TRS..TS..RCA cable question.

[riccol]

O.K. I have a DMP3, Joe Meek VC3, and A RNC that all have balanced outs. However my soundcard is a Audiophile 24/96 which has RCA I/O's.
RCA is unbalanced right?
So using a RCA/TR would be the cable right?
would using a RCA/TRS make any difference?

However if I decide to go with a Audiphile 192 that has 1/4 I/O's I would then need TRS cables ...Huh?

Balanced upbalaced gives me brain cramps!!!

 

[Dr Biscuits]

Hey Riccol - unfortunately, no matter what cables you use, if one part of the chain is unbalanced (ie your 2496) you're dealing with an unbalanced signal. The only way to change this is to use something like a DI box or line level shifter. So, that said, there's no point using balanced cables between your 2496 and your balanced equipment unless you're going to convert the signal to a balanced one.
As far as upgrading, if you end up with all balanced equipment, then by all means upgrade your cables and you'll gain the benefits - but you can still use unbalanced cables, it just means your signal will be unbalanced.
Hope this helps!

 

[riccol]

It does, thanks!

 

[Richard Monroe]

Unless you are using very long runs of cable (I doubt it, in this case), all you're going to lose is 6db, which, in the greater scheme of things, is pretty irrelevent.
There is nothing wrong with unbalanced operations, except you lose 6db. Also, your RNC is an *unbalanced* unit. It does not accept or send a balanced signal, so give it up. I've been running my Avalon AD2022's *unbalanced* XLR outs to an RNC for a couple of years, and the world hasn't come to an end yet.-Richie