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XLR-RCA adapters - which to choose?

I need an RCA male to XLR male adapter because my SACD player doesn't have balanced outputs and I don't want to reterminate my (expensive) Nirvana S-X Ltd interconnects! Does anyone have a view on who makes the best and/or best value adapters? I have been considering Purist Audio Design (expensive) and Cardas (less expensive). Is there much differnce between them and are ther others I should look at? Thanks
jabali_hunter
drubin
3,240 posts
 
Now that I think about it, I have to agree with Bwyoung's assessment that the Cardas lend a slight darkening to the sound. That's the Cardas sound and it's amazing how it manifests in everything they make. Or is my mind imposing my mental image of the Cardas sound on every piece of their gear I try? Oh, the existential questions of audiophilia...
jabali_hunter OP
26 posts
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. It seems that most people are pretty happy with the Cardas adapters. I noticed some darkening to the sound when using an unbalanced cable terminated RCA to XLR. I put it down to feeding the balanced inputs of my pre-amp with an unbalanced signal, so maybe all adapters would have the same effect. Otherwise it was just crap cable!
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,486 posts
 
Nelson Pass suggested I use the item in the link below. It ain't cheap at $200 per stereo pair.

Check it out at the link below:

http://www.jensentransformers.com/pc2xr.html
jabali_hunter OP
26 posts
 
Wow - that is a serious looking piece of kit that Mitch4t suggested! For $200 I could reterminate my balanced S-X Ltd to RCA and then back again later if I change my source! I take it there is a real advantage to getting the Jensen transformer?
tvad
9,467 posts
 
This Jensen solution requires an additional set of interconnects, yes? So,
it may be an excellent answer to the problem, but the total cost of the
solution is well beyond $200/channel.
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