RCA to Balanced

[KewlMunky]

Hello,

I'm trying to put together a 2.1 setup for my computer. I'm looking at getting a pair of JBL lsr305 powered monitors and a JBl lsr310 powered sub. The sub has balanced 2x 3pin XLR and 2x 1/4" TRS inputs and balanced 2x 3pin XLR output. The monitors have the same inputs as the sub.

I currently use a schiit SYS in reverse to switch between headphone amp and computer speakers easily, and I'd like to use it for this setup as well. The SYS only has RCA connections. I've seen RCA to 2x 3pin XLR, but reviewers said it's only for going from balanced source to unbalanced input, not the other way around. Yet I've owned a 3.5mm yes unbalanced to 2x 3pin XLR cable and went from an unbalanced source to balanced input and it worked. Does a cable to do what I want exist? I've read on forums about devices that concert from unbalanced to balanced and vice versa. However if I can just get a cable I'd rather do that being I don't think there would be a benefit actually concerting to balanced as the whole stream isn't balanced.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Speedskater]

Use interconnect #17 in this RaneNote:
 
http://www.rane.com/note110.html

 

[giocher03]

Sorry to bring this old post up, but I'm in a similar situation: I have just bought one LSR305 and being a noob about cabling I thought I just needed a 3.5mm to 6.35mm cable from my asus xonar dgx audio card to the LSR. However if I plug it all in I only get left/right channel but woofer won't work, if I plug it halfway in in the audio card I get right channel and woofer to work, but no left channel. Is there any way to make it work without a DIY cable? If I bought another LSR and plug them both into the audio card through 2x rca-6.35mm ts cable or xlr would that work? Something like Proel CHLP330LU3

 

[Endless_Chris]

May I ask how you are getting a left and right channel through one speaker? You are extensively sending a stereo signal into one (mono) speaker. Each output jack on that Xonar sends a stereo signal so you would want to get two speakers. With the setup you spoke about a stereo Y-split cable would be required to play your left and right channel through left and right speakers. You do not need two cables as that sound card doesn't send seperate mono signals through each of its output jacks.

 

[giocher03]

May I ask how you are getting a left and right channel through one speaker? You are extensively sending a stereo signal into one (mono) speaker. Each output jack on that Xonar sends a stereo signal so you would want to get two speakers. With the setup you spoke about a stereo Y-split cable would be required to play your left and right channel through left and right speakers. You do not need two cables as that sound card doesn't send separate mono signals through each of its output jacks.

I actually don't know how it played stereo channels before; as of now, until I get the second speaker, I've set Windows audio output to mono so no more left/right channel and the speaker is playing good. Along with the speaker I'll get a Y cable as you suggest. Is there any difference between mini jack to 2x xlr and 2x rca to 2x xlr? That's because I'm placing the two monitors at about 150 cm distance and I haven't found any mini jack to xlr cable that has a split that long. Thanks for your answers.

 

[Endless_Chris]

Don't sweat the XLR connection. You are not actually giving it a true balanced output, its just a connector option. I would try something like this 1/4" Y-cable https://www.amazon.com/YEKELLA-Prem...pID=41Ni2PclW-L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch