# RCA\>XLR any worth?

**URL:** <https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518>\
**Category:** Cables\
**Created:** [April 7, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518 "2022-04-07T17:34:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gd7288](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/gd7288/32/189098_2.png) [@gd7288](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/gd7288)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/1 "2022-04-07T17:34:26Z")

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whats up with these cables.  
Unbalanced to balance  
Are they functional or just fluff?  
Why would anyone use.?  
For example my preamp doesnt have XLR connections but ps audio recommends using XLR for M1200…any utility in using these RCA\>XLR? Or just stick with RCA?  
Thank you

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**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/2 "2022-04-07T17:42:32Z")

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There is no benefit in using RCA → XLR or XLR → RCA adapters.

You cannot turn an unbalanced signal into balanced with an adapter.

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**Author:** ![gd7288](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/gd7288/32/189098_2.png) [@gd7288](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/gd7288)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/3 "2022-04-07T17:51:31Z")

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Figured…thank you

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**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/4 "2022-04-07T17:56:49Z")

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In my experience, PS Audio sounds best with balanced connections between PS Audio products.  
I have a non-PS music player with RCA outputs to my PS preamp, then balanced from PS pre to PS power amps. If you have rca, then stick with rca versus a conversion cable.

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**Author:** ![deafenears](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/deafenears/32/135201_2.png) [@deafenears](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/deafenears)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/5 "2022-04-07T21:23:42Z")

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> [@gd7288](#):
>
> Why would anyone use.?

Some sources only have RCA / unbalanced / SE output and some devices only have XLR / balanced input (Benchmark, Hypex NCore, etc.). These cables or adapters allow interconnection between the two.

There are devices that will convert from unbalanced to balanced/differential, e.g. [DVA R2X](https://avahifi.com/collections/accessories/products/dva-r2x).

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**Author:** ![aangen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/aangen/32/295709_2.png) [@aangen](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/aangen)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/6 "2022-04-08T00:09:33Z")

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Don’t sweat the small stuff. And XLR vs. RCA for short runs is inconsequential.

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**Author:** ![vieuxradio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9fc29f/32.png) [@vieuxradio](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vieuxradio)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/rca-xlr-any-worth/28518/7 "2026-02-11T00:47:55Z")

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does a RCA preamp to XLR amplification, is ok with PS S300 or M700?

will that arm the power amplifier?

on my linn, one side won’t play, since they are Linn design, not real XLR?