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DACMAGIC>KICAS Interconnect

post #1 of 8
2/7/10 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
Presently connecting the DACMAGIC to the KICAS with the RCA interconnects. I just ordered some from Monoprice. I am using some standard red/white cheap cables that came with something else. If one was to go with just the Monoprice cable would they be good enough or would I be able to notice a big improvement with say a silver wire RCA interconnect?

I realize the on going difference of opinion but just wanted to ask anyway. Go Colts.
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post #2 of 8
2/7/10 at 5:34pm
You'll get a much bigger improvement if you skip the RCA to RCA interconnects altogether, and make up some XLR to RCA leads as this guy suggests. I did it and it does indeed sound much better than using the RCA outs. Actually, Cambridge Audio mention it in the manual, so it's straight from the horses mouth, so to speak :-)
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post #3 of 8
2/7/10 at 5:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sgt-Pluck View Post
You'll get a much bigger improvement if you skip the RCA to RCA interconnects altogether, and make up some XLR to RCA leads as this guy suggests. I did it and it does indeed sound much better than using the RCA outs. Actually, Cambridge Audio mention it in the manual, so it's straight from the horses mouth, so to speak :-)
The idea there is to bypass the amplification by OP275, which shouldn't really offer any better performance as the added distortion is negligible according to specs. That's not to say it's impossible that the two outputs may differ in quality, but I doubt the audible difference is significant enough to warrant extra investment.

As for the silver wire, I can give you an unequivocal vote in favor of bollocks.
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post #4 of 8
2/7/10 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anetode View Post
The idea there is to bypass the amplification by OP275, which shouldn't really offer any better performance as the added distortion is negligible according to specs. That's not to say it's impossible that the two outputs may differ in quality, but I doubt the audible difference is significant enough to warrant extra investment.

As for the silver wire, I can give you an unequivocal vote in favor of bollocks.
I thought it was worth the ( small ) investment. You can hear the actual difference ( although you do lose a bit of volume ) as opposed to imagining a difference by using an expensive silver RCA-RCA over a cheaper non-silver one, for example. Here's what CA say about it in the manual.

Quote:
Use either the unbalanced (RCA/Phono) or balanced (XLR) outputs of the DacMagic. The XLR output is slightly better in quality as it can reject interference and noise in the cable connection and is the preferred option if your amplifier features balanced XLR inputs. It is possible to use the RCA phono connections and the XLR balanced connections at the same time, e.g. for connecting to different amplifiers or multi-room operations.
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post #5 of 8
2/7/10 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
bollocks of course meaning "nonsense". I guess I will just go with the Monoprice cable and forget it. Someday I will update the amp to one with the XLR inputs so until then I will learn to be content! Yeah right, LOL.
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post #6 of 8
2/7/10 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sgt-Pluck View Post
I thought it was worth the ( small ) investment. You can hear the actual difference ( although you do lose a bit of volume ) as opposed to imagining a difference by using an expensive silver RCA-RCA over a cheaper non-silver one, for example. Here's what CA say about it in the manual.
The manual is speaking of the merits of XLR vs. RCA in general (CMRR and such), not of the benefits of their specific design. As with any XLR implementation, it becomes useful at longer cable runs or in really noisy environments. An audible difference may exist under some conditions, I guess deciding whether it's worth it is personal.
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post #7 of 8
5/17/10 at 9:46am

Just something to think about: the noise rejection spoken of by Cambridge Audio should be considered carefully. Although the noise rejection on the XLR side (source) may be better and pass through the system, you may end up with a bottleneck at the RCA inputs on the amp, as their connection noise still exists, if it was there to begin with.  I suspect that unfortunately, the exercise would yield null benefit as the scenario lends itself to an "all or nothing" situation in my mind - the RCA connection remains the bottleneck.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MayorSimpleton View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by anetode View Post
The idea there is to bypass the amplification by OP275, which shouldn't really offer any better performance as the added distortion is negligible according to specs. That's not to say it's impossible that the two outputs may differ in quality, but I doubt the audible difference is significant enough to warrant extra investment.

As for the silver wire, I can give you an unequivocal vote in favor of bollocks.
I thought it was worth the ( small ) investment. You can hear the actual difference ( although you do lose a bit of volume ) as opposed to imagining a difference by using an expensive silver RCA-RCA over a cheaper non-silver one, for example. Here's what CA say about it in the manual.

Quote:
Use either the unbalanced (RCA/Phono) or balanced (XLR) outputs of the DacMagic. The XLR output is slightly better in quality as it can reject interference and noise in the cable connection and is the preferred option if your amplifier features balanced XLR inputs. It is possible to use the RCA phono connections and the XLR balanced connections at the same time, e.g. for connecting to different amplifiers or multi-room operations.
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post #8 of 8
5/17/10 at 10:11am

It is my understanding that - if I am indeed reading the OP correctly - there will be no improvement to to SQ if you use a custom XLR --> RCA interconnect. Going from balanced to 'unbalanced' in this fashion should nullify any improvements based on XLR output/input, no? Please correct me if I am wrong. I would be very happy to learn that a XLR --> RCA interconnect would improve my DacMagic --> Gilmore Lite + DPS setup.

 

Edit: Upon confirming that Blue Jeans Cables does not offer a XLR --> RCA cable option, I assume that I indeed did read the OP incorrectly. Or is that a custom job that you would have to make a special request for? ... More coffee. NOW!


Edited by sampson_smith - 5/17/10 at 3:11pm
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