The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Is there a good solution for connecting 2 amps to one XLR balanced DAC output? A cable splitter or do I need some kind of switcher box with an input and 2 or more outputs? If so would this kind of switcher unit degrade sound quality? And any recommend units?

    a cable splitter:
    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/252312-REG/Hosa_Technology_YXM_121_XLR_Female_to_2.html

    A switcher box which is very expensive and I would need 2 of them for stereo. This unit feels like overkill it’s got 6 outputs for one thing.

    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Split6--whirlwind-split-6


    Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
  2. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    For research purposes: what would be the next step beyond Denon 103R paired with Technics SL1200mk2, with iFi ZEN phono/Mani plus Chinese 1:20 SUT? Looking for more of a soundstage monster with even response cart to blow my socks off. Give me fireworks! $1k retail, tops. $500 used, even better.
     
  3. Nyets

    Nyets New

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    I've been here more than you do.
    Pathetic how people still trying to boost their ego by wasting time on such kind of posts instead of doing something that actually matters and helpful.
     
  4. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    ^ Chill. It's just headphones. They're trying to nudge you in the right direction if you read the content in the links.

    With that being said, see the big bright banner up top - not a normal forum. Lurk a little. Read some posts by people about inexpensive gear recommendations and threads on cheaper amps + DACs. And share a little about yourself so we can better understand your needs, likes and dislikes, wants, or goals.

    Even if you're like me and just want a quick tl;dr summary sometimes, we still need to know what you're looking for. Help us help you.
     
  5. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Why do you want a Combo? At this level and budget I would upgrade amp first and then DAC. You already have 2 good headphones. Not sure what mod have you done on 600 but I would get a Lyr 3 for HD600 if $500 is my budget and then later I would upgrade the DAC

    Or Asgard 3 and Modius which I haven't heard personally but many members have approved it here.
    ifi has Come up with new micro Black label so you will find some good deals in used market for older black label which is very good product.
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
  6. PTS

    PTS Friend

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    Something like this?

    https://doukaudio.com/products/3-in...onverter-audio-selector-box-passive-preamp-78

    I recently bought a Nobsound/Douk switcher (amp/speaker variety), and they're really well made with quality components. Doesn't degrade the audio signal, as far as I can tell.
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
  7. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    @rhythmdevils, you should take a look at this.
    https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Little-Bear-Balanced-Converter/dp/B00OY0TBMA. I own this.

    This has 2 balanced ins, one un-balanced in and an identical set of outs. @PTS, your suggestion has more inputs than outputs. He wants 2 amps connected to one XLR DAC. I have had success connecting two balanced DACs to balanced and SE amps. However, if your 2 amps are both SE, then this may not work unless you use XLR to RCA cables (well, one amp will work). I have no idea how that affects SQ. So caveat emptor !
     
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Thanks! Those two have to be the same units. Looks better than what I've found, They. look identical except for the brand name. I wish instead of an RCA input they had 2 RCA outputs or a third XLR output. No one is going to buy this if they have an unbalanced source. Then it could connect to my speakers as well.

    I still worry about sound degradation from something like this. Since it's passive, it's less worrisome but wtf is inside?
     
  9. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    I have had it for a while and honestly have not experienced noticeable degradation. However, I'm leery of the converter claim. One of my DACs is the Convert 2 that puts out a toasty 6 to 20V depending on the calibration selection. I compromised by connecting a Jensen PC 2 XR to one of the XLR outputs. The result was not good from an SQ perspective. My other DACs are the Gungnir Multibit A1 and the Modius. These pose no problems.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Can you elaborate on what the problem was and what the converter claim is?
     
  11. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    @rhythmdevils, I connected the Convert 2 (which is pro-DAC) to one of the XLR inputs of the box and my tube amps were/are SE. The consumer DACs e.g. Schiit, do not have an output voltage of more than 4V (I think) but the Convert is minimally 50% higher. When I connected my SE tube amp to the RCA outs (the converter part of the box), there was clipping at moderately high volumes for me. Fearing for my HP drivers as well as the tube amp, I promptly used the XLR outs to connect to a Jensen Isomax PC-2XR which is a true pro to consumer (+4 dBU to -10dBU) converter. I connected the RCA outs of the Jensen to the tube amp RCA ins. The Jensen is a 4:1 transformer converter box and one needs to really jack up the volume to get the details. Anyway, this was unsatisfactory for me as I have listened to the same music through a Jensen PI 2 XR (1:1 transformer) isolator box (yeah I own a few of these boxes) and the details re-emerge. The issue with the PI 2XR is that it is not a converter (God, this post is becoming more of a balanced to unbalanced conversion issue).

