[BirdManOfCT]

I'm looking for a decent XLR-to-XLR pair between DAC and headphone amp, but am wondering why (it appears that) many people are choosing XLR-to-RCA instead. Comments?
 
It does seem that it's harder to find XLR-to-XLR. For example, I've considered several AudioQuest lines, but they've been discontinued.

 

[Mr Rick]

  I'm looking for a decent XLR-to-XLR pair between DAC and headphone amp, but am wondering why (it appears that) many people are choosing XLR-to-RCA instead. Comments?
 
It does seem that it's harder to find XLR-to-XLR. For example, I've considered several AudioQuest lines, but they've been discontinued.

Schiit has XLR-to-XLR for a reasonable price.

 

[BirdManOfCT]

  Schiit has XLR-to-XLR for a reasonable price.

Aren't they just short (9") ones for connecting on a stack? I need 1m/3ft ones.

 

[Speedskater]

Maybe because they have a unit with only RCA inputs?
 
But in any case, connecting a balanced XLR output to a unbalanced RCA input is tricky. There a 3 different types of balanced output stages and no single interconnect adapter will work with all 3.

 

[BirdManOfCT]

  Maybe because they have a unit with only RCA inputs?

 
Good point. I'd considered that early on, but was looking primarily at users of HDVD800 and HDVD600, which have balanced inputs, so I guess I blocked that out of my mind. But, could still be same consideration if using for multiple configurations, so excellent point. Thanks!

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

There is never any point at all going XLR > RCA.
 
It will always function as a unbalanced connection and therefore be more prone to noise, earth loops and be quieter.
 
Go XLR > XLR if you can and both ends are balanced. Otherwise you might as well use RCA > RCA.