Balanced to 1/4, possible?

[smartins]

I'll be buying a custom cable for my HD650 and I have the option of either balanced or the regular 1/4 connector.

I never listen to a balanced setup before but I do have a Lavry DA10 which I could use for balanced.

Buying a balanced cable and a regular one is not an option for me so I would like to know if is there any option available to use a balanced cable in a non-balanced setup if needed.

This way I could order the cable balanced and if needed go unbalanced.

Thanks!

 

[Hirsch]

Yep. You'd need an adapter cable that runs two XLR's to a 1/4 inch jack. It would combine the negative phase wires of the XLR's at the common ground point of the 1/4 in. Anyone who builds balanced cables should be able to build you the adapter.

 

[Solude]

You can also run a balanced cable to a balanced amp being fed a single ended source.

But in your case remember you want female xlr ends to plug into the back of the Lavry not typical male ends. And then a modified adapter like Hirsch suggested.

 

[smartins]

Thanks for both replies. I contacted Drew from Moon Audio asking a quote and a 4' Black Dragon XLR Adapter to 1/4" cable costs $125. Added to the XLR Black Dragon at $225 this gets a bit pricey just to "try" a balanced setup. I was hoping that the adapter was cheaper but no such luck.

It's good that the male-female question was raised since I then realized that my source (Lavry DA10) has male XLR's so it needs female connectors. But a balanced amp I'm considering to buy in the future (Rudostor NX-33) has female XLR's so it needs male connectors.
I guess I need to pick one plug type and additionally buy either a male to female or female to male XLR converter, if I decide do go with balanced in the end.

 

[KenW]

Check with grandenigma. He did my adaper. Nice work and very reasonable. Here's a pic of his reterm job on my 701's and the adapter. Click the thumb for a larger view.

 

[Solude]

I wouldn't be surprised if you could buy an adapter at a music shop for $10. Won't be as fancy but will get the job done.

 

[smartins]

Isn't an adapter made of different a cable than the balanced Sennheiser one might result on a different sound than if connecting the xlr cable directly?

I assume that the xlr to 1/4 adapter would then come in play since the sound first passes trough it and only then reaches the balanced cable.

Anyway, I'll contact grandenigma about the adapter.