Making my own interconnect XLR to RCA

[Steve D.]

Hello, very helpful and informative place here!

Now to the point - I have a CD player with male XLR outputs and a Hi-Fi stereo amplifier with normal RCA inputs.

I am a soldering enthusiast and I think to build my own XLR to RCA cable to use player XLR outputs.

I read a lot on the subject here - really tons of useful information and I believe I am ready to start, just wanted to check and confirm if I got it right and correct.

So, I will order:
- 2 x 1m balanced shielded audio cable, like Albedo MKII - https://www.thomannmusic.com/sommer_cable_scalbedo_mkii.htm
- 2 x Neutrik XLR female - https://www.thomannmusic.com/neutrik_nc_3_fxx.htm
- 2 x Hicon RCA plugs - https://www.thomannmusic.com/hicon_hi_cm06_red.htm

From what I read and get, the best way for termination of a single mono cable of this type, should look like this:
1. No pins at XLR female connector are shortened directly.
2. The Albedo red (HOT) wire goes from Pin 2 XLR to the RCA tip.
3. The Albedo white (COLD) wire goes from the down-center Pin 3 XLR all the way to the RCA sleeve, where it is soldered together with the shield/drain wire.
4. The Albedo shield/drain wire goes from Pin 1 XLR all the way to the RCA sleeve, where it is soldered together with the white (COLD) wire.

Making 2 similar cables with the above method, will give me a stereo XLR Female - RCA Male interconnect, to use it between XLR outputs of my CD player and RCA inputs of my amplifier.

Please correct me if my plan is not a good one, each opinion/advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

 

[JustJones]

There's a few threads on here you can search through

XLR-to-RCA Cables

This is my first actual thread-starting post. I haunt these precincts mainly for what I can learn, and occasionally pipe up about a topic here and there. I have nothing like the technical knowledge, let alone understanding, of most here. I do thank you for everything you've taught me! But I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Post in thread 'RCA to XLR trouble' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/rca-to-xlr-trouble.54104/post-1963763

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Steve D.! Welcome to ASR.

1. No pins at XLR female connector are shortened directly.

3. The Albedo white (COLD) wire goes from the down-center Pin 3 XLR all the way to the RCA sleeve, where it is soldered together with the shield/drain wire.
4. The Albedo shield/drain wire goes from Pin 1 XLR all the way to the RCA sleeve, where it is soldered together with the white (COLD) wire.

That's just a short with extra steps.

Here are some measurements of various XLR->RCA connections:

Need Help Choosing Compact Computer Speakers

because after the speakers the screen monitors start (the screen monitors above them). Another possibility is to place the speakers above the monitor, using a VESA arm or a mic arm. That's what I would do, although it kinda restricts your speaker choice to ones who have VESA mount points or...

www.audiosciencereview.com

In the end, there is no pretty solution.

If your CD Player has RCA Line out in addition to XLR, then there is zero reason to try to convert the XLR out. Just use RCA.

XLR out makes sense only if you have a matching XLR in downstream.

 

[Steve D.]

Thanks, I see it all now... all those schemes are relevant to another configuration - RCA out to XLR in.

In my case is XLR out to RCA in, which appears to be quite different and difficult to adapt.

The problem is in the player - this strange demanding thing has NO other outputs - only XLR.

Hmm... but what about this Rane Method - PIN 3 FLOATING, not connected at all?
I mean - I can test and experiment, I hope this cable drama will not fry something out.

What a brain-teaser...

 

[staticV3]

Hmm... but what about this Rane Method - PIN 3 FLOATING, not connected at all?

Also tested in the link above.

 

[ivayvr]

Would this not be an easier and cheaper solution:

Cordial EU 1 FC elements

Unbalanced twin cable Length: 1 m, 2x XLR 3-pin female to 2x (RCA) male, Conductor area: 2x 1x 0.14 mm², PVC sheath, 90% cover, Diameter (W x H): 4 x 8 mm, Colour: Black

www.thomannmusic.com

or something similar but cheaper:

enoaudio Mogami 2534 Quad Stereo Pair Audio Cable | Neutrik Gold RCA - XLR Female | HiFi 1.0 m: Amazon.de: Electronics & Photo

enoaudio Mogami 2534 Quad Stereo Pair Audio Cable | Neutrik Gold RCA - XLR Female | HiFi 1.0 m: Amazon.de: Electronics & Photo

www.amazon.de

 

[antcollinet]

Hello, very helpful and informative place here!

Now to the point - I have a CD player with male XLR outputs and a Hi-Fi stereo amplifier with normal RCA inputs.

I am a soldering enthusiast and I think to build my own XLR to RCA cable to use player XLR outputs.

I read a lot on the subject here - really tons of useful information and I believe I am ready to start, just wanted to check and confirm if I got it right and correct.

So, I will order:
- 2 x 1m balanced shielded audio cable, like Albedo MKII - https://www.thomannmusic.com/sommer_cable_scalbedo_mkii.htm
- 2 x Neutrik XLR female - https://www.thomannmusic.com/neutrik_nc_3_fxx.htm
- 2 x Hicon RCA plugs - https://www.thomannmusic.com/hicon_hi_cm06_red.htm

From what I read and get, the best way for termination of a single mono cable of this type, should look like this:
1. No pins at XLR female connector are shortened directly.
2. The Albedo red (HOT) wire goes from Pin 2 XLR to the RCA tip.
3. The Albedo white (COLD) wire goes from the down-center Pin 3 XLR all the way to the RCA sleeve, where it is soldered together with the shield/drain wire.
4. The Albedo shield/drain wire goes from Pin 1 XLR all the way to the RCA sleeve, where it is soldered together with the white (COLD) wire.