    Bottom line: the box claims to convert balanced to unbalanced and if one is using consumer equipment throughout, it's fine and works well. The minute you use pro-audio equipment in the chain, all bets are off. Trust this helps.
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
  12. Rob the Comic

    Rob the Comic banned from ASR

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    Need some advice from you guys please. Short story, I have a very sick girl in the family and sold off all my 'collectible shit' to help her parents and charity - easy choice. Left myself enough for the audio set-up I always wanted. Tried a few things and have settled on this so far. Marantz CD6006 transport / Yggdrasil / SPL Phonitor XE. I have great Headphones, thanks to my lurking around here for quite a while before joining.
    Okay - I can get an Esoteric-P03 at a good price BUT is it necessary or is the DAC doing the heavy lifting? The Marantz punches above it's weight according to reviews and I am not fabulously wealthy and don't want to upgrade if it is only going to make a negligible amount of difference. I have wondered how much contribution the transport actually makes in the chain with a high quality DAC. I have no speakers; strictly a balanced Head Fi set-up.
    I appreciate any and all advice as I am about as far from an expert on these things as you can get. :)

    Rob
     
  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Yes! no worries about the tangent, super informative post.

    people say the SE outputs of the Gungnir are crap sounding. I wonder if using this box to use the balanced output of the Gungnir then connecting an SE amp to the bear switcher would sound better. Hard to believe it would but it’s also hard to believe the SE outputs on the Gungnir are somehow compromised.
     
  14. Nyets

    Nyets New

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    I'll even make one more post for yall snowflakes to dislike maybe that way you crybabies will achieve something even more 'significant' in your lives lmao. Pathetic once again. No wonder why most people suggest to stay away from this place like a plague. It's like a sect for special people of some kind only special people are allowed here to spoon each other and wipe their tears off because the rest of the world won't accept their issues. Truly a waste of time
     
  15. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    More like you don't barge in somewhere, sit next to a bunch of friends and demand to be involved. If anything this more emulates real life where these things take time. Anyway.. don't let the door hit you on the way out.
     
  16. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

    Staff Member Pyrate Flathead IEMW
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    @Nyets Week off for not wanting to follow forum etiquette. Gotta learn to take things in stride and not blow up. Also, I’ve often found that those who quickly reach into the snowflake bag of tricks are often the ones guilty of melting under emotion.

    edit: Council changed to perma-ban. Sucks to be you.
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
  17. PTS

    PTS Friend

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    There are shots of the guts on the website. Based upon experience, I don't think signal degradation will be a problem - but if you order from Amazon and end up not liking it, there's probably a free return / full refund policy. What Koth and I suggested are the same, with slightly different branding. They're both from Douk Audio, who make decent gear. The switcher I have is for speaker cable and a simpler design. It can switch between two amps with one pair of speakers, or between two pairs of speakers with one amp - depending on how you hook it up.

    [​IMG]

    I have an AB class amp that runs cool, and good for casual listening, also the Class A M-22 which runs hot and is good for critical listening - so this device works well. I also plan to use this for on-the-fly speaker shootouts in future.

    Everyday practicality aside, I think switchers are the way to go when comparing gear. We should all buy them in advance of spending hundreds/thousands on an "upgrade" that we're not sure is worth it. If it fails the switcher test from you not hearing an improvement (or better still a blind switcher test with help from a partner), consider sending the upgrade gear back.

    This was in part inspired by @sphinxvc's on-the-fly switching between DACs when comparing the Bifrost 2 and Rockna Wavelight. If he's suggesting that the BF2 is 95% of the Wavelight, it makes you question why we're considering $5k DACs. He also had an on-the-fly Yggdrasil A2 vs *Wavelight shootout, and reported that he could barely tell them apart - while the differences seemed far more significant when swapping DACs the old fashioned way. Some gear is clearly a worthwhile upgrade for the price, but I suspect we're fooling ourselves a lot of the time.

    *Fixed, apologies for the error @sphinxvc
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2020
  18. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I mean, I've used a Y cable and that has worked wonderfully in the past :). I wouldn't kill myself over impact of a simple passive switcher like this!
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    To late man! I’ve got a shotgun to my face right now!!!! All the lost bits!!!!! :eek:
     
  20. Rob the Comic

    Rob the Comic banned from ASR

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    Hey guys, still waiting for some help on my post near the top of this page. I think my post got lost in the middle of a shit storm. Thanks!
     
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