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2vrms Unbalanced vs 4vrms Balanced into Active Speakers

MotionMadness

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Aug 7, 2024
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Hello everyone, so I tried to figure it out myself but couldn't, so here I am.

My question is I have a pair of Kali LP-6 V1s and Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC, speakers are located on my 1.5 meters wide desk. I use my Moondrop either with my laptop or tablet and the dac is connected to my speakers with a very cheap 3.5mm to 2x RCA cable, I couldn't find a better cable locally that splits enough to reach both speakers. I am using this setup to listening music, playing games and watching movies/series.

Now I want to buy a decent cable from AliExpress but I don't know which route should I go. Moondrop has one 3.5mm unbalanced output with 2vrms and one 4.4mm balanced output with 4vrms. I can either buy a 3.5mm to 2x RCA unbalanced cable or 4.4mm to 2x TRS balanced cable. Does 2vrms unbalanced and 4vrms balanced matters? Would there be any performance differences between these two cables in terms of volume, noise floor and etc.? Or there wouldn't even be any changes compared to my cheap cable and should I just save my money?

Here are the photos of cables I am using and thinking of buying. Consider that I am also planning on adding a Presonus Eris 8bt Active Subwoofer to the setup.
 

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Hi there, welcome to ASR!

In general you get a little better performance from a balanced / 4V signal, generally just in terms of less noise.

However, these are all pretty performant devices in the first place, so it's unlikely that you would hear much / any difference. But at the same price / convenience level, go with the balanced.
 


Hi there, welcome to ASR!

In general you get a little better performance from a balanced / 4V signal, generally just in terms of less noise.

However, these are all pretty performant devices in the first place, so it's unlikely that you would hear much / any difference. But at the same price / convenience level, go with the balanced.
Balanced connection wouldn't decrease the chronic hiss of Kali LP-6s right? They don't bother me but less hiss is always preferable.
 
My understanding is the hiss from the Kali speaker is from its own amp, so that will remain nearly the same.
 
Hello everyone, so I tried to figure it out myself but couldn't, so here I am.

My question is I have a pair of Kali LP-6 V1s and Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC, speakers are located on my 1.5 meters wide desk. I use my Moondrop either with my laptop or tablet and the dac is connected to my speakers with a very cheap 3.5mm to 2x RCA cable, I couldn't find a better cable locally that splits enough to reach both speakers. I am using this setup to listening music, playing games and watching movies/series.

Now I want to buy a decent cable from AliExpress but I don't know which route should I go. Moondrop has one 3.5mm unbalanced output with 2vrms and one 4.4mm balanced output with 4vrms. I can either buy a 3.5mm to 2x RCA unbalanced cable or 4.4mm to 2x TRS balanced cable. Does 2vrms unbalanced and 4vrms balanced matters? Would there be any performance differences between these two cables in terms of volume, noise floor and etc.? Or there wouldn't even be any changes compared to my cheap cable and should I just save my money?

Here are the photos of cables I am using and thinking of buying. Consider that I am also planning on adding a Presonus Eris 8bt Active Subwoofer to the setup.
Why hello there, nice to meet you here again. Nervous-Canary on Reddit. :D
 
Hello everyone, so I tried to figure it out myself but couldn't, so here I am.

My question is I have a pair of Kali LP-6 V1s and Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC, speakers are located on my 1.5 meters wide desk. I use my Moondrop either with my laptop or tablet and the dac is connected to my speakers with a very cheap 3.5mm to 2x RCA cable, I couldn't find a better cable locally that splits enough to reach both speakers. I am using this setup to listening music, playing games and watching movies/series.

Now I want to buy a decent cable from AliExpress but I don't know which route should I go. Moondrop has one 3.5mm unbalanced output with 2vrms and one 4.4mm balanced output with 4vrms. I can either buy a 3.5mm to 2x RCA unbalanced cable or 4.4mm to 2x TRS balanced cable. Does 2vrms unbalanced and 4vrms balanced matters? Would there be any performance differences between these two cables in terms of volume, noise floor and etc.? Or there wouldn't even be any changes compared to my cheap cable and should I just save my money?

Here are the photos of cables I am using and thinking of buying. Consider that I am also planning on adding a Presonus Eris 8bt Active Subwoofer to the setup.
When you are not plagued with hum or other noises than the self noise of the speaker with your current connection and can play loud enough I would keep using the current cable.
A problem may occur later when you are adding a sub using a splitter cable or when using a single cable to the sub and use its outs to the speakers.

When using balanced connections in such a case it could prevent weird hums. You also may have to lower the volume on your speakers a bit when using balanced.

The sound quality will remain the same and noise levels (of the speakers) won't change with different cables, not in single ended nor in balanced.
With balanced cables you can prevent ground loops (hum, 'computer noises' etc.)
Chances are the 4.4mm to 2x XLR won't be fully wired (2x 2channels + ground) but is only 4 wire so not having the ground wire.
 
Hello everyone, so I tried to figure it out myself but couldn't, so here I am.

My question is I have a pair of Kali LP-6 V1s and Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC, speakers are located on my 1.5 meters wide desk. I use my Moondrop either with my laptop or tablet and the dac is connected to my speakers with a very cheap 3.5mm to 2x RCA cable, I couldn't find a better cable locally that splits enough to reach both speakers. I am using this setup to listening music, playing games and watching movies/series.

