[Maximus Pain]

I have two AMPS and want to connect them to a single DAC.

How can I connect two AMPS to a DAC if the DAC only has one pair of RCA outputs and one pair of XLR outputs?

Would a good RCA Splitter cable give me any feedback or distortion issues?

Or.... would it be better to use the second set of XLR outputs on the DAC with an XLR to RCA cable?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I have two AMPS and want to connect them to a single DAC.

https://www.schiit.com/products/sys

Hook it up in reverse. It's a passive preamp, so In or Out doesn't matter as long as your connection is consistent ie both amps on the pairs for "input" and not one amp and one DAC on the inputs. Also set the Sys to max volume ie no attenuation.

I have two AMPS and want to connect them to a single DAC.

How can I connect two AMPS to a DAC if the DAC only has one pair of RCA outputs and one pair of XLR outputs?

-----

Or.... would it be better to use the second set of XLR outputs on the DAC with an XLR to RCA cable?

Sending separate GND channel balanced signals into a downstream component wired for single ended* will short the balanced component.

*note: this is not like Violectrics with balanced input on the amp, which is actually designed to take balanced inputs then convert the signal to SE before it reaches the preamp stage.

I have two AMPS and want to connect them to a single DAC.

How can I connect two AMPS to a DAC if the DAC only has one pair of RCA outputs and one pair of XLR outputs?

-----

Or.... would it be better to use the second set of XLR outputs on the DAC with an XLR to RCA cable?

 

[vmiguel]

I have a DacMagic 200M that has a pair of SE RCA out and a pair of balanced XLR out.
I've connected the SE out to two heaphones amps with a pair of RCA to two RCA cables, and the XLR out to active speakers using a XLR to RCA adapter.
I don't hear any SQ degradation and everything works well.

 

[Maximus Pain]

https://www.schiit.com/products/sys

Hook it up in reverse. It's a passive preamp, so In or Out doesn't matter as long as your connection is consistent ie both amps on the pairs for "input" and not one amp and one DAC on the inputs. Also set the Sys to max volume ie no attenuation.





Sending separate GND channel balanced signals into a downstream component wired for single ended* will short the balanced component.

*note: this is not like Violectrics with balanced input on the amp, which is actually designed to take balanced inputs then convert the signal to SE before it reaches the preamp stage.

ProtegeManiac saves the day once again, lol. Thank you!

 

[Maximus Pain]

So something like this should also work without any ill effects to sound quality?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

So something like this should also work without any ill effects to sound quality?

As long as there's no power input then that's a passive preamp.

However the Schiit Sys is pretty much already known to not color the sound, beyond it being a passive preamp ie people here have widely tested it.

 

[vmiguel]

Regarding using a font selector "backwards", I've used a Pro-ject Switch Box S (it has 3 or 4 inputs and 2 outputs) reversing the signal path with no problem or SQ impact.
Also, the Switch Box is active.