Making 2 similar cables with the above method, will give me a stereo XLR Female - RCA Male interconnect, to use it between XLR outputs of my CD player and RCA inputs of my amplifier.

Please correct me if my plan is not a good one, each opinion/advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

You've just shorted your cold output (pin 3) to ground, assuming it is not transformer coupled. Most aren't. It might not break as a result of the short - but it might.

The only correct/safe way to do this for an XLR output IMO is:

Red/Hot/Pin2 to RCA Tip
White/Cold/Pin 3 - not connected
Shield/Drain/Pin 1 - To RCA Sleeve.


This might not work if your XLR balanced output is transformer coupled. In this case you would probably need to connect XLR/Cold/3 to pin1. (Most are not transformer coupled in consumer electronics)

 

[DVDdoug]

all those schemes are relevant to another configuration - RCA out to XLR in.

Right! That's "easier".

In my case is XLR out to RCA in, which appears to be quite different and difficult to adapt.

Right! It's best to check with the manufacturer of the device with the XLR output. Sometimes it can be done with a simple cable and sometimes it can't be done safely without a transformer or active electronic converter. It depends on how the balanced circuit is designed.

You can build a transformer or active converter but of course it's not as easy a making a cable.

 

[olds1959special]

Why not just use a simple RCA to XLR adaptor?

 

[ivayvr]

Glad that there are much more competent people here than I am.
I am using a male RCA cable to male XLR from my Node to the Genelec sub. I saw that as an option on the Genelec web page and was under the impression that is a generic solution.
Luckily, no damage done because of my ignorance.

 

[JustJones]

Glad that there are much more competent people here than I am.
I am using a male RCA cable to male XLR from my Node to the Genelec sub. I saw that as an option on the Genelec web page and was under the impression that is a generic solution.
Luckily, no damage done because of my ignorance.

If you're referring to this preferred method by Genelec of RCA output to XLR input then you should be fine.

https://support.genelec.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013426179-I-have-unbalanced-outputs-RCA-or-1-4-Mono-Jack-on-my-equipment-How-do-I-connect-my-monitors-8xxx-series

The original question was about XLR output to RCA input.

 

[DVDdoug]

Why not just use a simple RCA to XLR adaptor?

I am using a male RCA cable to male XLR from my Node to the Genelec sub.

From RCA to XLR is OK.
From LXR to RCA is not always OK.

The short explanation (pun optional) is that it's OK to short inputs but it's generally not OK to short outputs.

 

[Ropeburn]

From RCA to XLR is OK.
From LXR to RCA is not always OK.

The short explanation (pun optional) is that it's OK to short inputs but it's generally not OK to short outputs.

On a whole lot of professional gear you can totally short outputs - balanced TRS outputs are meant to be TS-safe, meaning the sleeve shorts ring to ground. This is designed so the typical musician can just use TS and TRS cables interchangeably and not worry about anything. However, this is usually marked.

 

[DVDdoug]

On a whole lot of professional gear you can totally short outputs - balanced TRS outputs are meant to be TS-safe, meaning the sleeve shorts ring to ground.

True! But it's not universal. If it's unknown it might "work" but you could be stressing the electronics.

Most line outputs can "survive" shorting but it's not generally recommended. Probably most headphone outputs too. An unbalanced output won't work at all while shorted.

Shorting speaker outputs is a lot more risky!!!

 

[Ropeburn]

True! But it's not universal. If it's unknown it might "work" but you could be stressing the electronics.

Yes indeed, which is why on such gear it's marked and also detailed in the manual - which are usually way more comprehensive than consumer manuals, with whole chapters about connections and detailed specification and all. I wish hifi manufacturers would do similar.

 

[Chrispy]

Why did you choose these somewhat incompatible components to begin with?

 

[Ropeburn]

Most line outputs can "survive" shorting but it's not generally recommended. Probably most headphone outputs too. An unbalanced output won't work at all while shorted.

Shorting speaker outputs is a lot more risky!!!

You simply use opamps as line drivers, et voilà:

And then there's the inline resistor (~100 Ohm) to get nominal output impedance anyway. Result: permanently short-safe.

Of course you need to know your output works like that, which is why it absolutely should be detailed in the manual.

 

[Steve D.]

Why did you choose these somewhat incompatible components to begin with?

Agree, not a good idea. The player is a kind of a gift from a friend - Hi-End enthusiast.

As I can summarize, there are 2 common ways to run the signal from XLR outputs to RCA amplifier inputs:

1. Pin2 XLR to RCA tip, pin1 and pin3 shorted at RCA sleeve and/or directly at XLR connector. Nearly all factory pre-made interconnects are built like that. Not safe, if the source has a full-bodied XLR interface - transformer, etc.
2. Pin2 XLR to RCA tip, Pin1 to RCA sleeve and pin3 floating (not connected). Safe, but could lead to a loss of signal and degradation of quality.

Today I tested it with a cheap factory XLR-RCA lead, pin 1 & 3 shorted (measured with my Fluke). No cracks and sparks, seems to work, but... who knows what is happening inside.

Well... not an inspiring situation. This player probably stays on Headphones mode only - a plain jack connector and a plain headphones cable. Geniously simple.

 

[mhardy6647]

The fun thing about XLR: there is a standard/ there are standards... but there are also decades' worth of equipment in use, so in real life, the standards are more like guidelines.
The widely-cited Rane technical notes on the balanced/unbalanced interconnection are widely cited for a reason.

Sound System Interconnection

RaneNote 110 explains the cause and prevention of ground loops and how to interface balanced and unbalanced gear with proper connections and wiring.

www.ranecommercial.com

 

[antcollinet]

Safe, but could lead to a loss of signal and degradation of quality.

Not normally. In most cases (separately driven hot and cold signals) that will give you exactly the same signal quality as an RCA output.