XLR-RCA: Adapters or Custom Cable?

Which Lavry Dac do you have, some have SE outputs. Adapters do not "always ruin the sound." That is audiophile paranoia taken to the extreme. How can you make such a statement when you can't test it? If you can't use the DAC without an adapter how can you tell how it sounds without one?

If you are one who will sit and fret the whole time you are listening about what you might be missing by using an adapter then you should get a DAC with SE outputs. Otherwise get one and enjoy!

A balanced DAC has two output signals per channel. If properly designed they are exactly the same except one has inverted polarity. Feeding one of them to an SE input on your preamp will work just fine. You just need the proper adapter. Look at the link below. What do you have to lose? It will be $12 for 2 adapters. You could use one on either end of the cable but I think putting it at the DAC will be more solid and you won't have to buy a balanced cable.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/American-Recorder-Technologies-XLR-Female-to-RCA-Female-Adapter?sku=339513

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Good point Kirkus, The Lavry DA10 manual shows how to configure the outputs for SE operation. It does show pin 3 as the non-inverted output. If the adapter I linked to connects pin 2 to the middle pin on the phono jack then you would be stuck with the inverted output but this could be corrected at the speakers by reversing red and black leads. Of course if you go DIY then you can configure things any way you want.

The unit will not be damaged, the manual shows you how to set it up. Even if it didn't there is no way to damage the output of a DAC if it is done properly. Anything can be damaged if you don't.

Your position is the silly one. How can one listen to the difference and be enlightened if the only way to use the DAC in the system is with adapters?

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It is curious that Lavry would detail how to configure the DAC for SE use if doing so will blow it up. Perhaps a clever plot to generate extra revenue by getting people to blow up their DACs and then not covering it under warranty?

It is also impossible to "blow up" an amp by grounding an input. If it were then using a passive volume control would blow it up everytime you turned the volume to zero because that does ground the input.

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Mr Jedi, as I alluded to earlier whoever makes the adapters should be aware that on your unit pin 3 is the non inverted (plus) output. There are jumpers that allow you to internally ground the unused output pin but not to reverse which is plus or minus.

Your builder should use pin 3 to the center pin of the RCA and pin one to the outside ring for ground.