[Elizabeth]

Hi guys,
Currently I am using a seven meter pair of Kimber "Hero" XLR to get from my Bryston BP-26 to my Bryston 4B-SST²
I am considering trying a pair of Cardas "Parsec" (FIVE METERS) for the interconnect.
So this would allow me to switch from XLR to RCA if I wanted to.

The Hero is longer than need be, as I was not certain when I bought it just how long I was eventually going to need.
The Parsec at 5 meters could reach the distance needed.
Question is from the point of view of Bryston, is a five meter RCA cable going to be 'perfect' fine? or maybe some issues?

I would want to go to the RCA so i can cut the total system gain. (an issue I had posted years ago. I have a hard time getting to use the volume knob as the gain is so high on digital sources.
So i would be happy to swap over to the RCA so i can cut the gain at the amp (leaving the switch at the lower gain even with RCA ((vs XLR)).
But i want the maximum quality from the system.

So all i am asking is do you think any problem using an RCA single ended connection for the five meter gap?

I can buy the Cardas "Parsec" five meter in either RCA or XLR for the  same price..
I have read the Parsec is a little warm, but more like Cardas "Clear" than the old Cardas cables.. With various tweaks seeking even greater clarity, my system is a tiny bit lean, and I can see using the Cardas "Parsec" to my advantage.

[James Tanner]

Hi guys,
Currently I am using a seven meter pair of Kimber "Hero" XLR to get from my Bryston BP-26 to my Bryston 4B-SST²
I am considering trying a pair of Cardas "Parsec" (FIVE METERS) for the interconnect.
So this would allow me to switch from XLR to RCA if I wanted to.

The Hero is longer than need be, as I was not certain when I bought it just how long I was eventually going to need.
The Parsec at 5 meters could reach the distance needed.
Question is from the point of view of Bryston, is a five meter RCA cable going to be 'perfect' fine? or maybe some issues?

I would want to go to the RCA so i can cut the total system gain. (an issue I had posted years ago. I have a hard time getting to use the volume knob as the gain is so high on digital sources.
So i would be happy to swap over to the RCA so i can cut the gain at the amp (leaving the switch at the lower gain even with RCA ((vs XLR)).
But i want the maximum quality from the system.

So all i am asking is do you think any problem using an RCA single ended connection for the five meter gap?

I can buy the Cardas "Parsec" five meter in either RCA or XLR for the  same price..
I have read the Parsec is a little warm, but more like Cardas "Clear" than the old Cardas cables.. With various tweaks seeking even greater clarity, my system is a tiny bit lean, and I can see using the Cardas "Parsec" to my advantage.

Hi Liz,

The output impedance on the BP26 is about 25 ohms so no problem driving very long RCA interconnects. 

The only issue is the potential to pick up RF noise as the RCA cable is an antenna to the outside world whereas the Balanced XLR cable is not picking up noise due to common mode rejection. 

james

[Elizabeth]

Thanks James!
I am not worried about RFi very much. No 'extra' RFI sources around, just the little from AC cords etc... and that I have under control.

[redbook]

 Even so there are unseen sources happening around (maybe) One night I suddenly got some taxi or police reception from the right chanel   :In my case going totally to balanced has given me greater perceived detail. All I can think is that I was getting more noise from somewhere and now I'm not.   

[budcook]

Hi guys,
Currently I am using a seven meter pair of Kimber "Hero" XLR to get from my Bryston BP-26 to my Bryston 4B-SST²
I am considering trying a pair of Cardas "Parsec" (FIVE METERS) for the interconnect.
So this would allow me to switch from XLR to RCA if I wanted to.

The Hero is longer than need be, as I was not certain when I bought it just how long I was eventually going to need.
The Parsec at 5 meters could reach the distance needed.
Question is from the point of view of Bryston, is a five meter RCA cable going to be 'perfect' fine? or maybe some issues?

I would want to go to the RCA so i can cut the total system gain. (an issue I had posted years ago. I have a hard time getting to use the volume knob as the gain is so high on digital sources.
So i would be happy to swap over to the RCA so i can cut the gain at the amp (leaving the switch at the lower gain even with RCA ((vs XLR)).
But i want the maximum quality from the system.

So all i am asking is do you think any problem using an RCA single ended connection for the five meter gap?

I can buy the Cardas "Parsec" five meter in either RCA or XLR for the  same price..
I have read the Parsec is a little warm, but more like Cardas "Clear" than the old Cardas cables.. With various tweaks seeking even greater clarity, my system is a tiny bit lean, and I can see using the Cardas "Parsec" to my advantage.

  Hi Elizabeth, I have the same Bryston components as you do and I don't understand your problem.  I am using 2.5 meter Cardas Clear Light balanced cables and the low gain input on the 4B.  Could it be that you prefer to have more granularity with the volume control?

Sorry for my ignorance.

Bud   

[Elizabeth]

  Hi Elizabeth, I have the same Bryston components as you do and I don't understand your problem.  I am using 2.5 meter Cardas Clear Light balanced cables and the low gain input on the 4B.  Could it be that you prefer to have more granularity with the volume control?
Bud

Correct. I would like greater granularity.. finer use of the volume control over a wider turning radius.
As is i have only a small span of adjustment before the volume is too loud.
It is not a terrible issue. just a little one.
I thought if I could add  to the range a bit using a single ended interconnect i might do so.

I played around with a single ended (RCA) homemade pair I never used, and it does add some of the available turning of the knob... though not as much as i would hope.

One thing i do not want to do is spend a thousand dollars in a lateral shift. The Hero interconnect I have now sounds very nice. if the Cardas Parsec is about the same.. then???
Maybe I will buy a one meter Parsec to listen to it first.. And compare it to the Hero.

[budcook]

OK, thanks.  BTW, if you have any interest in a great deal on 5 meter Bryston balanced IC's please PM me. 

Regards,

Bud

[Speedskater]

Henry W. Ott, Bill Whitlock, Jim Brown and Bruno Putzeys all write about the extra difficulties of long RCA unbalanced analog interconnects.  Bill Whitlock suggests that 3 meters (10 feet) is the start of long cables.

[rob80b]

Hi Elizabeth

Have you considered using In-Line Attenuators, mind you they are another item open to adverse opinions.

I've used the Harrison Labs single ended ones and was happy with the results on the BCD-1, getting the volume control on average between 11 and 2 o'clock the benefits I found outweighed any negatives if any, although it may just be my 60+ ears.

If you want to try that route one must decide if the attenuators are placed at the source or amp, at the amp end everything is attenuated and for me was too low when playing vinyl, with the attenuators on the digital source the volume control was about equal and the overall sound from CD I found more analogue in nature.

Rothwell make balanced attenuators although a bit pricy

http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.html

http://www.hlabs.com/

Or if your a DIYselfer  there are a lot of schematics on line.

If running long unbalanced  cables make sure they are well shielded (as I'm sure you already know), I had to try a few running 35' to my Headphone set-up behind the sofa, so far the Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 Low Capacitance Audio Cable worked best.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/

Robert