My Moon Audio Silver Dragon v3 also has four conductors. It sounds like the assertion being made here is that on Woo Audio's XLR plug and internal wiring somehow doesn't take advantage of the four separate conductors. I don't see how that could be the case.
Quote:If I may, I'd like to ask for a bit more clarity. Are you replying to a specific vendor's XLR headphone cable design? This is because my own reality differs. Working my way from the bottom up in your reply, my balanced headphone XLR cable uses four conductors. They are run completely separate from cups to XLR adapter - no "Y" connector but two per side.
Using XLR cables with this configuration is not limited to a single advantage but three. Yes, they often can offer a superior connection. But they also can afford reduced cross talk and improved stereo imaging with four separate conductors.
Right, wrong or indifferent, I'm enjoying my Zeus Quad22 OCC Copper XLR D7000.
And my views on the same issue:
Tea for thought ~
Though, I am without a WA22 (no one would sell, feel sorry for me yet?), I do possess a fully balanced source and re-cabled "balanced" headphones (allegedly). And would like to share my brief thoughts on the matter being discussed. Touching on DAC>Amp>Headphone.
At the heart of "Balanced" is achieving Common Mode Noise Rejection. Other than having money, that's the reason to do it, as I understand it. Also, not all balanced sources and amps are fully balanced in a traditional sense. Some use electronic wizardry. That said, my own DAC is fully balanced. However, my amp is SE.
Despite my DAC only sending 2.6v in SE mode, I am still benefiting from my DAC's design and achieving Common Mode Noise Rejection. If the 5.2v sent is one of quality, the extra voltage will impart a more favorable sound than it would at 2.6v. And that's ok, because I am still benefiting from CMNR at this time.
Once the amp receives and maintains this signal, mission accomplished. Now, getting to, tapping into and/or outputting this signal to headphones is where imaginations tend to run wild on the subject. Headphones are not balanced - well, in name and symmetry, yes. But, DACs/Amps and headphones are two different things with two different goals and benefits.
With headphones, the goal is reduced Cross-talk and increased channel separation. And generally speaking, because there are always exceptions, XLR options tend to offer a chance at superior connections. This has nothing to do with Common Mode Noise Rejection. In my view, re-cabling headphones can yield improvements. But like running water, everyone's reality will vary.
Can any of these things be measured? Time wasted if not audibly discerned?? These questions and more make for another tea, another post on another day...
That's it! Those are my views in a tea bowl. Which, are subject to change through enlightenment. Besides, where would Head-Fi be without participation and discussion?
Thanks, Sid-Fi. However, I know exactly what he's addressing.For clarity, the OP sought best deal on Balanced headphone cables. NOMBEDES suggested the OP save his money and get a SE cable, explaining the only advantage XLR's have is with the connectors. My quote above speaks to that reply. The assertion you refer to was just previously addressed on page 1504 - grokit's post #22549 and my own post #22550. See Jack's reply below regarding the Fears of the internal headphone jacks wiring:
From: grokit
X2 on the WA22 preference. It has been explained in painstaking detail by Jack (below) that the WA22 is a balanced amplifier that fully utilizes a balanced source. It can send full power to either set of outputs, but only half of its power when utilizing a single-ended source. It took me a while to fully Grok this, I think I have it right at this point but am open to correction.
I would just add that some headphones respond better than others to balanced cabling, and IME these are usually the headphones that have modular connectors to facilitate an aftermarket cable.
Jack's post, 2/7/11:
"[size=medium]The WA22 is a fully balanced amp, see diagram below.[/size]
[size=medium]The question here is that this amp is not fully balanced because the "amp with a single ended output stage directly connected to the XLR connectors.” It is not true. In an Output Transformer coupled design, the primary and secondary coils are isolated. Output stage and input stage are not connected and thus no cross-talk whatsoever can happen.[/size]
[size=medium]On the ¼” output, both channels have independent paths, see the black and red wires. If this wiring scheme applies to a Output Transformer Less design, the circuit will become single-ended. See the second diagram in #17, the v- would have to be a common wire to other channel. One must be carefull not to take reference from the wrong context to avoid all the misunderstanding.[/size]
[size=medium]Also, no phase splitter is needed because the source is XLR (balanced). As for the RCA input, only ½ of the input is used and the efficiency is roughly dropped 50%. In other words, the RCA input will not take advantage of this design. You must use a balanced source to get the best out of the WA22.[/size]
[size=medium]Hope that clarifies.[/size]
[size=medium]-Jack"[/size]
Thanks Silent One. However, to be honest, I'm going to kick back tonight and chill and maybe Saturday morning I'll critically review this
HELP!
I just received my Adapters for Sylvania VT-99 6F8G tubes..
I have a Buzz on left side..
I was thinking bad tube or adapter..
I changed sides the tubes were installed on expected the buzz to also change side but it stayed on the same side..
I tried changing power and rectifier tubes hoping for a change but still have a buzz on left side
Any suggestions what to try???
