I've since replaced my RCA only (unbalanced) vintage Yamaha cx-1000 with a Schiit Kara preamp and used XLR balanced cables between preamp and mono amps.
Although I'm still using RCA between Fiio K11 R2R and Kara, the Kara does a proper conversion to balanced.
With the above in place when I remove the USB isolator I can only hear the faintest of feint buzzing noise on max volume with the song paused and my ear up to the speaker. So XLR connections certainly contribute to helping combat annoying buzzes caused by ground loops.
Since the Yamaha had 20db gain and the Kara only has 12db gain, I'm short about 7db gain to drive my mono amps and speakers without the danger of digital clipping in the Wiim Ultra.
So I'll probably be looking at upgrading the Fiio DAC NOS to a Schiit Audio Bifrost 2/64 NOS, to get the gain up from the DAC from unbalanced 2.7vrms to 4vrms balanced.
The only issues I have with the Fiio K11 R2R are:
No isolation on USB connection.
Max output of 2.7vrms (unbalanced)
No XLR connections.
I couldn't fault the sound of the Fiio K11 R2R DAC NOS mode.
Although I'm still using RCA between Fiio K11 R2R and Kara, the Kara does a proper conversion to balanced.
With the above in place when I remove the USB isolator I can only hear the faintest of feint buzzing noise on max volume with the song paused and my ear up to the speaker. So XLR connections certainly contribute to helping combat annoying buzzes caused by ground loops.
Since the Yamaha had 20db gain and the Kara only has 12db gain, I'm short about 7db gain to drive my mono amps and speakers without the danger of digital clipping in the Wiim Ultra.
So I'll probably be looking at upgrading the Fiio DAC NOS to a Schiit Audio Bifrost 2/64 NOS, to get the gain up from the DAC from unbalanced 2.7vrms to 4vrms balanced.
The only issues I have with the Fiio K11 R2R are:
No isolation on USB connection.
Max output of 2.7vrms (unbalanced)
No XLR connections.
I couldn't fault the sound of the Fiio K11 R2R DAC NOS mode.
Last edited:
