Balanced XLR to unbalanced Jack

[lewisreid01]

Hi,

 

I am trying to use two aux out feeds on the Behringer X32 to feed a pair of monitors that are powered from a cheaper amp that only has unbalanced jack inputs. As I am running the cable from the mixer at the back over an analogue snake, and in the past have experienced some issues with a simple cable off amazon that converts the balanced XLR line to an unbalanced jack, I am wondering if there is a better way of converting the balanced feed to the unbalanced jacks if that makes sense. I have tried to research this but can't really find an answer and don't really even know if there is a solution to this. The closest I can find is from canford and is linked below but costs about £107 and that is out of my budget at the moment especially given it might not be what I need. I am wondering if anyone can advise me on a solution or simply tell me that there isn't one.

 

https://www.canford.co.uk/CANFORD-BALANCED-TO-UNBALANCED-CONVERTERS

 

 

I know this might not be very clear so please feel free to ask any questions

 

 

Thanks a lot

Lewis

[mackerr]

Hi,

 

I am trying to use two aux out feeds on the Behringer X32 to feed a pair of monitors that are powered from a cheaper amp that only has unbalanced jack inputs. As I am running the cable from the mixer at the back over an analogue snake, and in the past have experienced some issues with a simple cable off amazon that converts the balanced XLR line to an unbalanced jack, I am wondering if there is a better way of converting the balanced feed to the unbalanced jacks if that makes sense. I have tried to research this but can't really find an answer and don't really even know if there is a solution to this. The closest I can find is from canford and is linked below but costs about £107 and that is out of my budget at the moment especially given it might not be what I need. I am wondering if anyone can advise me on a solution or simply tell me that there isn't one.

 

https://www.canford.co.uk/CANFORD-BALANCED-TO-UNBALANCED-CONVERTERS

 

 

I know this might not be very clear so please feel free to ask any questions

 

 

Thanks a lot

Lewis

 

Scroll down to example 6 of THIS NOTE. The other cheap option is a transformer balancing box similar to a passive DI used backward.

 

 

Mac

[p.k.roberts]

You don't mention specifically the problems you've encountered in the past, but if you need to keep the lines to the stage balanced, then a dual transformer box at the stage end would almost certainly help.

 

I have used these and would unhesitatingly recommend the companies products;

http://orchid-electronics.co.uk/dual_isolator.htm

 

and have had good reports about these;

https://www.thomann.de/gb/art_dti.htm

[lewisreid01]

Hi,

 

I am trying to use two aux out feeds on the Behringer X32 to feed a pair of monitors that are powered from a cheaper amp that only has unbalanced jack inputs. As I am running the cable from the mixer at the back over an analogue snake, and in the past have experienced some issues with a simple cable off amazon that converts the balanced XLR line to an unbalanced jack, I am wondering if there is a better way of converting the balanced feed to the unbalanced jacks if that makes sense. I have tried to research this but can't really find an answer and don't really even know if there is a solution to this. The closest I can find is from canford and is linked below but costs about £107 and that is out of my budget at the moment especially given it might not be what I need. I am wondering if anyone can advise me on a solution or simply tell me that there isn't one.

 

https://www.canford....NCED-CONVERTERS

 

 

I know this might not be very clear so please feel free to ask any questions

 

 

Thanks a lot

Lewis

 

Scroll down to example 6 of THIS NOTE. The other cheap option is a transformer balancing box similar to a passive DI used backward.

 

 

Mac

 

That link looks like it might be a massive help, I can probably make a couple of cables with the leads I already have!

Thank you

 

You don't mention specifically the problems you've encountered in the past, but if you need to keep the lines to the stage balanced, then a dual transformer box at the stage end would almost certainly help.

 

I have used these and would unhesitatingly recommend the companies products;

http://orchid-electr...al_isolator.htm

 

and have had good reports about these;

https://www.thomann.de/gb/art_dti.htm

 

I think someone may have used one of the ART DTI boxes before in a similar situation at a gig I worked on, might be worth a try

 

Thank you

[paulears]

What I would try before you spend any money is to run the cable to where it has to go, and connect pin 2 of the XLR balanced cable to the jack tip and pin 3 to the sleeve. Ignore the shield, and keep it floating and unconnected. I've been running an amp like that for years down a multicore.

[sunray]

I've used many of these over the years. They are only 2 transformers in a steel enclosure. The connectors can simply be replaced with XLR's and mono Jack plugs to suit. CPC do other similar products that should come up on this link. https://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/fga-40/ground-isolator/dp/AV19955?CMP=CPC-ebooks-BIGBOOK2019

 

What  I would try  before you spend any money is to run the cable to where it has to go, and  connect pin 2 of the XLR balanced cable to the jack tip and pin 3 to the sleeve. Ignore the shield, and keep it floating  and unconnected. I've been running  an amp like that for years down a multicore.

This is the example 6 from earlier and yes I agree it is frequently OK depending on the O/P's and I/P's configurations.

[kgallen]

This is a cheaper version of the matching transformer idea.

 

https://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/ma-100-15/mike-matching-transformer/dp/MP33028?st=Matching%20transformer

 

I’ve used these in the past for feeding a mixer balanced aux output into a powered monitor some 30m away thus keeping the majority of the line balanced.

 

Kevin

[kgallen]

Note110 referenced above can now be found here (RANE updated their website and these notes went missing from their original location):

 

https://web.archive....om/note110.html

 

pdf:

https://web.archive.org/web/20190816160758/http://www.rane.com/pdf/ranenotes/Sound_System_Interconnection.pdf

Edited March 5, 2020 by kgallen

[Alec]

What I would try before you spend any money is to run the cable to where it has to go, and connect pin 2 of the XLR balanced cable to the jack tip and pin 3 to the sleeve. Ignore the shield, and keep it floating and unconnected. I've been running an amp like that for years down a multicore.

If the amp was local (which you've already said it's not) I'd also do this. Another option would be to route via the Aux 5/6 outputs and use the already unbalanced phono outs.

 

As it's remote, the *correct* answer is to run the signal balanced and then unbalance it at the other end. While not the perfect tool for the job, I've used a passive DI in reverse successfully for this (you'll need a gender bender to get the XLR into it. I'd also suspect that Paul's solution above is likely to work, depending on the length of your multicore and the things it's running by - I've often run much longer unbalanced lines than we like to without problems.

[kgallen]

Sorry it wasn't my intention to re-open this old thread. I just wanted to update the link to the RANE note as they've reworked their website and they are hidden away now.