OP
- Thread Starter
- #101
No because it doesn't play a role in signal delivery.
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Review and Measurements of Grace Design Balanced DAC
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
I run the mixing board for a local rock and roll band. I frequently have ground loop hum in different night clubs. It usually goes away by unplugging the cable to one of the stage monitors or some other piece of equipment and they all use balanced XLR cables?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #103
There is a limit to common mode rejection in equipment. If you exceed that, or equipment is not designed well, you still get hum.
it's on sale again.
what kind of XLR cables are 'good enough'? I remember amirm once said RCA for Amazon basics are good, what about XLR? they do have an XLR cable, but it's 6 feet (longer than needed in most cases) and sold as a single cable, not a pair. any other options? does it matter if it says 'microphone cable'?
what kind of XLR cables are 'good enough'? I remember amirm once said RCA for Amazon basics are good, what about XLR? they do have an XLR cable, but it's 6 feet (longer than needed in most cases) and sold as a single cable, not a pair. any other options? does it matter if it says 'microphone cable'?
AresHarvest
Active Member
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Doesn't matter if it says microphone cable, that's just one application.
As for which are good, they're mostly equal in that regard but non-name-brand connectors can vary in quality (snugness, strain relief, housing finish). I prefer making mine with Canare cable and Neutrik or Amphenol connectors.
Here's a pair of 2-foot pre-made cables that use those parts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MSP6X5T/
waltzingbear
Member
Mogami, Canare, and Gotham are all good (to excellent) cables to use. My favorite xlr is Neutrix, come in gold, silver or nickle contacts. You can order custom made cables from Redco.com with whatever cable (that they carry), length and connector. Just choose the custom cable tab. They genrally supply the pro audio world.
as an aside, you do not need to have two chips to do balanced, one reason is that there are a number of fine chips that do the deed in one chip. DRV134 from TI and THAT126x are two options that go from unbalanced to balanced that will drive just about anything and have excellent specs.
Cheers
Alan
as an aside, you do not need to have two chips to do balanced, one reason is that there are a number of fine chips that do the deed in one chip. DRV134 from TI and THAT126x are two options that go from unbalanced to balanced that will drive just about anything and have excellent specs.
Cheers
Alan
I've read mixed reviews about that.
waltzingbear
Member
star quad had higher noise rejection and higher capacitance per ft for signal. Depending on equipment used it may cause a difference.
Will Markertek make custom cables, news to me. Good if they have what you want.
Will Markertek make custom cables, news to me. Good if they have what you want.
KimbaWLion
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I use Cardas Hexlink Gold. While not considered their best cable any more I like how my XLR connector cables look work so no complaints from me...
Pretty much any XLR cable is good enough. The main cost is the connectors.
o7_brother
Active Member
So the THD+N vs frequency graph looks worse than it really is, because the distortion is ultra-sonic and therefore inaudible?
Zerviscos
Member
Hmm. Buying the SDAC-Balanced for the unbalanced output temporarily...for probably 1~2 years or longer before i probably decide to get a balanced amp. Do you think it's worth the investment over the modi 3? Tbh, I don't even know if I might buy a balanced amp anytime soon, but seeing as there's a buncha used good balanced amp that retail for around $150 to $200 like the H10 Gustard, I was thinking maybe the flexibility is worth it.
Veri
Master Contributor
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Well if you want a balanced DAC for future proofing then yeah it's perfect, cheap.
If you don't absolutely need a DAC right now then it makes sense to wait. Get what you need when you need it; there will be great (high quality, good measurement, inexpensive) balanced DACs in 1-2 years .... probably more than we have now.
If you need a DAC then personally I'd go for the Grace balanced SDAC. As Veri mentions it's worth it for future proofing. In addition to that I took a look at Amir's review of the Modi 3 and I was concerned about the issues he encountered with the USB input.
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