Chord Mojo 2 Thread ___ [product released January 31, 2022 -- starting on page 95 of thread]

[Derivative]

I asked this question some 18 months ago but didn't get a definitive answer - apologies for asking again but hopefully someone experienced can help:

say I have a portable amp with a 4.4mm balanced input, which I want to feed from Mojo2.
would a simple 3.5m TRS to 4.4mm TRRS cable work? for example this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balanced-Compatible-NW-WM1Z-Stereos-Speaker-White/dp/B09BN8MKRN

I want to avoid doing this if it risks the amp or the Mojo in any way, so any advice gratefully received, thank you!

 

[turbanator07]

I asked this question some 18 months ago but didn't get a definitive answer.

No personal experience but it may not work directly.

Mojo 2 has 3,5 unbalanced, i.e the left and right channels have a common ground. Whereas on 4,4, it's balanced with separate ground for each channel.

Use something to convert 3,5 to XLR and then XLR to 4,4.

https://www.amazon.ca/Movo-TCB7-Female-3-5mm-Cable/dp/B08VRMDSJP

https://www.amazon.ca/Balanced-Female-Cable-Headphone-Adapter/dp/B078TK56TZ

This will not be a balanced connection but should work with the unbalanced signal.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

I asked this question some 18 months ago but didn't get a definitive answer - apologies for asking again but hopefully someone experienced can help:

say I have a portable amp with a 4.4mm balanced input, which I want to feed from Mojo2.
would a simple 3.5m TRS to 4.4mm TRRS cable work? for example this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balanced-Compatible-NW-WM1Z-Stereos-Speaker-White/dp/B09BN8MKRN

I want to avoid doing this if it risks the amp or the Mojo in any way, so any advice gratefully received, thank you!

SE output to balanced input fine.

 

[jjazzy]

I asked this question some 18 months ago but didn't get a definitive answer - apologies for asking again but hopefully someone experienced can help:

say I have a portable amp with a 4.4mm balanced input, which I want to feed from Mojo2.
would a simple 3.5m TRS to 4.4mm TRRS cable work? for example this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balanced-Compatible-NW-WM1Z-Stereos-Speaker-White/dp/B09BN8MKRN

I want to avoid doing this if it risks the amp or the Mojo in any way, so any advice gratefully received, thank you!

you just connect single ended to a headphone with balanced connector. Amps react differently, it only converts the connection, it is still single ended in the mojo. But it might work fine.

 

[Derivative]

Thanks for the responses, I can see it's not so clear cut.
Rather than take the risk on the equipment and on buying the wrong thing I'll stick to amps with SE input.
If anyone else would care to chime in I'm still keen to hear your experience and opinion!

 

[Daniel Johnston]

No personal experience but it may not work directly.

Mojo 2 has 3,5 mm unbalanced, i.e the left and right channels have a common ground. Whereas on 4,4, it's balanced with separate ground for each channel.

Use something to convert 3,5 to XLR and then XLR to 4,4.

https://www.amazon.ca/Movo-TCB7-Female-3-5mm-Cable/dp/B08VRMDSJP

https://www.amazon.ca/Balanced-Female-Cable-Headphone-Adapter/dp/B078TK56TZ

This will not be a balanced connection but should work with the unbalanced signal.

Most 3.5mm to balanced adapters split the ground. It's the opposite that is a problem. You can't easily take a balanced output to an SE input.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Thanks for the responses, I can see it's not so clear cut.
Rather than take the risk on the equipment and on buying the wrong thing I'll stick to amps with SE input.
If anyone else would care to chime in I'm still keen to hear your experience and opinion!

You're fine to do it, but it gains you nothing.

 

[Derivative]

You're fine to do it, but it gains you nothing.

Yes I understand it may not change anything sound wise, but if I'm ok to do it then I can go ahead and try some more niche amps with 4.4mm inputs only.
That's the crux of it, some small amps don't have SE inputs at all.

 

[Hummer25]

A couple of questions regarding inputs into Mojo 2.

1. Is it better to use the Toslink or Coax input (I will be coming out of a DDC)
2. The coax input is 3.5mm so are there any cables out there which are 3.5mm to spdif? How do most folk use the coax connection?

