Ifi zen can 4.4mm input

[SagaKSA]

Hello guys
I had ifi zen can 3 and fiio k7 i connected the FiiO k7 4.4mm output in the front to the iFi can 4.4mm in the back using a 4.4mm cable
As soon i connect them the iFi can just died no power or anything
When I contacted ifi support they told me it is a problem in there power adapter in first batch of these can's 3
Now i have ifi zen can signature hfm and the same fiio k7 also i have smsl dl100
So i have 4.4mm output in front of the k7 and two xlr outputs in the back of smsl100 i can use dual female xlr to 4.4mm cable to connect them to the iFi can
So now im confuse when the iFi can 3 had that problem was it because of the power adapter or because of it took more power from the k7 4.4mm more than it could handle?

Thank you in advance for just coming here

 

[staticV3]

Hi @SagaKSA! Welcome to ASR.

So now im confuse when the iFi can 3 had that problem was it because of the power adapter or because of it took more power from the k7 4.4mm more than it could handle?

Without taking a close look at the dead Zen Can 3, that is impossible to answer definitively.

In general, connecting a differential headphone output to a differential line input is not recommended.

 

[SagaKSA]

Hi @SagaKSA! Welcome to ASR.


Without taking a close look at the dead Zen Can 3, that is impossible to answer definitively.

In general, connecting a differential headphone output to a differential line input is not recommended.

I just need an answer for this question
What will happen if i connect 4.4mm input jack to a higher power balanced output? Will it damage the the device with the input jack?

 

[staticV3]

Will it damage the the device with the input jack?

As long as the higher power balanced output includes a Ground connection, does not have a substantial DC offset, and is kept to reasonable signal amplitude (~4Vrms), no damage will occur.

 

[SagaKSA]

As long as the higher power balanced output includes a Ground connection, does not have a substantial DC offset, and is kept to reasonable signal amplitude (~4Vrms), no damage will occur.

And how i keep the signal amplitude to 4Vrms?
And what dac do you advice me to buy that have ground connection

 

[staticV3]

And how i keep the signal amplitude to 4Vrms?

Depends on the capabilities of the DAC.

And what dac do you advice me to buy that have ground connection

Any DAC with 2x 3pin XLR or 2x TRS 1/4" Line out.

 

[SagaKSA]

Depends on the capabilities of the DAC.


Any DAC with 2x 3pin XLR or 2x TRS 1/4" Line out.

Now i have smsl dl100 with 5.2 vrms per Chanel (2 xlr 3 pin) i think using dual xlr to single 4.4mm will make it 10.2 vrms and the iFi can takes 7.4 vrms max

 

[staticV3]

i think using dual xlr to single 4.4mm will make it 10.2 vrms

It will not.
Voltage will stay the same.

 

[SagaKSA]

It will not.
Voltage will stay the same.

Its 5.2 vrms per channel I thought dual xlr cable to 4.4mm will equal 10.4 vrms
So im in safe side i just need a cable
Thank you very much you have no idea how you just saved me 500$ for a new ifi dac and a lot of research and headache

 

[AnalogSteph]

The 4.4 mm Pentaconn does nothing but merge everything required for a stereo balanced connection into a single plug. Electrically, it is basically equivalent to a pair of TRS or XLR connectors, it only merges the chassis grounds into one and that's it. Its pinout is

L+ L- R+ R- G
T  R  R  R  S

vs. 2x

G + -
1 2 3
S T R

So obviously it's not going to magically increase signal voltages. A 2x XLR to Pentaconn cable is much like a stereo RCA to 3.5 mm cable in that respect, a "dumb" mechanical adapter.

(BTW, up to the 1980s it was still common to find XLR with pin 3 hot instead of pin 2 hot, so TRS adapter cables for those would have connected TRS = 321. I won't be one bit surprised if XLR pin numbering had originated from the world of 1/4" TRS plugs, and then XLR switched polarity and TRS didn't.)

 

[SagaKSA]

The 4.4 mm Pentaconn does nothing but merge everything required for a stereo balanced connection into a single plug. Electrically, it is basically equivalent to a pair of TRS or XLR connectors, it only merges the chassis grounds into one and that's it. Its pinout is

L+ L- R+ R- G
T  R  R  R  S

vs. 2x

G + -
1 2 3

So obviously it's not going to magically increase signal voltages. A 2x XLR to Pentaconn cable is much like a stereo RCA to 3.5 mm cable in that respect, a dumb mechanical adapter.

OH thank you very much you have no idea how much it scares me even just thinking of using the front 4.4mm fiio k7 jack on my amp now I just have to buy another 4.4mm and connect it to my old good k7 and cancel the smsl dl100 order
Seriously thank you