Henry Engineering Matchbox HD RCA/XLR Converter

[DonH56]

Thank you all !
By the way, is the Gustard P26 analog or digital amplifier ?
With vinyls I would like to preserve the analog "image"...
Thx

Analog.

But any competent digital component has orders of magnitude more resolution and dynamic range than a vinyl recording.

 

[a2Thompson]

Thanks for the review. I used one of these to go from XLR on my Topping DM8 to a subwoofer RCA. Without something like this or the sescom SES-BUB that was previously reviewed here there is a DC offset in the XLR that prevents a simple XLR to RCA cable. I was able to find a couple of these Matchbox units used for less than $50 so a real savings over everything else out there and glad to see the fidelity is great, especially for my subwoofer purposes.

 

[mhardy6647]

Not to sound cynical (me?!? perish the thought!) but I find two aspects of this product's nomenclature amusing.

1) "HD"
2) "IHF <> 'PRO'"



Nothin' wrong with the component, though (of course)!

 

[rdenney]

For those wanting a cheaper DIY solution, there is this:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/outsmarts-balanced-converter.32131/

I should send this to Amir for testing, but I only built one and I’m using it

Sparkfun rated this at -103 dB THD.

Edit: Nevermind. Sparkfun has discontinued the kit.

Rick “does the job, even with preamp-level inputs” Denney

 

[musicforcities]

Yes.

A continuous cable from the wall point to the power switch and primary is a whole lot better than an unnecessary termination to a socket, then a plug, then onwards.

Resistance, poor/intermittent contact, losses, heat etc, not to mention a whole lot of wasted cost and rear panel real estate making allowance for a silly IEC 3/2 pin or maybe and equally useless figure 8 socket. Fine on camera battery chargers, kettles or computer/monitors, but not HiFi, where the earth connection is often vital.

It's audiophool stuff.

Here here. The only thing I don’t like is how long some of the hardwired cords are. Especially when it’s just one of those little 6ft long 18/2 ones. they end up coiled around and while I do hear anything, 6 different cords in 6-8in diameter coils just seems not great. I just cut ‘em and put a new plug on them.

 

[babadono]

Bummer on the SparkFun discontinuing both the OutSmarts and InGenius Break out Boards.... thinking of laying out and getting fab'd my own version with better connectors.

 

[massimodec]

Is this one, very good review as well, good to go from XLR to RCA with no hummings ?
or is it just a simple three-to-two connector ?

Little Bear MC3 XLR & RCA Switch

Little Bear MC3 XLR & RCA Switch Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the One Little Bear (Nobsound/Duok) Little Bear MC3 XLR and RCA switcher. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $69.99. I like the large knobs although I wished they had aligned them better. As you see, you can switch between one RCA and two...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[droid2000]

Is this one, very good review as well, good to go from XLR to RCA with no hummings ?
or is it just a simple three-to-two connector ?

Little Bear MC3 XLR & RCA Switch

Little Bear MC3 XLR & RCA Switch Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the One Little Bear (Nobsound/Duok) Little Bear MC3 XLR and RCA switcher. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $69.99. I like the large knobs although I wished they had aligned them better. As you see, you can switch between one RCA and two...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I don't think that one does any conversion. It's literally just a passive mechanical switch.

 

[40th Anniversary]

Funny thing about an alternative: I wanted to convert my RME's RCA outputs to XLR and considered the unit under review.
I have a Schiit Midgard sitting idle for a bit, so I did a bit of reading and thought, yeah, the Midgard will do the job: RCA out from RME to Midgard (RCA in) and then output to a pair of powered monitors via XLR. And it works!! Works well actually; and Midgard costs less and can be used as a pre-amp and head-amp. Killer value?

PS: The Midgard is inherently not balanced, but as Schiit states a lot of pro audio gear accepts balanced inputs and the signal is converted internally to S.E. for processing purposes. Even some expensive gear is designed that way, sooo, from a practical point of view it works.

If I had more $$, this plan B: a nice Benchmark LA4 would have done the job as well, and probably much better!