[DonSherman]

I plan to connect the XLR out from a new Behringer DEQ2496 Equalizer to the RCA analog stereo inputs on my Channel Island V HP-1 headamp. The run will be 20-25 feet long. Which cable should I use for this length? Is star quad with 24 ga wires heavy enough? Also the usual wiring diagrams I have seen for XLR shows -pin 1=grnd, 2=white(both wires)-hot and 3= both blue wires. That will not work to go to unbalanced RCA's. How do I connect the leads at each end? Should it be XLR 1=shield plus 2 blue, and 2=white and 3= the other white, to the RCA's with white as L&R tips, and both blue and grnd as shield? Also should I use the XLR balanced or unbalanced XLR jack on the Behringer?

 

[sbulack]

If the headamp is unbalanced, Behringer recommends in the DEQ2496 User's Manual (Fig. 5.1 XLR connectors) that, to use the (servo-balanced) analog XLR in/out for unbalanced use, pin 2 should be wired hot and pins 1,3 (ground/cold) tied together. Hosa makes XLR-to-RCA adapters wired in this way. You'll need a pair of these adapters, one for the XLR connector of each channel (L/R). At that point, you'll have an unbalanced RCA pair of jacks and can use a standard RCA pair IC using relatively inexpensive Belden cable, such as those sold at http://www.bluejeanscable.com . I use the Hosa XLR-to-RCA adapters and am happy with the quality of the sound. Several other head fi-ers who use the DEQ2496 have noted that they are also happy with the Hosa adapters. They are available at http://www.sweetwater.com for $8-10 each ($16-20 per pair). I have also inquired into the Cardas XLR-to-RCA adapters and have been informed in a response email from Cardas that their adapters are wired with pin 2 hot and pins 1,3 tied together (for $60-70 per pair).