Hi Guys, i would like to seek your advice regarding some connection dilemma. I am connecting from my CDP(RCA) to Yamaha HS8 Studio Speakers. The speakers able to receive XLR and TRS connections. I have 2 methods to choose from, 1) CDP(RCA) to SPK(XLR), 2) CDP(RCA) to SPK(TRS).
My question is which connection methods yields better sound? Thanks for reading.
My question is which connection methods yields better sound? Thanks for reading.
The XLR and TRS jacks are generally wired in parallel and as such electrically equivalent; choose whichever you prefer. I like the handling of XLR better but unless you have some of these awful combo jacks (where the TRS portion is likely to have you cursing 
), both are going to be OK.
Here's another variation on an RCA to XLR cable from Neumann; note that their speakers are outfitted with a ground lift feature to disconnect pin 1 if necessary.
As a further refinement, if source output impedance is known (got some service docs?), you could replicate that and insert it in series with the pin 3 (cold) wire at the RCA end, for further improved common-mode rejection.
Note that you generally have to solder up cables like these yourself (and I'd guess most folks around here would be OK with that); I am not aware of anyone making them for some strange reason. A solution using all off-the-shelf cabling gets a bit more complicated. (One example: 2x RCA to TS cable --> Behringer HD400 --> 2x TRS to XLR cable.)
On another note, it seems that full output power can be achieved with as little as -10dBu input; since you have up to about 2 Vrms available I'd set the level control to +4 dB (+4 dBu = 1.55 Vrms) or a bit below as a starting point. I am assuming that the CD player is a model with an integrated volume control, like a higher-end Sony from the early '90s?
), both are going to be OK.Here's another variation on an RCA to XLR cable from Neumann; note that their speakers are outfitted with a ground lift feature to disconnect pin 1 if necessary.
As a further refinement, if source output impedance is known (got some service docs?), you could replicate that and insert it in series with the pin 3 (cold) wire at the RCA end, for further improved common-mode rejection.
Note that you generally have to solder up cables like these yourself (and I'd guess most folks around here would be OK with that); I am not aware of anyone making them for some strange reason. A solution using all off-the-shelf cabling gets a bit more complicated. (One example: 2x RCA to TS cable --> Behringer HD400 --> 2x TRS to XLR cable.)
On another note, it seems that full output power can be achieved with as little as -10dBu input; since you have up to about 2 Vrms available I'd set the level control to +4 dB (+4 dBu = 1.55 Vrms) or a bit below as a starting point. I am assuming that the CD player is a model with an integrated volume control, like a higher-end Sony from the early '90s?
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