 

[jarnopp]

A couple of questions regarding inputs into Mojo 2.

1. Is it better to use the Toslink or Coax input (I will be coming out of a DDC)
2. The coax input is 3.5mm so are there any cables out there which are 3.5mm to spdif? How do most folk use the coax connection?

Toslink is better, and is considered the reference connection, as it can’t transmit any electrical noise (no electrical connection). The exception would be if you have music recorded originally at sample rates higher than 192kHz.

 

[Meridian7]

A couple of questions regarding inputs into Mojo 2.

1. Is it better to use the Toslink or Coax input (I will be coming out of a DDC)
2. The coax input is 3.5mm so are there any cables out there which are 3.5mm to spdif? How do most folk use the coax connection?

Yes there are such cables 3,5mm to RCA male.
Or adapter RCA female to 3,5mm

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Toslink is better, and is considered the reference connection, as it can’t transmit any electrical noise (no electrical connection). The exception would be if you have music recorded originally at sample rates higher than 192kHz.

The Toslink connection does not transmit noise but it is not the best for this, its quality depends a lot on the source.

 

[jarnopp]

The Toslink connection does not transmit noise but it is not the best for this, its quality depends a lot on the source.

I disagree. If the source is sending bit perfect data, that is what you get at the DAC input.

 

[jjazzy]

I disagree. If the source is sending bit perfect data, that is what you get at the DAC input.

The zen stream sends bit perfect (and yes for what it costs amazing, well done), I can assure you it does not sound the same as a high end streamer, even if they are both bit perfect.

You can even hear small differences beween local files, roon or a streamed file on tidal and qobuz. Everything in the change has influence, from components, cables and software. And I have heared it many times on various streamers.

But that is all I say about it… I am really done trying to explain that a streamer is the sum of all it’s part, and dirt in means dirt out into the dac, and I really don’t mean that disrespectfull!

 

[BS5711]

2. The coax input is 3.5mm so are there any cables out there which are 3.5mm to spdif? How do most folk use the coax connection?

@Hummer25

The simplest way to use coaxial from a device with a full size RCA coaxial output is with a standard RCA to RCA coaxial cable with an appropriate RCA to 3.5mm coaxial adapter like pictured below.

You can get RCA to 3.5mm cables but you need to be aware of the wiring configuration. The Mojo and most other small devices that use a 3.5mm coaxial INPUT use a TS mono plug as on the adapter above.

If you can find an RCA to 3.5mm TS mono cable that would replicate an RCA to RCA plus adapter that would work fine. These cables do exist but they are less common.

The problem is that devices such as DAPs that use 3.5mm coaxial OUTPUT generally don’t use a TS mono plug despite that only two wires are needed in a coaxial cable. FiiO for example uses the lower ring and the sleeve of a TRRS four pole plug with the signal on the sleeve and the ground on the lower ring. Shanling use the same arrangement.

The extension of that is if a cable is an RCA to 3.5mm TRRS the 3.5mm end is the output end and the RCA is the input. Such a cable will not work using the TRRS 3.5mm as the input to the Mojo.

Like this cable, the 3.5mm is an OUTPUT only and won’t work into the Mojo.

The cable below is a 3.5mm to 3.5mm for a FiiO DAP into a Mojo or any device that uses a standard 3.5mm coaxial input. The TRRS plug on the right is the output from the DAP and the TS plug on the left is the input to the Mojo. It most definitely won’t work the other way around.

EDITED TO ADD - it occurred to me that a cable intended for an iBasso DAP to RCA coaxial uses a TS two pole plug with the standard Tip = signal and Sleeve = ground which will work as an input to the Mojo with the RCA end connected to the source device.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtMI6yn

Alternatively you could make a cable, I just put together an together an RCA to 3.5mm cable using readily available components and it works flawlessly. With only two wires to solder it is pretty simple as well. Coaxial is supposed to have a 75 ohm standard, which a homemade cable won’t be, but I understand at short lengths and for audio it doesn’t matter and apparently RCA terminated cable are never going to be proper 75 ohm standard, BNC is apparently required for that.

Sorry it got a bit long but I hope that is some help.