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Rowland Continuum 500, RCA vs. XLR

I recently got a Continuum 500 and using it with an RCA I/C to my Accuphase DP500 CDP. I understand this CDP is a fully balanced design, as well as the C500. I am trying to decide whether it is worth changing my I/C to XLR, or just leave it. I use a 1.0M RSA Poiema for my I/C and changing this to XLR is not cheap, so would appreciate thoughts from C500 owners who have compared it on RCA and XLR mode.
noelpastor
cappuccino
110 posts
 
Definately. I also have the Continuum 500 and you will benefit from using the XLR. Jeffs products are truely balanced and you will get lower noise floor and more resolution.
simontju
257 posts
 
Hello,

You will benefit slightly by changing single ended to balaanced interconnect ONLY if both cables are of absolutely the same quality.

If your single ended interconnect is of superior quality then keep it - you will have much more joy (less noise and more resolution too)

Finally, I doubt if Continium 500 is fully balanced versus only balanced input (with XLR).

If its fully balanced i.e. balanced from the unput to output then you must ask manufacturer and not this forum - how they treat the signal coming from RCA input.

For example, while I use single ended cables my two monoblocks treat them in fully balanced fashion. i.e. from the input to the output I have two signals - equal but opposed polarity.

Regards,
Simon
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Simontju - Continuum 500 is a class D creature. It cannot be balanced input to output. It has balanced inputs and fully balanced pre but it's converted to duty cycle (time) in analog modulator to finally drive full Mosfet bridge.
simontju
257 posts
 
Kijanki - " Continuum 500 is a class D creature. It cannot be balanced input to output" - is nonsense, sorry.
Amplifier can be in fully balanced or single ended mode regardless if it modulates amplitude or pulse width.

As I wrote - I operate my two monoblocks (class D) in fully balanced mode: from input to output. Otherwise, I spent $10k (retail) on 2nd amp without having a slightest understanding of what I am doing...

Regards

Simon
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Simontju - I just cannot imagine how. Output is not balanced (H-bridge in not same as "bridged"). Would you suggest two separate analog modulators? And each of the driving what? Feedback connected where? It wouldn't make any sens.

A little more about H-bridge. 4 Mosfets switch output between V+ and GND (changing polarity). It is done only to avoid using bidirectional supply and has nothing to do with being bridged.

If you use second monoblock to run bridge mode than I think you're mixing balanced with bridged. You could possibly put two monoblocks for each channel and connect one wire of balanced input signal and the GND to each input (+ phase reversing circuit) but it would not make any sense. Am I missing something?
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