F-XLR to M-RCA recommendations

@snowdog57, thank you for this post, the Laiv uDac is exactly the next dac I wanted to try out and was wondering how to connect to my Micrzotl MZ3 that only has rca jacks?

@mulveling, my man! Thanks for the tip on those Cardas f-xlr to f-rca adapters.

@fatdaddy2, I know exactly what you mean about potential signal loss/degradation as I never wanted to use an adapter for a vacuum tube because I was afraid of the excess heat the heaters/tubes may generate. But my rca interconnectors for the Laiv uDac are going to be the 聖 Hijiri HCI-R10 rca interconnect that I already have and I like their sound. Plus having an adapter is such a short run, I thought I might as well give it a try.

Veritas has a pair of those up on Audiomart. Special order pair that someone backed out on. 

@steakster, how do you compare the performance/cost between the Purist Audio Design adapters you tried and the Cardas adapters?

@tyray

For XLR/RCA adapters, I own both this Purist set and this Cardas set.   I experimented for about a month of alternating the two sets – allowing time for each to settle-in.  The Purist adapter was more neutral, more solving.  The Cardas adapter was more warm, less resolving.   This was in my system.  YMMV.

Of course, cost/performance ratio is subjective.  The Cardas set was around $140 per pair.  The Purist set was $300 per pair.    Worth it to me for better SQ.    But I did not compare the Purist to this other more expensive Cardas set.  They weren’t around when I did the comparison.   

IME, avoiding adapters is the best approach.

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Also, I tried these much cheaper Neutrik XLR/RCA adapters.  They affected the SQ very poorly – way less resolving, almost muted.  They took the timbre and sparkle away.   I took one apart.  The internal connecting wires were ridiculously thin and very low quality.

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052rc is on target.   When using an XLR/RCA adapter, confirm that the pin configuration is correct for your particular unit.

@steakster , thanks for the thoughtful answer/explanation. If I do decide to get the Liav µDAC I’d run it through my Eversolo DMP-A8 XLR input connectors.

Or get the Holo Audio Cyan2 DAC with female rca jacks. (And sell my Eversolo DMP8?)

And my third option would be to use the Eversolo DMP-A8 and not upgrade at all and save some money. (For now...)