Convert XLR to TRS Headphone Cable Issue

@wncrob 

this manufacturer made a retail product that requires the consumer to modify their headphone cables

On the contrary, Musical Fidelity makes high-end headphone amplifiers where the primary purpose is fully balanced operation.  For those who do not understand what this entails, and to support lesser headphones, they also provide ’normal’ headphone jacks (TRS). 

Headphone jacks with three wires cannot support balanced operation, unless two separate jacks are used.  This may be addressed in the User Manual (I have not tried to find a copy because there is an obvious solution to your issue).

"Working fine" through a single jack means the amplifier can behave like an ordinary, unbalanced amplifier, but frankly from my point of view, this is a complete waste of its real capabilities.

The ONLY reason I’m having this problem is that I needed a 6-8 ft extension cable and the cable manufacturer suggested the XLR termination.  If I had a TRS termination on both ends, this thread would not exist

Sack the cable manufacturer, if the instructions they were given were correct (I suspect they were not). 

You could buy a decent pair of headphones designed for balanced operation through two XLR connections.  Alternatively, you can easily modify the wiring of your headphones.

While you are at it, why not get a disk player with balanced output so you can really hear what your fully balanced headphone amplifier is capable of.

Or you could sell the amplifier to somebody who understands how to use it the way Musical Fidelity intends.  It runs on 240-Volts. so I’d be interested in making an offer but it has to be shipped to Australia.

Addendum:  I have now found the User Manual on-line and it clearly states that the amplifier supports two pairs of stereo headphones via 1/4" 3-connector jacks or one pair of balanced headphones through two XLR connectors.

From ChatGPT:

Balanced headphones use specialized cables (e.g., 4.4mm TRRRS, 2.5mm TRRS, or dual XLR) with separate grounds for left and right channels, eliminating common-mode noise and increasing power output. They offer improved channel separation and higher voltage for demanding headphones, requiring a balanced amplifier. 

Addicted To Audio +4

Key Aspects of Balanced Headphones

• What They Are: Unlike standard ("single-ended") headphones that share a ground wire, balanced headphones provide separate positive and negative wires for each driver.
• Benefits: Primarily, they offer higher power output (up to four times the power in some cases), which helps drive high-impedance headphones, alongside improved channel separation.
• Connection Types: Common balanced connectors include 4.4mm Pentaconn, 2.5mm TRRS, or dual 3-pin/single 4-pin XLR connectors.
• Requirement: A dedicated balanced amplifier or DAP (Digital Audio Player) is required to experience the full benefits, notes Reddit users.
• Is it Worth It? While often considered a high-end audiophile upgrade for better, cleaner sound, YouTube users note it may not be necessary if your current, non-balanced setup is already quiet and drives your headphones well. 

  Reddit +7

Difference from Balanced Interconnects
While "balanced" in pro-audio refers to noise-canceling cables between equipment, "balanced headphones" simply ensure that the left and right driver signals remain separated from the amplifier to the headphone drivers, which can reduce distortion

Richard, I stand corrected...you are EXACTLY  right.  Many thanks!

My CD player (Ayre) has 1 set of balanced outs, but I use them for my main system & speakers, and, frankly, with the headphones, I think I'll be happy with the TRS terminated cable.  My headphones, Grado GS3000x, are hard-wired, so modifying the cabling is more than I am willing to undertake.

Again, thaanks for the education and patience!

WNCRob

@wncrob 

Thanks for the headphone model!  It looks as if each ’can’ has a cable running downwards, which is what I was hoping for, but I cannot find any details on the connectors Grado use.  However, this Grado 4-Conductor Mini Adaptor Cable - X Series makes me almost certain that Grado runs four wires to the connector.  (Some headphones join two of the wires together in the vicinity of the headband area - fortunately yours is not one of them)

Are you absolutely sure that Grado terminates in a three conductor jack?  If so, I think the four wires may be spliced into three right at the connector (jack).  Grado could confirm that and probably quote for changing to a 4-wire TRRS from the TRS.  Once you have that, an extension cable terminated at the far end with two 3-pin XLR sockets would see you balanced through the headphones.

The integrity of your beautiful Grado headphones would not be compromised if Grado made the change, which is only to replace the jack.  Alternatively, any competent tech with a soldering iron could do it.

Then you could experiment with your CD player and temporarily connect it in balanced mode to the headphone amplifier, to see what changes that makes.

If you are in the camp that believes that cables make a difference, going fully balanced should make an obvious improvement!  Apart from anything else, the noise floor should drop.  I for one would be very interested in your experience.

Going TRS all the way will definitely give you excellent stereo sound, but for a few bucks more and a bit of effort ...

Best wishes, and I am still lusting after that fully balanced amplifier