Balanced XLR to RCA Adapters: Good or Bad?

Dear R1g audio, A phono cartridge is an inherently balanced transducer that can potentially drive a phono stage in balanced mode. However, if said phono stage is not also a true balanced device, then there is no way to take advantage of the potential of a cartridge to drive it in balanced mode. No matter how you connect that cartridge to that single-ended preamp, the signal will be processed in SE mode. XLRs on the end of the phono cable and XLRs on the phono input of the phono stage will not do squat to change these facts. Ergo, the OP loses nothing by re-terminating his phono cable with RCAs. Further, while I agree that the OP's system is not likely to be terribly sensitive to the non-purist approach of using XLR to RCA adapters, I would side with Doug; why put a totally unnecessary kludge in the signal path when it can so easily be avoided? (Adapters suck, IMO._

I would guess that the OP could find a tech who can re-terminate his phono cables for about the same cost as that of an XLR to RCA adaptor.

Those do look nice, but I found a price of $120 from Handmade Audio (hopefully, that is price per pair). Which supports my point that the OP could have his cables converted for less, I think. Also, I don't see where Cardas makes male XLR to male RCA adapter. The ones I found all terminate in female RCA, so I think they are for persons who want to mate a male RCA to a female (or male) XLR. Would not work for OP. Probably I did not do enough searching. I have a hangover anyway.

If that is what you wrote, I apologize if I misinterpreted your post and then hung you out to dry for it. As to the advice you are giving the OP in the post just above this one, you are entitled to your opinion. But I don't know where "buying the expensive XLR" enters into it. The OP was wondering about re-terminating his phono cables, which as I understand it already are terminated in XLRs. So he would need to purchase a pair of male RCA jacks. There are many good choices that do not cost very much (e.g., Eichmann Bullet plugs for about $30 for a set of 4); the major cost would be in the labor to remove the XLRs and solder in the RCAs. It would take me 15 minutes to do that, but I am sure there are rip-off artists who might charge as much as $100 for the work. OP will by now be able to make up his own mind. Peace. Out.

Right on, Dan_ed. The only good connector is no connector. But sometimes they are unavoidable. I for one wonder why the SE standard is not BNC instead of RCA. BNC would seem to have the potential to sound better.

Hiho, This hobby is ABOUT hassle. No-hassle solutions are barred. It's not ok to avoid hassle.