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inexpensive xlr vs expensive rca

I currently use homemade Belden 8423/Neutrik XLR throughout my system. Mainly because I was spending money on getting all of the components up to spec.

I'm looking at some used, very high-end RCA cables at a good price. I can't find the equivalent XLR cables used, but I can find XLR cables a few levels down of the manufacturer. For instance, $1500 RCA cables for $600. Or $700 XLR cables for $700. 

I'm connecting a Parasound JC-3+ and an Ayre QB-9 DSD to a Parasound JC-2. All first-class equipment. 

Would I be better off getting the super quality RCA used cables, or the less high quality (but still good) brand-new XLR cables at the same price point? 
marktrav
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
If the preamp and amp support the balanced line standard, then you'll be fine running the less expensive balanced cables.

The balanced line standard was devised to reduce the sonic issues of the cable. Originally it was for trans- and inter- continental phone calls, which it made possible because the signal degradation is so much less than with single ended. Contrary to popular myth, the length of the cable is irrelevant- you can still have a benefit if the cable is only six inches.

Check with Ayre and see if the preamp supports 'AES file 48' which is the balanced standard. If yes, you're good to go.
williewonka
1,826 posts
 
@marktrav - personally I’ve compared a nice XLR’s and a nice single ended cable with RCA’s, on a very nice Ayre based system - the Single ended proved to provide better sound quality across the board.

The XLR’s were Kimber Kable Silver Streak.

The Single ended cables were the gZero3 from KLE Innovations. These cables are capable of very high resolution and are excellent in terms of imaging, dynamics, bass extension/control and clarity.They also outperform many other brands of single ended cables

The gZero3 is a very good cable, but that has now been superseded by the QFLOW3 - which is an improved version.

The gZero3 retails around $550AUS for 1 meter - new

I owned the gZero20, which is a stellar performer. It retails for $2000AUS for 1 meter, but the ZPURITY8 offers a little better performance at $1700AUS for a 1 meter.

https://kleinnovations.com/kle-innovations-klei-products/klei-gzseries-cables/klei-zpurity-ics/klei-...

I would contact KLE Innovations and ask what other QFLOW models might be available - they are a brand new release not yet listed on their web site.

Caveat: the use of XLR cables is the preferred option when long cables runs are required in a high noise environment like a recording studio - in excess of 30 ft I believe.

I cannot make a general statement that ALL single ended cables are better - just the products I have tried from KLE Innovations.

Hope that helps - Steve

elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
This is hard to say.
Some folks who say all cables sound the same will say buy the cheaper ones. Other folks who can hear differences will say each brand and model of cable is different and no way can it be said one general cable notion is better than another.
So I say if you cannot hear a difference, then FOR YOU there is no difference. And don;t waste your money.
If you can hear a difference, you would not be asking?
(my two cents)

For normal audiophile use, there is not a whole lot to be said for RCA over XLR or XLR over RCA.
Each is implemented differently in various ways, so a generalization is just not easy.

And if the expensive RCA are so cheap.. they may be fakes..
Do they have the serial numbers, or provenance to prove they are not fake?
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