Question for MSB owners – best way to feed a single-ended preamp?

General
1

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice from MSB owners (or anyone experienced with balanced DACs feeding single-ended / transformer-coupled preamps).

My situation:

  • DAC: MSB Select (XLR outputs only)

  • Preamp: Aries Cerat Incito S (transformer-coupled, fundamentally single-ended design, despite having XLR inputs (standard pseudo-balanced input, only Pin2 (hot) is used)

  • Power amp: darTZeel NHB-458

Since the Incito S is not a fully balanced circuit, I’m trying to determine the best and most correct way to connect the MSB to a single-ended preamp.

Currently considering:

MSB Select (XLR out) → Incito S (XLR in standard pseudobalanced input, only Pin2 (hot) is used) → RCA out → power amp

Questions from the MSB side:

  1. Is feeding a single-ended / transformer-coupled preamp via XLR the preferred method for the MSB Select?

  2. Is there any downside (sonic or electrical) to having the MSB’s balanced output converted to SE inside the preamp?

  3. Have MSB owners compared:

    • balanced DAC → SE preamp (via standard pseudo-balanced input)

    • external conversion / other approaches? Like a XLR to RCA transformer

Would really appreciate hearing from other MSB owners or anyone who has gone through similar balanced-DAC → SE-preamp setups.

Thanks in advance.

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IMG_91991274×1121 92.7 KB

These will convert bal to se the correct way , also it won’t change or color the sound .

3

This is just too expensive 2k for a convert ???

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https://ampsandsound.com/products/xlr-to-rca-converters?srsltid=AfmBOoqdwtDyTjW4EkE8jCKwHlH8iRvqLCLMzGBp1629WGbxGIt1KqsMzj8

5

I would second @ASIO ‘s recommendation. By using only 1 pin, you are throwing away half the performance of the DAC. Finding a good transformer based solution to convert the signal is essential. It may be worth looking for a used set or asking your dealer if they can get a discounted set. It would be well worth it at least to borrow a set for testing purposes and see how much it helps. I know second hand sets come up from time to time.

Best of luck!

2 Likes
6

You might want to also check Jensen ISO-MAX PC-2XR

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7

Thanks a lot I try to find the one you are talking about but no luck anywhere……so i find a very similar solution that MSB used also a American company https://www.sescom.com/products/view/product/productslug/aud-rca-xlr-1-channel-rca-to-xlr-unbalanced-to-balanced-audio-converter Hope it will work.

8

It looks like these are just cheaters @MidFi , not transformer based.

The XLR to RCA says “1 Channel” : SES-AUD-XLR-RCA 1-Channel XLR | Balanced To Unbalanced

If you can find the Jensen solution, that is an excellent transformer based solution and what our are based off of.

9

[dodger0629] has the best option linked , I doubt you can find anything decent for less .

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I have a fully balanced, tubed, PreAmp. To use single ended output from my preamp, I have to flip a switch, which grounds out the cold pin, to prevent hum. I was running balanced out to my monoblocks, and it seemed fine. But, I noticed, on a picture of the inside of my amp, that it is not running fully balanced, also grounding the cold pin.

It got me thinking. Many of the amps I want to try, and/or build are single ended only. So, I dug out my Jensen XLR->RCA converter, and hooked up my current amps via RCA, instead of XLR, and I swear it sounds better. This converter stays in the system for good now, unless I get a truely balanced amp. (The DIY Aleph J was the only truely balanced amp I have used)

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11

If your preamp is true bal it will convert to SE so it should not matter

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12

Not sure how to understand this, you have spend money on a Select Dac, a Dartzeel amp and a Incito S but these adaptors are too expensive??

I understand they are costly but so is your gear and it shows your commitment to have a great system and achieve good sound…

I have a pair of these adaptors, if you live in Europe I may be able to help you out…

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13

Has anyone tested a DIY build using the Lundahl LL7902 transformer for XLR-to-RCA conversion with MSB DACs?

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I love that transformer (LL7902), but the configuration of our XLR to RCA balun sounds much better for conversion between balanced and single ended with an MSB DAC as the source. It uses a transmission line balun instead of a simple transformer circuit. The LL7902 is tricky to perfectly implement because it only really sings with proper impedances on each port, which depends on how you choose to wire both the primary and secondary taps. Our balun solution is optimal for our DACs and is insensitive to impedance mismatches on the output port as long as it is used with our DACs.

4 Likes