Digital Coax to XLR adapters?


Hi. I'm a newbie audiophile, so apologies if my question is naive.

Recently made some purchases on a "starter kit":
- Totem Acoustics Forest
- Music Hall 25.3 DAC
- NAD 375BEE integrated amp

The weak link in my system now comprises my sources: Sony CD carousel, Philips CR player/recorder, and Samsung DVD that can also play CDs.

My question: The digital outputs of the Philips CD and the Samsung DVD are both Coax. The DAC has only one digital coax in slot. But it has an unused XLR slot.

Is there such a thing as a Digital Coax-to-XLR converter? I have found XLR-to-RCA converters online, but I think those are for analog signals. Don't I need a special digital converter? Does one exist, and if so, can anyone recommend a good source?

Responses most appreciated!
128x128dquarasr

Showing 1 response by davehrab

The input on your DAC is AES/EBU which is a balanced XLR connection, but intended for a digital signal at 110 ohms. Your coax input on your DAC and output on your CD player is a coax S/PDIF input, which is a 75 ohm digital signal. So no, you can't use a connector to adapt one to the other

BINGO .. also the Single Ended out's OUTPUT voltage may not be high enough to drive the AES's INPUT stage to full rating

But this should do the trick and kill two birds with one stone Monarchy Dip Classic

It will accept Optical .. Co Ax and AES/EBU on it’s inputs and it will output a De jittered signal on either Co Ax or AES balanced

Run one Co Ax to the Dac (present set up) and the other Co Ax to the DIP and take the Balanced output from the DIP to the Balanced inputs on the Dac ... I’d also run the OPTICAL out from the Sony CD carousel to the OPTICAL In on the DIP

What ever Co Ax and the OPTICAL feed you run through the DIP will get the benefit from the DIP’s jitter reduction circuit

So you have a home for your other Co Ax out .. can use your AES input on the Dac properly and get some Jitter reduction also

I think you can still buy the DIP Classic new from Monarchy for around $100