[drmike]

what would be a good diy xlr to rca cable. I need this to go from ncore 400 amp to pre.
thanks
drmike

[Speedskater]

You want the opposite.
RCA output to XLR input.
This is the correct way to wire the cable.
http://www.neurochrome.com/pseudo-differential-cable/

I don't know what commercial products are done correctly.

[undertow]

drmike,

Well 3 ways to do it...

OPTION 1 -

NCORE is DIY anyway. You could just install RCA jacks on the back of the amp. Simply jump your #2 pin off the XLR inside, and connect to the center pin of the RCA jack, and jump your #1 pin on the XLR to your ground ring on the RCA. But you will have to also short your #1 & #3 pin on the XLR jack already existing on the NCORE.

Best way to do this in order to still have a full functioning choice between your XLR, and RCA input is to take a pin that plugs into your XLR jack on the XLR bent in a way to allow you to plug just the #3 to #1 pin. Looks like this :





Then you could always go back between XLR or RCA. And you can just use any standard RCA cables you like.

This has been done for years by manufacturers of real XLR gear in order to allow installation of RCA jacks on their gear. Because of this you might find some pins made for this, maybe call Krell or Audio research I believe they have had models like this. Also almost 100% all Mark Levinson balanced/XLR gear was made this way, but when people lost their pins that sucked if they wanted to go back to RCA!

Or you could install a little DC flip switch too if you wanted mounted to your back panel and this would simply flip on and off being wired between your #1 and #3 pin on the XLR chassis jack so you can short and un-short it depending if your running RCA or not,  but you have seen this too on many amps where they have a switch stating RCA Up, XLR Down etc... Its just simply connecting and disconnecting those 2 pins to short out the XLR.

Another way around the jumper pin is to take a pair of just plain XLR jacks not connected to cables, and run a wire from #3 to #1 and simply plug them in bare on the back of the amp going nowhere.

OPTION 2 -

Buy an adaptor plug like from CARDAS.. Expensive, and don't like them, but people use them. Which of course all Cardas does here is inside the connector assembly is short out the #1 and #3 pin together connecting them both to the ground ring on the RCA.

http://www.moon-audio.com/cardas-rca-xlr-adapter.html

OPTION 3 -

Build custom cables... In this case you can chose either a standard Coax cable shielded which most RCA cables are made out of anyway and are 2 wires, or XLR true balanced 3 wire cables.... It does not matter.

But it comes down to which way you go, because then you need to buy a pair of RCA or XLR jacks that will be needed on the other end. The same topology applies and you will need to short the PIN #1 & #3 in the XLR end of the cable either in the connector with a little jumper loop, or using the 2 extra wires in you full XLR cable.

_______________________________________ _______________________________________ ______________________________

OPTION 1 will of course force you to drill your chassis to fit RCA jacks, and / OR DC switch if you don't like a pin, both do the exact same function.

But whats nice about this modification is your amp is now 100% compatible to every cable and system configuration on the planet permanently. And RCA jacks only cost a few bucks each with a couple small jumper wires.

[Speedskater]

While you could do those silly things, the correct solution is the link in reply #1.

[undertow]

While you could do those silly things, the correct solution is the link in reply #1.

Ha, ha... Seriously? silly comments with the link you provide is EXACTLY option 3 in my explanation for the cables. This is even the same exact diagram I am explaining on every single option I laid out... Hence the OPTIONS to accomplish exactly your link. Simply put they all do the exact same thing as your diagram below, however OPTIONS of doing it do vary in cost and difficulty due to which parts, and or method you chose. Also, it comes down to being able to "Universally" either reverse the method, or end up having a one off pair of cables that you need to purchase all the parts for anyway.

By the way Option 1 is the cheapest, but might look the most difficult, it is not and will require somebody to drill a couple simple holes in their already DIY drilled amp. But this will also allow you of use to ANY RCA cables you already have vs. making a special pair with XLR off the other end. All costing more on a parts basis to accomplish nothing.

Speedskaters method including all 3 options to accomplish it will require the skill of solder, and equipment to do so... accept OPTION 2 with buying already made conversion plugs from somebody like Cardas... If that is silly so be it.

Speedskaters link for the exact #1 to #3 pin short shown below in cable form.

http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=139243[/img]]

[Speedskater]

Not sure how this is wired:
http://www.markertek.com/product/na2fpmm/neutrik-na2fpmm-3-pole-xlr-female-to-rca-male-audio-adapter

this one may not have the shield connected to the RCA:
http://www.markertek.com/product/hk-110f/xlr-female-to-rca-phone-plug

from:
http://www.markertek.com/category/XLR-Adapters

Don't know much about this brand:
http://www.redco.com/Hosa-GXR-134.html