XLR to RCA Adapter Question

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Mechnutt

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I just bought a BAT preamp and my DAC is single ended. I am having to use an RCA to XLR adpater.

Does any one have any experience with the Cardas adapters. The have 2 models, a cheaper version that costs about $75pr and others that sell for $150pr. I was wondering it there is a difference in sound. Currently I am using a pair of cheap adapters that I picked up at the local music store. Eventually I will be upgrading my DAC to a fully balanced unit.

http://www.cardas.com/adaptors.php

Thanks,

Larry
 
I have the better (more expensive) Cardas adapters. They seem to make a better connection. I gave my inexpensive adapters to a friend when he got his Job 225 amp from me.
 
I bought the Cardas Clear Adapters, I found them for $117pr. There were quite a few IC's on ebay that were single ended on 1 side and xlr on the other end. I probably should have gone that way.
 
I have the $75 cardas adaptors. I hate them. soften every aspect of the music, like a wet blanket.

Neutrix adaptors @ $20 are a lot better - open sounding. From memory, eventually after D'Agostino sent some adaptors they looked like Neutrix :)

Gryohon adaptors are also excellent.

try the Neutrix, you might be surprised and no real $$ damage if not. just make sure they are real ones.
 
XV-1 said:
I have the $75 cardas adaptors. I hate them. soften every aspect of the music, like a wet blanket.

Neutrix adaptors @ $20 are a lot better - open sounding. From memory, eventually after D'Agostino sent some adaptors they looked like Neutrix :)

Gryohon adaptors are also excellent.

try the Neutrix, you might be surprised and no real $$ damage if not. just make sure they are real ones.
Click to expand...

Wow...good to know. I just got a 2nd hand TA RefMM (MM2) which just happened to be perfectly calibrated for my system...so now both my ICs are TA RefMM (MM2) and properly calibrated (got lucky). But in order to use one of them...I have to use the Gryphon XLR adaptors to my Gryphon amp.

I had not intention of changing to different adaptors...I am actually at some point going to reterminate them. But I have to admit, the fitting is extremely tight, and I am delighted.

If for some reason I cannot get them reterminated...I think based on your advice, I should just keep exactly as I am. Thanks!
 
Hi Lloyd

yes, Transparent cables are best bought used - great to hear you have the next stage in your cable loom.

Haven't you always used the Gryphon xlr to rca adaptor to hook the GAT up?

BTW, the reason why you can't have your TA cables terminated at the amp end with XLR is that they are not true balanced cables for the rca cables - so can't be changed. That is also why the xlr TA ic's are so much more expensive.

I was really disappointed with the cardas connectors - just sitting in a draw unused.

cheers
 
XV-1 said:
Hi Lloyd

yes, Transparent cables are best bought used - great to hear you have the next stage in your cable loom.

Haven't you always used the Gryphon xlr to rca adaptor to hook the GAT up?

BTW, the reason why you can't have your TA cables terminated at the amp end with XLR is that they are not true balanced cables for the rca cables - so can't be changed. That is also why the xlr TA ic's are so much more expensive.

I was really disappointed with the cardas connectors - just sitting in a draw unused.

cheers
Click to expand...
Hi Shane,

Actually, for years now, I had a friend who owns his own cable company make a custom SE pair that was RCA-XLR...to avoid the adaptors. It has been a wonderful IC...really wonderful. But it is nice to finally have all transparent throughout the loom (MM2 generation)...Transp RefMM ICs and Transp RefXL SCs.

I am not try to get the IC to be balanced...I simply wish to do away with an adaptor...but to get it terminated I would have to both the distributor and frankly I don't think its right to so when I am buying 2nd hand. So I might have an audiotech simply replace the TA RCAs on one end with high quality Xhadow XLRs.

The audiotech said he was happy to do it and would bring multiple kinds of solder to try to match the kind they are using inside. what do you think? Gryphon certainly recommend using the Adaptors only temporarily.
 
LL21 said:
Hi Shane,

Actually, for years now, I had a friend who owns his own cable company make a custom SE pair that was RCA-XLR...to avoid the adaptors. It has been a wonderful IC...really wonderful. But it is nice to finally have all transparent throughout the loom (MM2 generation)...Transp RefMM ICs and Transp RefXL SCs.

I am not try to get the IC to be balanced...I simply wish to do away with an adaptor...but to get it terminated I would have to both the distributor and frankly I don't think its right to so when I am buying 2nd hand. So I might have an audiotech simply replace the TA RCAs on one end with high quality Xhadow XLRs.

The audiotech said he was happy to do it and would bring multiple kinds of solder to try to match the kind they are using inside. what do you think? Gryphon certainly recommend using the Adaptors only temporarily.
Click to expand...

Personally, I would not do it. The Gryphon adaptors sound excellent and with many connections now, one more won't make that much difference imo.
It will effect resale if you ever upgrade again.

I have the same issue with my 6m rca Nordost Tyr ic between my GAT/XP-20 and D'Agostino amp. I have now forgotten about the connector on the Dag amp after I tried out 4 different adaptors and used the most open sounding one.
 
XV-1 said:
Personally, I would not do it. The Gryphon adaptors sound excellent and with many connections now, one more won't make that much difference imo.
It will effect resale if you ever upgrade again.

I have the same issue with my 6m rca Nordost Tyr ic between my GAT/XP-20 and D'Agostino amp. I have now forgotten about the connector on the Dag amp after I tried out 4 different adaptors and used the most open sounding one.
Click to expand...

DONE. I am so happy, I am surprised. When I first thought about it...I was going to take receipt of the cable and IMMEDIATELY send it to my local audiotech for retermination. But of course, I could not help myself, and hooked it up to the Gryphon with the Gryphon adaptors. I was so shocked at how snugly everything fit, no movement whatsoever, I decided to let it run in a bit...and now its been over 10 days and I am glad to hear maybe I should just leave well enough alone.

I don't see myself upgrading to Opus MM2 (famous last words)...other than for the speaker cables where I have heard the Opus SCs are just insanely good...but your point is well taken about retermination and resale...I would have to put it back to RCA-RCA which is a pain.

thanks, Shane.
 
If I remember correctly, BAT makes excellent adapters…equal in quality to the Cardas?
 
BruceLet said:
If I remember correctly, BAT makes excellent adapters…equal in quality to the Cardas?
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BAT does not make them anymore. If I don't like the adapters I will sell them. I could have Blue jean cables make up and RCA-XLR ic or buy one of the many on Ebay as this is just a temporary fix till I get a new fully balanced DAC.

I called BAT and they recommended the higher end Cardas adapters. They told me that the cheaper ones were not that good.

This place sells some gold plated adapters at a reasonable price-
Echo Audio | Echo Audio XLR to RCA Adapters
 
Has anyone tried or heard Purist Audio adaptors before? I know how good Purist is generally, so most interested.
 
They can be bought at the Cable Co. for $150pr, same as the Cardas Clear Adpaters.
 
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