Thanks for the mention, JL35.
Most XLR-to-RCA (and RCA-to-XLR) adapters short the inverted signal on XLR pin 3 to ground (XLR pin 1), although I believe Cardas can supply adapters on special order that leave pin 3 unconnected. Shorting XLR pin 3 to ground is appropriate when adapting RCA outputs to XLR inputs, and may be appropriate when adapting a transformer-coupled XLR output to an RCA input. However, at best it is poor practice when adapting an actively driven XLR output to an RCA input. And while many and perhaps most components would be able to tolerate that, with some designs shorting that signal to ground may result in major performance issues (see this thread, for example), or conceivably even damage, eventually if not sooner.
As Bob suggested the best way of adapting an XLR output to an RCA input is generally with a Jensen transformer, or at a considerably higher price point with an SMc Audio Flex-Connect. However, either of those approaches would become expensive since you would be adapting multiple sources, and you would need to purchase short RCA cables anyway.
Also, using an adapter (as opposed to a transformer) would amount to operating your expensive XLR cables in an unbalanced manner, which would surely compromise the sonic performance they are capable of when connecting balanced outputs to balanced inputs. And IMO would be likely to result in performance that is no better, although perhaps a bit different, than for example the performance of inexpensive Mogami 2534 configured with RCAs.
So it would seem that the best approach in this case is to simply go to RCA cables, one way or another.
Regards,
-- Al
Most XLR-to-RCA (and RCA-to-XLR) adapters short the inverted signal on XLR pin 3 to ground (XLR pin 1), although I believe Cardas can supply adapters on special order that leave pin 3 unconnected. Shorting XLR pin 3 to ground is appropriate when adapting RCA outputs to XLR inputs, and may be appropriate when adapting a transformer-coupled XLR output to an RCA input. However, at best it is poor practice when adapting an actively driven XLR output to an RCA input. And while many and perhaps most components would be able to tolerate that, with some designs shorting that signal to ground may result in major performance issues (see this thread, for example), or conceivably even damage, eventually if not sooner.
As Bob suggested the best way of adapting an XLR output to an RCA input is generally with a Jensen transformer, or at a considerably higher price point with an SMc Audio Flex-Connect. However, either of those approaches would become expensive since you would be adapting multiple sources, and you would need to purchase short RCA cables anyway.
Also, using an adapter (as opposed to a transformer) would amount to operating your expensive XLR cables in an unbalanced manner, which would surely compromise the sonic performance they are capable of when connecting balanced outputs to balanced inputs. And IMO would be likely to result in performance that is no better, although perhaps a bit different, than for example the performance of inexpensive Mogami 2534 configured with RCAs.
So it would seem that the best approach in this case is to simply go to RCA cables, one way or another.
Regards,
-- Al