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cd player with xlr outputs

please explain the term and the benefits. seems to be included on higher end units. does xlr connect to the standard rca plug in the pre-amp. in other words, does the interconnect have xlr on one end and rca on the other. does anyone have any experience with the cec cd-3300. looking for reasonably priced player to replace fully modified music hall. maybe I should have kept it. thanks and regards
kckrs
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
XLR is only as good as your amp. Is your amp truly balanced? I was a bit amazed to find that using my balanced Audio Aero CD player on the balanced (XLR) inputs on my McIntosh Amp made no differance as the amp is not truly balanced.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
My experience with XLR connections is the exact opposite of the above post and I too do not have a truly balanced amp. I'll admit that on other amps, the XLR difference was obvious but mininal.

-IMO
fetguy
90 posts
 
I find that, with exactly the same cable brand and model number, the XLR always sounds slightly better. My guess is that the things the cable introduces is just cancelled out.
swampwalker's avatar
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swampwalker
5,132 posts
 
There is no amp or signal booster in the XLR connector. If the circuit is truly balanced, it will produce twice the voltage of a single-ended equivalent. I am sure Sean or Bobbundus or another tech head can explain the reason, but it is something inherent in the + and - and ground configuration compared to the single ended with just hot and ground.
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
XLR is better for longer runs. It is also better when components at both ends are truly balanced. In my case, McIntosh told me that it is best to stick with RCA as I am avoiding some extra circuitry in the 2102 Amp used to convert the signal to unbalanced as the amp itself is unbalanced.
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