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Balancing the Unbalanced....

post #1 of 4
6/20/10 at 2:19pm
Thread Starter 

Ok, I'm getting some active studio monitors, with unbalanced rca and balanced XLR/TRS Jack inputs.

 

I have a PC that currently has onboard audio.

 

I'm planning on getting the maverick tubemagic d1 DAC/headamp combination and using the rca outs to my speakers.

 

I'm just wondering if there are any cheap/easy components, that just takes unbalanced rca and outputs a balanced XLR or TRS jack.

 

The concept sounds fairly simple. Just adds another pin, and gives it the inverted signal of the signal in.. if there are simple 2 channel units that do this, i cant see them costing any more than £20.. but anyway.

 

I've heard of DI boxes and such, not totally sure about them though.

 

If anyone could shine some light on this, i'd greatly appreciate it.

 

 

The monitors will be used to do a little bit of music producing but mainly listening to music.

 

I'd like a balanced option so i can run a balanced cable to another room in the house about 30m away running past power lines and such.

 

:)

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post #2 of 4
6/20/10 at 3:36pm

 

Quote:
I'm just wondering if there are any cheap/easy components, that just takes unbalanced rca and outputs a balanced XLR or TRS jack.

 

Yes. You can find many such devices in prosumer audio stores. Try http://www.studiospares.com/

 

You can buy either individual transformers for each channel from between £10-£20 ea. (Neutrik is a well respected and easily obtainable brand) or a box containing several. Drawmer, Sonifex, Alice, ART & Samson  are the brands to look out for, probably in that order as well.

 

Why bother though? You can easily buy an audio interface (DAC+) which offers multiple balanced/unbalanced  ins/outs and much else besides. E-MU 0202 and 0404 are the obvious places to start looking but there are excellent competing products from the likes of ESi, TC Electronic, Presonus, Focusrite etc etc.

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post #3 of 4
6/21/10 at 5:39am
Thread Starter 

I've considered the 0404, but i'm worried about driver support etc, there are no official win7 drivers yet, and using the vista drivers seems to be bothersome..

 

Also there are plenty of threads on numerous forums detailing problems with specifically windows 7.

 

Maybe an audio interface would be better, so i can in future get a nice mic for recording and use the mic input..

 

hmm.

 

If win7 support is assured and that the headphone output is good enough (better than onboard hp outputs), i'll get it and some 30m trs cables.

 

:)

 

 

I dunno if i'm in the mood for endless troubleshooting. Done too much of that lately.


Edited by SamTheJarvis - 6/21/10 at 9:19am
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post #4 of 4
6/21/10 at 3:42pm

I've been using the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB on my Win 7 machine with no problems whatsoever. You can view my profile for a link to a review I wrote. It has 4 channel output, the first two of which can be balanced.

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