I have a Stellar Gain Cell DAC (SGCD) and am trying to figure out the very best way to pick off an output signal to feed my R2R input. I have used the SGCD headphone out in the past. Although that provided a good result, I am concern about impedance matching and also if that is the best method in terms of fidelity. The SGCD headphone jack is specified at 300Ω and 16Ω. My tape deck LINE IN has a 50kΩ input impedance. My microphone jack has a 10kΩ input impedance. I am thinking that since the input impedance of my R2R LINE IN and Microphone exceeds the output impedance of the SGCD, my R2R should not be loading down the SGCD output. In terms of S/N, the headphone jack of the SGCD exceeds that of the tape deck.
My questions are: Is connecting to the SGCD unbalance RCA connectors be a viable option? Is there a consensuses on the best way to connect a tape recorder input to a SGCD?
Hello,
I had a similar issue with the SGCD. I wanted to run a separate set of speakers in a different room that had its own volume adjustment. Using what I had on hand, I connected the the RCA ouputs from the SGCD to a line input of a Rega Brio integrated amp and attached the the satellite speakers to the Rega. The XLR outputs of the SGCD are connected to the inputs of my S300 power amp. That way I can use both sets of speakers at different volumes. If I just want to listen to the satellite speakers, I can just put the S300 into standby.
So you could try connecting the RCA outs of the SGCD directly into the RCA inputs of the R2R. The one thing I found was that the output level from the RCA outs of the SGCD is such a low level that I have to turn the volume dial on the Rega to about 3 o’clock to get a decent volume on the satellite speakers when I also have the main speakers on at a decent listening level. If the S300 is off and you do not have to worry about the sound levels of the main speakers, then you can play with the volume dial of the SGCD to get a decent output volume on the RCA outs. To be honest, I was not that worried about absolute sound quality from the satellite speakers. They are there for background music. If you try this, please remember to turn the volume down before turning on your power amp back on. Of course, we all do this all the time, don’t we.
I hope this makes sense.
Good luck,
Harry
Harry, thanks for the reply. I don’t have a satellite system that is at a convenient location to my PS Audio system, but I like your approach. I had decided in the past that I just couldn’t have my S300 on while recording - my main speakers would be just too loud. Instead I settled for monitoring the recording via the tape deck headphone jack.
Plus 1 for tape loops. Also, I noticed the new Stellar Gold Preamp has neither a tape loop nor a headphone amplifier. I love the fact that my SGCD has a headphone jack for those times that I wish to listen to my headphones.
Harry
