[deadie]

Oh gurus of head-fi, which of these two images correctly represents the polarity configuration of balanced amps in the US? Pic 1 or 2?

Thanks!

 

[FallenAngel]

Uhm... which way are you looking? Pin 1 is Ground, Pin 2 is Positive, Pin 3 is Negative.

 

[deadie]

So, using Pic1, it goes Pin1, Pin2, Pin3, left to right to bottom?

Or rather...

Top left Pin 1 is Ground, Top right Pin 2 is Positive,

Bottom Pin 3 is Negative.

 

[FallenAngel]

First, the general design is Pic 1, each XLR connector carries one channel, not both.

Second, as I said before - you need to know which way you're looking and whether this is a plug or jack.

If you know for a fact that pin 1 is on the right side (implying this is a jack - female connector and looking from the front, or is a plug - male connector and looking from the back), positive is on the left and negative is on the bottom.

 

[deadie]

Gotcha, thank you!

 

[.Sup]

I have a question myself: My DacMagic has balanced outputs-is there a balanced-to-unbalanced cable so I can connect an unbalanced device to the balanced outputs?

 

[deadie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a question myself: My DacMagic has balanced outputs-is there a balanced-to-unbalanced cable so I can connect an unbalanced device to the balanced outputs?

Balanced DAC to unbalanced RCA amp - you can buy connector / adapters that will terminate in female RCA so you can use RCA interconnects

 

[FallenAngel]

In the case of the DacMagic, it also has unbalanced outputs so you do not need an adapter.

There are some adapters that simply take the positive signal and ground of the XLR and use that for unbalanced. Unless I'm missing something, this will not work on every DAC and as DACs that have a discrete I/V stage need to have both positive and negative signals seeing a load or they will become unstable.

 

[.Sup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif In the case of the DacMagic, it also has unbalanced outputs so you do not need an adapter. There are some adapters that simply take the positive signal and ground of the XLR and use that for unbalanced. Unless I'm missing something, this will not work on every DAC and as DACs that have a discrete I/V stage need to have both positive and negative signals seeing a load or they will become unstable.

So you don't recommend using adapters? I wanted to analog outs (unbalanced). My 0404USB's outputs are both balanced and unbalanced (not the miniplug out though)

 

[FallenAngel]

Uhm... what?

 

[warrior05]

Before I got a balanced amp, I built myself balanced to RCA ICs to hook up my MiniDAC to an unbalanced amp. I went from positive to center RCA pin then negative and ground to RCA ground. Worked like a charm.

As for the op - take a close look at the XLRs, they may be marked with a "1", "2" and "3". I know Neutrik XLRs are marked. As mentioned, each XLR carries one channel so your first diagram is correct if looking head on at a female XLR. Looking head on at a male, pin 1 is upper right.

 

[.Sup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Uhm... what?

I wanted two analog...

 

[FallenAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wanted two analog...

RCA splitter