RE: arsclist question about XLR/RCA connections, pads, etc.

["Dave Meyers" <audio101@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

 There are 2 main problem you are dealing with when going from XLR to RCA.
Number 1 is that a typical XLR connection is a Balanced signal, meaning both
wires are HOT one has a negative polarity, the other positive (like 220V in
a house) then there is GND. An RCA jack is unbalanced, meaning there is a
hot and a ground. so you need some type of ACTIVE device to do the balancing
or unbalancing for you.
 Number 2 is that there is a Signal level difference. typical XLR type
signals are +4 typical unbalanced signals are -10, once again, you need some
type of active device to adjust this signal level difference
 Number 3 (ok I lied, there are 3) there is also an impendence difference in
the signals, Balanced signals are typically 600 ohms, and unbalanced signals
are typically 10-50K ohm.

 The best device to do this is a Henry Engineering Matchbox! or RDL makes a
device that will work, but its about the same price, but definitely not the
same quality. Symetrix and Rane and several other companies make these as
well. but the Henry is the best cost/performance unit. the only draw back,
is it is a large box 4x5x2 or something like that. it is a stereo box, so
you have 2 ch of bal to unbal., AND 2 ch of unbal. to bal.!

 RANE also has MANY MANY great technical notes on this, grounding, setting
unity gain, and many other audio101 subjects!! great reading, highly
recommended.


  Dave Meyers
  President
  Overkill audio inc.
 "We can help, when a "Little" just wont do!"




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Don Share
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 1:13 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: arsclist question about XLR/RCA connections, pads, etc.


Can someone lead me to info about how to go from XLR outputs on
professional recording equipment to RCA phono jacks on consumer equipment
like CD burners, computers, cassette dubbing decks, etc.?  Do I need a
matchbox?  Cable or adapter w/pad??  Thanks!
Don Share
Curator
George Edward Woodberry Poetry Room
Harvard College Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138

Telephone: (617) 495-2454
Fax: 	    (617) 496-3692
E-mail:    share@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Website for policies and schedule of events:
http://hcl.harvard.edu/houghton/departments/poetry.html
-
For subscription instructions, see the ARSC home page
http://www.arsc-audio.org/arsclist.html
Copyright of individual posting is owned by the author of the posting and
permission to re-transmit or publish a post must be secured
from the author of the post.

-
For subscription instructions, see the ARSC home page
http://www.arsc-audio.org/arsclist.html
Copyright of individual posting is owned by the author of the posting and
permission to re-transmit or publish a post must be secured
from the author of the post.

-
For subscription instructions, see the ARSC home page
http://www.arsc-audio.org/arsclist.html
Copyright of individual posting is owned by the author of the posting and
permission to re-transmit or publish a post must be secured
from the author of the post.