RCA to XLR adapters?

As soon as the signal is in the amp, it will be in the balanced domain if the amp is really balanced.

But if one side of the balanced signal path is processing a music signal, and the other side is processing 0 volts (as opposed to a signal that is the inverse of what is being processed by the other side), how will any distortion products be cancelled, and how will the load on the power supply not fluctuate with the music (assuming the amp is not Class A)?

I'm not disagreeing, just questioning something that doesn't seem to make sense to me.

Best regards,
-- Al

Thanks for all of the responses.

Bob

I have a pair, Cardas.

Thinking a little further about my previous post, Ralph's point does indeed make perfect sense to me, assuming that the input stage within the amp is what is known as a long-tailed pair differential amplifier. That will produce a balanced output in response to a single-ended input, thereby realizing the benefits of fully balanced internal design in the subsequent stages of the amplifier, including the power stages where it matters most.

I assume that is the architecture used in Ralph's designs. So the question becomes whether or not the input stage of all or at least most other "fully balanced" amps can be expected to have been designed in an equivalent manner. I don't know the answer to that question.

Best regards,
-- Al

From my experience with Cardas XLR to RCA adapters, it greatly degrades the sound. If you have a very high end system, I suggest only use in an emergency or temporary.