Now I want to buy a decent cable from AliExpress but I don't know which route should I go. Moondrop has one 3.5mm unbalanced output with 2vrms and one 4.4mm balanced output with 4vrms. I can either buy a 3.5mm to 2x RCA unbalanced cable or 4.4mm to 2x TRS balanced cable. Does 2vrms unbalanced and 4vrms balanced matters? Would there be any performance differences between these two cables in terms of volume, noise floor and etc.? Or there wouldn't even be any changes compared to my cheap cable and should I just save my money?

Here are the photos of cables I am using and thinking of buying. Consider that I am also planning on adding a Presonus Eris 8bt Active Subwoofer to the setup.
The sleeve of the 4.4mm jack may be floating. Be careful when connecting the 4.4mm jack to another active device.
Without a ground connection, the signal may degrade or not work properly.
The 4.4mm jacks on the Sony DMP-Z1 and Topping A90D had floating sleeves.
The 4.4mm jack on the Topping L70 had a grounded sleeve.
 
Why hello there, nice to meet you here again. Nervous-Canary on Reddit. :D
Ahaha busted, sorry, my shopping frenzy is hard to suppress because these are my first good speakers and getting into this thing is exiting, I need more people to tell me 'STOP WASTING YOUR MONEY.'
 
The sleeve of the 4.4mm jack may be floating. Be careful when connecting the 4.4mm jack to another active device.
Without a ground connection, the signal may degrade or not work properly.
The 4.4mm jacks on the Sony DMP-Z1 and Topping A90D had floating sleeves.
The 4.4mm jack on the Topping L70 had a grounded sleeve.
You mean the 4.4mm output of Moondrop may be floating right? And floating means there is not a cable connected to it?
 
When you are not plagued with hum or other noises than the self noise of the speaker with your current connection and can play loud enough I would keep using the current cable.
A problem may occur later when you are adding a sub using a splitter cable or when using a single cable to the sub and use its outs to the speakers.

When using balanced connections in such a case it could prevent weird hums. You also may have to lower the volume on your speakers a bit when using balanced.

The sound quality will remain the same and noise levels (of the speakers) won't change with different cables, not in single ended nor in balanced.
With balanced cables you can prevent ground loops (hum, 'computer noises' etc.)
Chances are the 4.4mm to 2x XLR won't be fully wired (2x 2channels + ground) but is only 4 wire so not having the ground wire.
So If i am to a add subwoofer to the setup and dac's 4.4mm output has a proper grounded sleeve, is it better to use 4.4mm to 2 x 6.35mm balanced?

Here is the wiring of the cable I was thinking.
 

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If it all works, why change it?

If you do add a sub later, and you then need to change cables - that's the time to do it :)
 
So If i am to a add subwoofer to the setup and dac's 4.4mm output has a proper grounded sleeve, is it better to use 4.4mm to 2 x 6.35mm balanced?

Here is the wiring of the cable I was thinking.
yep, this is the correct way for balanced interlinks.
 
From a "bang for your buck" point of view, it has to be mentioned that these 4.4mm balanced plugs are fiddly to solder and make properly and can't be done with machines, but only by hand. It requires a certain amount of skill not everyone has. XLR and 6.3mm TRS are comparably easy to do.

So if you can't expect a real, perceivable improvement by using such a cable, paying good money for one just isn't worth it practically.
 
yep, I have made a few filters using these connectors and they are a pain to solder and to make a strainrelief.
 
My bad, will regard in the future. The username I mentioned is actually mine though.
Then I stand corrected and apologize. I took the posted username as the person you were referring to. Disregard my previous post (I will delete both my warning and your response). Thanks for correcting my understanding here. :cool:
 
Then I stand corrected and apologize. I took the posted username as the person you were referring to. Disregard my previous post (I will delete both my warning and your response). Thanks for correcting my understanding here. :cool:
My pleasure and no problem. These things are important in today's digital world, and I'm glad to see they're taken seriously on this forum.
 
From a "bang for your buck" point of view, it has to be mentioned that these 4.4mm balanced plugs are fiddly to solder and make properly and can't be done with machines, but only by hand. It requires a certain amount of skill not everyone has. XLR and 6.3mm TRS are comparably easy to do.

So if you can't expect a real, perceivable improvement by using such a cable, paying good money for one just isn't worth it practically.
yep, I have made a few filters using these connectors and they are a pain to solder and to make a strainrelief.

Then I think my best bet is Kabeldirekt from amazon, they seem to have enough quality to depend on them according to my research.

I can keep using my cheap cable for now and buy the cable from the link + two rca cables when I got the subwoofer if I am to keep my dac.
Or I can buy this splitter from the link and two rca cables now, and then another two another rca cable when I get the sub.


Using a Y adapter instead of Y cable wouldn't have any difference right? Since the adapter and cables seem to be from the same series and use the same material.

Also what do you think about the Presonus Sub 8BT? Would it add a noticeable difference to my sound?
 
Sub seems nice and will help with speakers that are missing deep lows.
 
You mean the 4.4mm output of Moondrop may be floating right? And floating means there is not a cable connected to it?
"Floating" here means that it is not connected to any part of the internal circuitry.
I don't know if the sleeve of the 4.4mm output jack for headphones or IEMs is floating or grounded. I've never seen it on a spec sheet.
Floating sleeves may be more common. It's safer.

To be sure, you'll need to contact the manufacturer or research it yourself.
If you want to research, a DMM is useful. A cheap one will do. You can also determine this with a light bulb, a battery, and some wire.
Determine whether the jack sleeve is grounded with a 4.4mm plug inserted.

When I say "floating sleeve" or "grounded sleeve," I'm referring to the 4.4mm output jack (on the DAC or amp side).
Whether the cable is OK or not is a separate point. Use a conversion cable that is properly wired and shielded.
 
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