[aamefford]

I went round a bit - RSA or 4 pin. In the end decided 4 pin XLR is the current standard. I think most balanced headphones and cables on the used market will be 4 pin XLR. That assumption and the robustness of the 4 pin XLR made my decision for me.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

And i think 4pin xlr to rsa adapter should not be expensive also....

 

[wormsdriver]

Although I have no personal experience with the rsa and mini xlr connectors. the mini xlr's look so much more appealing to me, and hopefully one day they  will be the standard used for balanced headphones...

 

[kkcc]

My take is the xlr vs rsa choice hinges on if you will pair it primarily with fullsize (go with xlr) or with IEM (go with rsa).

Personally if I would need both then the xlr on the M8 LX makes more sense as it seems a xlr to rsa converter would be more secured and durable if the heavy xlr end is attached to the unit rather than the cable side.

 

[ExpatinJapan]

Any pictures of these XLR to RSA convertors?

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Something like this?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/670259/moon-audio-silver-dragon-v1-iem-extension-adapter-cable-6-mini-4-pin-xlr-female-to-rsa-male

 

[AmberOzL]

Large and strong XLR vs Small and weak(?) RSA is a hard choice.

Mini XLR would be a great middle ground.

I did see this RSA plus RSA adapter to 3.5mm at our Tokyo mini meet the other week....
 

RSA is weak? I am not sure about it. I didn't use one yet, but the connector seems quite durable actually.
 
Anyone have any problems with that?
 
I find XLR is way too big for c/iem users honestly.

 

[sugarshark]

I was tossing up the same question. But as earlier posters said it seems like XL4 is the standard for most headphones (the ones I want anyway) so it made more sense to go with that.
 
But yeah I'd also prefer a single 4-pin mini XLR to either current option
 
 
Quote:

My take is the xlr vs rsa choice hinges on if you will pair it primarily with fullsize (go with xlr) or with IEM (go with rsa).

Personally if I would need both then the xlr on the M8 LX makes more sense as it seems a xlr to rsa converter would be more secured and durable if the heavy xlr end is attached to the unit rather than the cable side.

 
Good point
 
If you need an adapter you could make one for about $30 in parts (gold plated neutrik + Canare L4E6S).. that's what i'd do anyway

 

[ExpatinJapan]

A 4XLR to 3.5mm adapter would great. But i guess electronically it wouldn't be feasible...

 

[sugarshark]

A 4XLR to 3.5mm adapter would great. But i guess electronically it wouldn't be feasible...

 
It's technically possible but kinda pointless on the M8.
 
The wiring would be the same as a 1/4" plug: http://www.diyaudioblog.com/2011/11/balanced-to-single-ended-heaphone.html
 
But it's an unbalanced signal so you might as well use the SE output of the M8

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

  RSA is weak? I am not sure about it. I didn't use one yet, but the connector seems quite durable actually.
 
Anyone have any problems with that?
 
I find XLR is way too big for c/iem users honestly.

 
My CLAS-db/Rx Mk3 stack is full of RSA connectors.  Not even a remote issue with them.  These connectors were first developed for pro photography, so I'm not too worried...

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

Large and strong XLR vs Small and weak(?) RSA is a hard choice.

Mini XLR would be a great middle ground.

I did see this RSA plus RSA adapter to 3.5mm at our Tokyo mini meet the other week....

 
Ray Samuels would pop a blood vessel if he saw that.  He is strongly against those, because he believes they would short his portable amps.  Most likely unique to his stuff, but still worth noting...

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

I think u can make adapter to convert from rsa to 3.5mm SE, but never the other way around.

I use rsa to 3.5mm adapter before with no issue...

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

I think u can make adapter to convert from rsa to 3.5mm SE, but never the other way around.

I use rsa to 3.5mm adapter before with no issue...

 
To quote Ray's page on his new F-35 Lightning amp, which is balanced output only:
 
"WARNING…
 
The F-35 comes with ONLY balanced output connector. It has no 3.5 mm SE output. NEVER EVER short the balanced output pins to create a single ended output. Using an adapter to convert the balanced output plug to single ended plug will over heat the buffers and burn the output stage. This act will NOT be covered under warranty. The F-35 should ONLY be used as balanced output."
 
Again, I don't have the technical expertise.  But I tend to trust what Ray puts out there....

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

I think what he meant was a "single ended female to rsa male adapter" which doesnt exist unless diy
Warning people who r lazy to rewire their cables with rsa jack