I just got the RCA to TRS mono plugs and tried it on my PA5. Works great. I don't see any of the tonal differences from changing the volume control mentioned in the other post.
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Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
You can DIY it for sure but I bought the AliExpress one based on the DRV134 chip and I am very happy with it. Another thread measured it and it does exactly what it should, which is basically not altering the sound at all. So, I recommend
125.0US $ |Finished Precision Dual Channel Single-ended To Balance Audio Converter Rca To Xlr Drv134 Converter - Home Theater Amplifiers - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Martinvb
Active Member
You can e.g. hook up a (matching) Topping E50 to the PA5; you can connect the RCA out of the E50 to connect to a powered sub. The E50 can be set to drive both the balanced and unbalanced outputs at the same time. Tested this: works.
mario_rouge
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I have a smsl su9 that has both balanced and RCA output, as some users have explained to me in this forum, I connected the pa9 to the balanced output (xlr) of the dac and the subwoofer to the RCA output of the dac and I adjusted the crossover from the subwoofer. And then I use su9 in preamp mode.
DRV134 has very high output noise (-98dBu)
So you have very low noise amp PA5 and you kill its noise parameters by this DRV134 placed in front of the PA5.
tvrgeek
Major Contributor
Gad, how folks work so hard to mess things up. Problems that don't exist with fixes because it is this weeks catch word.
Buy more music.
Buy more music.
Yes but the sub volume control will be independent of the PA5.
This product doesn't look that bad, but what about it?
Measurements of TransAudio（China）DRV134 RCA To XLR Adaptor Converter
www.audiosciencereview.com
Is it T=hot, R=G, S=G?
Martinvb
Active Member
Yes, but you can use the E50 in pre-amp mode and keep the PA5 on a fixed volume.
I have the E50 and I use the TRS input. But, I was answering another post where the person is thinking about converting SE to balanced so he can keep his current favorite DAC. In my mind, if you are already converting from SE to TRS, the noise floor isn't a big concern, right? Also, -98 dBu is obviously not as good as the PA5 numbers but it is not bad considering the situation in my mind (barely audible if I am not mistaken).
This product doesn't look that bad, but what about it?
Measurements of TransAudio（China）DRV134 RCA To XLR Adaptor Converter
This is the same product I linked. All them use the same boards.
Are you in a competition to be the most obnoxious replier in forums? If so, you are killing it!
The guy is just talking about converting unbalanced (SE) to balanced to keep his DAC and I just gave a equipment suggestion to do so. And what did any of your comments did to help? Answer: nothing.
cybernaut667
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I think there will be an E50 in my future. It’s just $100 more than a RCA to balanced converter and will be the cleanest solution.
Hi everyone,
Just got my Pa5 and here is my short feedback if useful.
My global setup isn't optimal and isn't clearly easy to drive: inefficient speakers (86dB) in an asymetrical 4m×10m living room (with open kitchen) in a noisy flat (due to the street outside), the amp is fed by an unbalanced RCA DAC (2V max). And I usually listen to modern and classical music (piano solo) relatively quietly (so, not loud).
In brief: overall and in my described usecase, this amp is really great and has enough power even for classical music. It could lack some power for people listening to music loud or very loud, but no surprise with regard to its specifications and to my specific setup. In a few words: I really enjoy my best amp so far!
Just got my Pa5 and here is my short feedback if useful.
My global setup isn't optimal and isn't clearly easy to drive: inefficient speakers (86dB) in an asymetrical 4m×10m living room (with open kitchen) in a noisy flat (due to the street outside), the amp is fed by an unbalanced RCA DAC (2V max). And I usually listen to modern and classical music (piano solo) relatively quietly (so, not loud).
In brief: overall and in my described usecase, this amp is really great and has enough power even for classical music. It could lack some power for people listening to music loud or very loud, but no surprise with regard to its specifications and to my specific setup. In a few words: I really enjoy my best amp so far!
Yep, makes a lot of sense. I have the E50 but I still make use of the converter to play other unbalanced sources like my phono pre.
somebodyelse
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Says the person who didn't read the linked page. It's a proprietary connector that they license royalty free, but so far nobody seems to have taken them up on it. They look like RCA and if you plug an RCA into them you will get a connection to hot and ground. There's a larger diameter contact between the hot and the ground for the cold which makes contact with their matching plug, but doesn't make contact with anything in a normal RCA plug.
IIRC the SPDIF uses one too so they can have input and output on the same connector.
Not cheap, not totally outrageous. It does need factoring into the price of the DAC if you want to use it balanced though.
https://www.khadas.com/product-page/balanced-rca-to-xlr-3-converters
https://www.khadas.com/product-page/balanced-rca-connector
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