Re: Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines

Posted by Al Sekela on May 13, 2003 at 19:33:02

In Reply to: Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines posted by Randy Rhone on May 13, 2003 at 13:52:54:

Let me take your questions one at a time.

1. Your M-60s are balanced amplifiers from input to output. Anything you use to drive them either provides a balanced signal to the interconnect cables feeding them, or does not. If it does not, you are defeating the benefit of the balanced circuitry in the M-60s.

You can use an MP-3 or some other preamp to drive your M-60s. If you are concerned about the balanced inputs on the MP-3, then you need to find a preamp that internally converts unbalanced inputs to balanced and then provides a balanced output signal to the power amps. There may well be such a product, but I do not know of one (I am simply ignorant of one, not trying to imply I have exhaustive knowledge).

2. I for one have a balanced source. I can't tell you how many ASOG folks have them.

3. Hum and buzz are products of ground loops, and can be problems with balanced or unbalanced setups. The ground loops need to be resolved, not masked by providing bigger return wires in the interconnects, for the best sound.

4. Resistors in the connectors is a quick way to provide loading of the cables. Unbalanced cables should also be loaded, IMHO, and the best place for the loading resistors is at the input to the first active device in the receiving component, not inside the XLR or RCA connector. These resistors are not in the signal path, they are in parallel with the input. It should be obvious that the loading resistors should be resistive to very high frequencies, and not have any more inductive reactance than necessary.

I do not recommend experiments with loading unless you are clear on the reasons for doing so, and have some realistic expectations for the sonic improvements and the requirements on the source driver.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines - Randy Rhone 13:52:54 05/13/03 (14)

confusion about balanced preamps (long...) - Ralph 16:53:16 05/14/03 (2)

Re: Al, might you include.... - shep 14:18:17 05/15/03 (1)

OK - Al Sekela 20:35:17 05/15/03 (0)

In theoretical terms... - Michael 11:54:05 05/14/03 (0)

In practical terms... - Michael 11:39:25 05/14/03 (0)

Re: Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines - Lew 08:00:06 05/14/03 (0)

Re: Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines - StephenC. 07:59:41 05/14/03 (0)

Re: Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines - Al Sekela 19:33:02 05/13/03 (6)

Still a ? - Bay 03:15:43 05/14/03 (5)

Hope this resolves your concerns. - Al Sekela 10:10:24 05/14/03 (0)

Re: Still a ? - Lew 07:54:57 05/14/03 (2)

correction - Lew 07:03:31 05/15/03 (1)

Wadia 861 - Al Sekela 13:28:26 05/15/03 (0)

Re: Still a ? - George M 06:12:23 05/14/03 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Atmasphere Pre-amp and Balanced lines - Al Sekela 19:33:02 05/13/03 (6)

Still a ? - Bay 03:15:43 05/14/03 (5)

Hope this resolves your concerns. - Al Sekela 10:10:24 05/14/03 (0)

Re: Still a ? - Lew 07:54:57 05/14/03 (2)

correction - Lew 07:03:31 05/15/03 (1)

Wadia 861 - Al Sekela 13:28:26 05/15/03 (0)

Re: Still a ? - George M 06:12:23 05/14/03 (0)

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