helpful and trawling through every available Icepower data sheet to find one that matches your initial statement is not down to those helping.
Have some grace and appreciate the time others are devoting to assisting you.
Folk are trying to be helpful and trawling through every available Icepower data sheet to find one that matches your initial statement is not down to those helping.
Have some grace and appreciate the time others are devoting to assisting you.
Yup, they are equivalent if you overlook the differences in the specifications and the design.
LOL! Is it my fault that you chose to take up a clearly losing argument?
I asked a question about supplying a balanced output to an unbalanced amplifier input. The specific amplifier is irrelevant!
But you guys love to fight and bicker and argue! You guys told me I'm wrong because the amplifier can't possibly be unbalanced! Even if I was wrong about the amplifier, it is completely irrelevant! What if I change amplifiers? What if I use 2 different amplifiers? What if I don't actually have a specific amp in mind yet? It doesn't matter what amplifier I use.
I was being gracious; I provided my reasons for believing the inputs are unbalanced, and I even asked for confirmation! I was inviting someone to show me I was interpreting the data sheet wrong....if that was the case!
The whole purpose of balanced interconnects is it provides a mechanism to cancel noise induced into the signal in that wire, but both devices on either end of the link must have balanced I/O circuitry to achieve that. There is no advantage to supplying a balanced signal to an amplifier wth an unbalanced input.
Does it matter where the balanced signal is converted from balanced to unbalanced? Is there a meaningful difference between having the correct conversion circuitry on the ampifier module vs having a dedicated conversion circuit separate from the amplifier module?
I am making the assumption that once the signal is safely inside the chassis, it can be reduced to unbalanced without any negative effects.
If people are questioning why I don't just pick an amp module that has built in balanced inputs, the reason is the noise specification of the different amp modules.
The ICEpower AS modules with balanced inputs are rated at ~80µV residual noise output. But the ASX (unbalanced) modules are rated with much lower noise output. The 50ASX2SE is 25µV. The 50ASX2BTL version is 20µV. The 125ASX2 is 36µV. The 250ASX2 is 20µV.
The rating of 80µV is respectable, but it is also the same as my current ampifier! And it would be a shame to build a new amp that performs exactly the same as the old amp.
@fredygump If you're building an amplifier project and feel you need a dedicated conversion scheme, I would incorporate it into your amplifier chassis.
If implementing with just an appropriate wiring hookup vice a dedicated conversion, you will have a 6db reduction in signal. But, that may not be an issue depending upon your source.
The appropriate answers to your queries have already been provided. It's up to you how you implement it.
Dave.
If implementing with just an appropriate wiring hookup vice a dedicated conversion, you will have a 6db reduction in signal. But, that may not be an issue depending upon your source.
The appropriate answers to your queries have already been provided. It's up to you how you implement it.
Dave.
