TooMuchRain
New Head-Fier
I understand that adapting a balanced output to an unbalanced cable has a risk of damaging the amplifier, but I only have a very vague understanding of why this is the case. I was wondering if anyone has a clear explanation for why this is the case?
Furthermore, I have seen places saying you can't adapt a balanced output to unbalanced input, but what about the other way around? Can you, for example, drive balanced headphones with an unbalanced output, if at the cost of a poorer SNR or whatever? Also, what about adapting 2.5 mm balanced to 4.4 mm balanced and vice versa? I know that 2.5 only has four poles, whereas 4.4 has five, and I've seen several adapters from 4.4 mm to 2.5 mm, but I have only found like one adapter going the other way. Is there a difference between the two types of balanced output, and how does that affect adapting them?
Furthermore, I have seen places saying you can't adapt a balanced output to unbalanced input, but what about the other way around? Can you, for example, drive balanced headphones with an unbalanced output, if at the cost of a poorer SNR or whatever? Also, what about adapting 2.5 mm balanced to 4.4 mm balanced and vice versa? I know that 2.5 only has four poles, whereas 4.4 has five, and I've seen several adapters from 4.4 mm to 2.5 mm, but I have only found like one adapter going the other way. Is there a difference between the two types of balanced output, and how does that affect adapting them?