Converting balance to unbalanced input

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I have built a new preamp with balanced output but my power amp only have an unbalanced input. Can I install an input transformer in the power amp to accept balanced inputs? If yes, how do I go about doing it?

diyman😕
 
This isn't exactly DIY, but they actually sell those things in music shops. They are used for mixing boards (like a mackie 1202) which only has unbalanced outputs when you want to run the signal to a balanced PA (like a powered monitor). I'm not totally positive if it is a true balun converter though.

The key device is an audio isolation transformer. It's typically 1:1 transformer that'll isolate the signals. On one side you connect it across the +/- of the balanced signal, on the other side you connect it GND/+ (watch out for the phase) for your input.
 
Two possibilities:

1. Of cause you can use an input transformer to benefit from the advantages of symmetric cabling and galvanic isolation.
The better ones have their price:
http://www.experience-electronics.de/englisch/bauteile/studio-uebertrager.htm

2. To just get things work, it is adequate to take one (the "+"-)signal of the symmetric source and the ground as an unsymmetric input-signal for the poweramp. "-"-signal remains unused.
If your preamp uses an output transformer (-> signal not referenced to ground), it would then be necessary to connect the "-"-output to ground.

Regards
 
Hi DIYman!
I do not know exactly the internal structure of your preamp....

But normally you could simply use one half of the balanced
output and ground in order to drive an unbalanced input.
Depending on the topology of your preamp, you should put
a dummy load btw ground and the unused half of the preamp.
This dummy load should be similar as the input impedance of your
power amp.

May be my proposal sound a little bit blasphemic to you....
And it is.... setting up an symmetrical preamp and then using
only half of it.
But putting an additional unbalancing transformer would be
even more blasphemic for me.....

Have fun
Markus
 
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