Sylph Audio FB100 Stereo Amplifier Kit Review

[howard416]

The FB100 requires a differential (balanced) input. Because of this, it might not be directly compatible with your setup without using an unbalanced-to-balanced converter.

Can it not use a SE-to-balanced adapter cable like so many people here use between a SE source and amplifier with balanced inputs?

 

[d.fapinov]

Can it not use a SE-to-balanced adapter cable like so many people here use between a SE source and amplifier with balanced inputs?

Cable can go balanced to single ended, it just throw away one phase.

Cable can not go single ended to balanced - it can not create extra inverted phase.

 

[howard416]

Cable can go balanced to single ended, it just throw away one phase.

Cable can not go single ended to balanced - it can not create extra inverted phase.

Some, but not all, balanced inputs require equal magnitude inverted phase. I am currently happily using a form of this:

 

[d.fapinov]

In that situation I will call it single ended input, with XLR plug. It is not differential or balanced.

Probably the balanced input is needed to drive two half of bridged tied load (BTL) output.

 

[SylphAudio]

Can it not use a SE-to-balanced adapter cable like so many people here use between a SE source and amplifier with balanced inputs?

No, you need SE to balanced active buffer / preamp. Otherwise, it will only drive half of the BTL output.

[Stereo Preamp Buffer Module ] OPA1612 Single Supply Input – sylphaudio.com

sylphaudio.com

 

[SylphAudio]

SINAD of FB100 vs Trinnov 8m at a typical 10W listening levels (45kHz Bandwidth Power vs Distortion)