Is no XLR out on ultra a dealbreaker for using amps with xlr in option?

[jed1]

Lack of balanced outs was not a dealbreaker for me. I bought the Ultra and love its feature set.

However, I discovered that I do need balanced outs. I heard an annoying ground loop while playing Roon. It came from one of the HDMI inputs to the TV and on through the Ultra ARC input. In the short run, I disconnected the extra input.

Does the input device causing the ground loop share a ground with WiiM Ultra and TV?

 

[ehowarth]

The offending device was plugged into a separate outlet than the Ultra and amplifier. It used the same outlet as the TV itself and an Xbox and AppleTV that were also connected to the TV.

I learned that that other outlet was from another circuit on the same leg as the amplifier outlet.

No other devices connected to the TV caused an issue.

The offending device was an old, but highly configured, Intel NUC PC. Its only remaining purpose was a Roon Core.

When the NUC was connected via HDMI to the TV and Roon was playing, the Ultra picked up noise via its HDMI ARC input. The noise was a quiet, pulsing white noise. When the ARC input was selected the noise was absent. It was audible only when the Ultra was only receiving CEC signals from the ARC input.

I don't know if the noise was due to a ground loop and would have been eliminated by balanced connections to the amplifier. All I do know is that it came over HDMI and that removing one HDMI connection eliminated it.

 

[Jamesw72]

Could a DI Box (RCA to XLR) be an answer?

 

[rccarguy]

Could a DI Box (RCA to XLR) be an answer?

No. The device has to be true balanced. An adaptor box just converts connector type.

Also many XLR devices are fake balanced, they're not true balanced devices.

 

[pieterv1]

Could a DI Box (RCA to XLR) be an answer?

No. The device has to be true balanced.

Yes a DI box will make the signal balanced. If your amplifier has a true balanced XLR input, you would have a completely balanced signal path starting from the DI box.

Although I still don't see the point for distances of less than 2m most of the times.

A DI box (active or passive) will also add a bit of coloring of its own.

 

[dangermouse]

Although I still don't see the point for distances of less than 2m most of the times.

There isn't any point. It's just a part of the audio nervosa mindset.

 

[Jamesw72]

I have a NAD C268 so it’s a balanced amp

 

[rccarguy]

I have a NAD C268 so it’s a balanced amp

It has XLR. But is it fully balanced? Not all power amplifiers with XLR in are.

 

[harkpabst]

It has XLR. But is it fully balanced? Not all power amplifiers with XLR in are.

As long as it provides a differential input nobody cares if the signal processing inside is "fully balanced".

 

[Yoku-San]

I also use the Ultra connected to an XLR input on my Ncore NC252MP Amp. No problem at all and no noise. I guess one could have a problem if the Amp has very little power since you end up with half of the possible voltage from RCA. In my case (250W per channel at 4 Ohm) the 2 Volt are more than enough to drive my speaker to unpleasing loud levels.

 

[David Sydney]

The whole point of balanced XLR is to run clean audio across hundreds of meters like live concert recording equipment and studios setups because it limits interference. RCA over 30cm between components that are NOT picking up no noise or interference has no real advantage over balanced XLR!

 

[harkpabst]

RCA over 30cm between components that are NOT picking up no noise or interference has no real advantage over balanced XLR!

Did you mean to say "no real disadvantage"?

 

[David Sydney]

Yes sorry, got my perspectives mixed up. Yes balanced XLR has no advantage over RCA over short distances if you don't have audible interference.

 

[jed1]

There is one clear advantage with XLR. The plug / jack is heavier duty and it has a locking mechanism. When multiple components are crammed into a rack / cabinet, I appreciate good mechanical connections.