Audience XLR interconnects not working

There is a slim chance it has to do with tolerances of the plugs and ports. I have encountered situations where a power cord didn't work with one product but did with all others. Similarly, I had an RCA interconnect once which would not fit onto a preamp, though it did with most. A very slight mismatch could spell a missed connection and silence.

From the Reference 110 Owners Manual it is a fully balanced topography with no switches for XLR vs Single Ended Input, confirmed via the pic of rear view.

Manual Reads as Follows:
Connections:
INPUT CONNECTOR: The Reference 110 uses a fully balanced circuit topology and has a pair of balanced XLR input connectors on the rear panel. It therefore requires a balanced preamplifier output, as provided by most Audio Research preamplifiers. Connect your preamplifier's output to the Reference 110 before turning on the amplifier.

Very odd indeed!

As always, I'll second Peter's suggestion. And testing continuity is also a good idea.

I'll second Andirocks......
Most amps have a switch you need to use for either RCAs or XLRs......

Noodlemonster, it is certainly a safe bet that none of the components in the OP's system or his friend's system are supplying phantom power to their XLR interfaces. We are not dealing with microphone amplifiers here.

Also, although I have a fair amount of experience with phantom powered professional microphones and mic amplifiers, I have no idea what you are talking about regarding "ghost signals," or when you refer to ghost signals being "180 degrees out of phase with the phantom signal." Phantom power is DC, and therefore has no phase, and is not an audio signal.

Or is your comment meant in jest?

Regards,
-- Al

There are some brands that use a non-standard pin out (Electrocompaniet for example) but it's also possible that the ics are either broken or fake. Audience does have great service; I'd send them a an email w some decent pix of the ics.

I'll second both of the previous comments. Also, consider purchasing or obtaining a multimeter, and checking the cables for continuity from each pin at one end to the corresponding pin at the other end. And also checking that there is no continuity from each pin to either of the other two pins.

Also, your mention of the cables being non-shielded leads me to wonder if continuity is present between pin 1 (ground) at one end and pin 1 at the other end. I doubt that any reputable company would market a cable designed like that, and I suspect that if pin 1 were unconnected you would still hear something, but I suppose an open ground connection could account for differing behavior in your system vs. your friend's, depending on the design of the various components.

Regards,
-- Al

Call Audience. Their customer support is fantastic.

On my ARC LS 25MKII I have to flip a switch to use the balanced inputs and my ARC VT 100 MKIII also has a switch for balanced or singe ended use, you may have something like that on you equipment.

Have you tried any other balanced interconnects in the same position ?

Best of luck

Peter

XLR was originally for studio Mics. They sometimes have Phantom Power on them (used to power the pre-amp in the Mic body and so need for batteries)

This can cause "Ghosting" and the ghost signals can be 180 degrees out of phase with the phantom signal, so the ghost and phantom cancel each other out.

It's a major problem so called "electrical engineers" can't explain.

I don't quite know how to cure it, but surely your friends rig is not haunted with the same problems? Ask him if he had to excorcise the problem, and how?