AES/EBU connection = balanced cable?

[quattroll]

Hi all, I just want to know if I can use a balanced cable safely from ERC3 to XMC1.

Thank you.

[Porscheguy]

Try and see what happens... It won't blow up. I promise..

[garbulky]

I think so. I think th AES cable is supposed to be a certain impedance. But I don't think you will have problems like Porscheguy said.

[teaman]

I believe the AES/EBU cable is a pro version of the digital Coax/Toslnk equivalent. I use it for all of my ERC hookups in place of RCA. I have A/B'd them and the AES/EBU wins for sound quality!

[Gary Cook]

Mixed metaphors? The term "Balanced Cables" usually refers to an analogue connection, with between 100 and 150 ohms impedance and XLR connectors at each end. AES3 is a digital connection using 110 ohm impedance shielded twisted pair cable also with XLR connectors. Microphone cables, also with XLR connectors, are typically 75 ohms.

An analogue connection will generally tolerate the various impedances, but the digital (AES3) connection should be 110 ohms.


Cheers
Gary

[LCSeminole]

Aug 5, 2015 22:26:23 GMT -5 teaman said:

I believe the AES/EBU cable is a pro version of the digital Coax/Toslnk equivalent. I use it for all of my ERC hookups in place of RCA. I have A/B'd them and the AES/EBU wins for sound quality!

Not sure if I'm interpreting what you are saying correctly. Do you mean that the AES/EBU sound quality, to you, sounds better than the analog outputs? or do you mean the AES/EBU sound quality, to you, sounds better than the other two digital outputs, coax & optical? If the latter, in my A/B/C'ing the AES/EBU, Coax and Optical, I literally heard no difference(which is why I no longer have an ERC-2, but kept my ERC-1). I did hear a difference when comparing the XMC-1 DAC to the ERC-2's DAC's/balanced XLR outputs, but I did not particularly prefer one over the other.

[teaman]

Hey LC, I was just trying to react to the Original question of if they could use a balanced cable from the ERC-3 to the XMC-1. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought he was referring to the AES/EBU. I was just stating that I prefer the AES/EBU over the Coax or toslink, partially because to me the sound seems to be a bit crisper (maybe it is in my head) and I like the way the thicker cable seems more secure.

[Gary Cook]

Aug 6, 2015 22:56:25 GMT -5 teaman said:

Hey LC, I was just trying to react to the Original question of if they could use a balanced cable from the ERC-3 to the XMC-1. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought he was referring to the AES/EBU. I was just stating that I prefer the AES/EBU over the Coax or toslink, partially because to me the sound seems to be a bit crisper (maybe it is in my head) and I like the way the thicker cable seems more secure.

The problem is a "balanced cable" could be an analogue connection (hence using the DAC in the ERC-3) OR it could be a digital connection (hence using the DAC in the XMC-1). My view is which DAC is used would most likely have more effect than the cable type used.


Cheers
Gary

[LCSeminole]

Aug 6, 2015 22:56:25 GMT -5 teaman said:

Hey LC, I was just trying to react to the Original question of if they could use a balanced cable from the ERC-3 to the XMC-1. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought he was referring to the AES/EBU. I was just stating that I prefer the AES/EBU over the Coax or toslink, partially because to me the sound seems to be a bit crisper (maybe it is in my head) and I like the way the thicker cable seems more secure.

I was just curious if others really hear a difference between the AES/EBU and coax/optical cables. I've done some reading on the subject and while AES/EBU is preferred because of the secure connection, many of those that prefer it usually have a descriptive adjective as the difference in sound that they hear. With the difference in impedance, 110 compared to 75, I thought maybe this may have contributed to a difference for others. Myself, I didn't hear a difference while switching between all 3 cables on different inputs from an ERC-2 to an XMC-1. More curiosity than anything though.