Does XLR need to be a consideration?

[ToppingSMSL]

I must have misread the thread, were we discussing sound quality?

Yes I believe we were. Have a look at the replies and you'll figure it out.

 

[Jasonovich]

Yes I believe we were. Have a look at the replies and you'll figure it out.

OP's opening thread was essentially which of the two should he choose. Other posters may have implied the sound quality benefits.
I spoke about the construction and personal preference over RCA but thank you for your feedback 🙂

 

[ToppingSMSL]

OP's opening thread was essentially which of the two should he choose. Other posters may have implied the sound quality benefits.
I spoke about the construction and personal preference over RCA but thank you for your feedback 🙂

It's mainly about sound quality, let's be honest, Jas.

 

[Jasonovich]

It's mainly about sound quality, let's be honest, Jas.

Yes but Yes but........Our friendly moderator is smelling blood 😉 Let's play nice in the playground 🙂

 

[Al ears]

Why do they bother with expensive cables, and pointless devices like reclockers, "audiophile" ethernet switches and PSU upgrades etc...

Because, ultimately, people will buy them..... Simples

 

[Winter]

No it wont.

Fully balanced system ? Does

 

[Dave_]

Because, ultimately, people will buy them..... Simples

Precisely.

It's about what they can sell to gullible audiophiles!

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Fully balanced system ? Does

In what way?

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Because, ultimately, people will buy them..... Simples

Yes that is the reason - it helps sell their expensive products as it looks "more serious", higher spec. Doesn't mean it improves the sound you hear, however, People will pay more if they *think* they're getting better sound.

 

[manicm]

No benefit, could make measured performance worse

Please give evidence of this where I2S measures worse? Hans Beekhuizen tested the Laiv Harmony Dac, and was one of the few not too enamoured with it, but he did say ti sounded best via I2S.

The jury is still out, but a number of points:

1. Optical is technically the weakest of digital inputs.
2. Both optical and coaxial are less and less able to cope with modern DACs and oversampling as they are limited to 24/192 in most applications, with optical often limited to 24/96.
3. If you're a SACD/DSD enthusiast, and unless you have a disc player like a high-end Marantz or some boutique brand that does decoding internally i.e. not converting to PCM, then almost always you will require I2S.
4. Respected and long established hifi company PS Audio mostly uses I2S for its digital connections for example.

Returning to XLR, if I were to purchase, for example, the Acoustic Energy AE1 active speaker set, I would without hesitation use the XLR preamp inputs. Use XLR where it makes sense, and here it would. If one has a source component that does not have an inherently balanced design but has XLR outputs then I'd agree it's a waste of time.

 

[Friesiansam]

Yes but Yes but........Our friendly moderator is smelling blood 😉 Let's play nice in the playground 🙂

Don't be silly, give them something to do, don't want them getting bored!

Although, I smell spammers again, that'll keep 'em busy. 😀

 

[Al ears]

Why do they bother with expensive cables, and pointless devices like reclockers, "audiophile" ethernet switches and PSU upgrades etc...

As I said because uneducated people will buy them, you don't think they produce them for a laugh. Making these devices cost a lot and I feel sure they wouldn't if there was no profile to be made.
The fact you and many think they are nonsense is irrelevant to them.

 

[Dave_]

As I said because uneducated people will buy them, you don't think they produce them for a laugh. Making these devices cost a lot and I feel sure they wouldn't if there was no profile to be made.
The fact you and many think they are nonsense is irrelevant to them.

I know full well why they offer them.

I was rhetorical, in response to your post that seemed to imply that coz some hifi manufacturers include balanced connections that some how legitimises their use in a domestic setup...

 

[Al ears]

I know full well why they offer them.

I was rhetorical, in response to your post that seemed to imply that coz some hifi manufacturers include balanced connections that some how legitimises their use in a domestic setup...

In some cases they do indeed.
However,only in the right situation, they do.
Something you are never likely to accept nor me worth arguing time arguing about.