Try Jensen ISOMAX PI-XR XLR to RCA transformers. I have two you may try.
Contact me at flam61@roadrunner.com if interested.
Contact me at flam61@roadrunner.com if interested.
XLR to RCA to XLR
I decided to try the KUBE (KEF's equalizer) with KEF R104.2s in a balanced system. By careful routing of cables my system is silent to an ear at the speaker. But the KUBE has only RCA connectors, and adding it to my system introduced a sizzle, a kind of HF hum. I removed the KUBE, and silence returned. Is there any way of going from XLR to RCA that might avoid the noise?
Balanced lines (about 15') run from a Cary 11a processor to a Proceed Amp 3 that sits near the R104.2s. The third line to the center speaker did not run through the KUBE and thus remained balanced.
db
Balanced lines (about 15') run from a Cary 11a processor to a Proceed Amp 3 that sits near the R104.2s. The third line to the center speaker did not run through the KUBE and thus remained balanced.
db
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Al, The KUBE has a 2-prong AC plug. I used a female XLR to male RCA adapter into the KUBE from the XLR line out of a Cary 11a and a male RCA to male XLR adapter to the line into a Proceed Amp 3. Turns out I was using a KUBE designed for the KEF 102.2s I have in another system that has short lines between a Proceed PAV.PDSD and Amp 2, so unbalanced is no problem. But I'm negotiating the purchase of a pair of KEF 107.2s to replace the 104.2s, and a 107.2 KUBE is recommended by KEF. |
Hi Dbphd Thanks for posting this thread. I may be facing a similar issue soon. I'm have a pair of KEF 104/2s and was able to score the 104/2 Kube for them. Nothing is hooked up at the moment due to renovations being done in my house. My amp and preamp combo have XLR inputs and outputs. I was going to put the Kube in the signal path between preamp and amp and use XLR adapters for at the preamp and amp sides. I hooked up a temporary system with the KEF Kube in place and heard a faint hum from my speakers. It was only when I was close to them though. I don't think the issue is you having a KEF Kube 102/2 with your 104/2s. It may just be the KEF Kube itself. I routed the AC Adapter and it cords as far away as I could from the unbalanced cables but there was still a hum. Al. Many thanks for your contribution as well. Always very sage advice. Would ferrite choke cores on the plug and umbilical cord ends help reduce the hum? I was thinking about putting choke cores near where the wires meet AC adapters as well where the umbilical cord plugs in along with where the 2 prong plug is. Here are some pics of the KEF Kube. It looks the same for the 104/2, 102/2 and 103/3 speakers. KEF Kube rear http://img.2dehands.be/f/normal/120814494_3-kef-104-2-kube-inbegrepen.jpg KEF Kube front http://img.2dehands.be/f/normal/120814494_2-kef-104-2-kube-inbegrepen.jpg KEF Kube AC Adapter http://p2.la-img.com/236/423/197124_1_l.jpg If the hum still persists I may just sell the KEF Kube. |
Jedinite, As I understand it, and my understanding may be incorrect, the use of a KUBE with the 104.2s is optional -- it only extends LF. In some applications, e.g. 107.2, the KUBE also tailors audio above the usual sub crossover. Thus, if you use a sub with your 104.2s, you may not need a KUBE. The KEF museum is a treasure trove of information where you can download the installation instructions for the 104.2 as well as a nifty brochure that shows a cutaway of the speaker. I have KEF 102s, 102.2s, 104.2s, and plan to buy 107.2s, so I've done lots of downloading and reading. db |
Jedinite, thanks very much. Regarding ferrites, they will not help a hum problem, as they are only effective at radio frequencies (and higher). 05-29-12: DbphdMost adapters of either type short the signal on XLR pin 3 to ground (pin 1). That is what should happen when adapting to an XLR input. However, IMO it makes absolutely no sense for XLR-female adapters, that would be used on outputs, to be designed that way. As I understand it, Cardas adapters are one of the few types that (correctly) do not short pin 3 to pin 1 on XLR female adapters. This is just a speculative guess, for which I can't formulate a precise explanation, but if you are not using Cardas adapters I'm wondering if the noise may be somehow resulting from an inability by the Cary 11a to handle having its output on pin 3 shorted to ground. Many components can handle that ok, but some cannot, this being one example. I note that you referred to "a sizzle, a kind of HF hum," while the poster in that thread referred to "buzzing," those being descriptions that are not all that dissimilar. And I suspect that the fact that the short to ground is at the far end of the cable, at the input to the KUBE, may not be helping matters. Does the noise still occur if the Cary is turned off or disconnected? Is it sensitive to the volume control setting? Regards, -- Al |
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