Why do most DACs come with RCA jacks they are inferior

[esldude]

1 hour ago, emcdade said:

Coincidentally, I saw this thread right before reading the June Stereophile.

 

Check out JA’s measurements of the Aqua Acoustic Formula xHD.  The balanced outputs measured like crap with noticeable distortion while the unbalanced were fine.  This on a $17,000 dac!

 

Side note:  completely over the hype of these NOS R2R DACs and the like.  If that’s what you like more power to you, but no thanks for me.  This one again was overly warm, bloomy, and lacking air.  

Haven't read the review.  Don't need to.  If any connection on a $17K DAC measures like crap then the DAC is an incompetent smoking pile of sh*t.  XLR isn't needed, but on the other hand designing good XLR devices isn't rocket science, and you eliminate many possible noise issues.  

[Ron Scubadiver]

The only thing balanced connections will do for you is eliminate noise picked up from using very long (25' plus) interconnects.

 

[GeneZ]

On 5/10/2018 at 2:34 AM, pas said:

FYI

 

https://www.shenzhenaudio.com/tempotec-fantasia-d-a-32bit-192khz-decoder-dac-external-usb-sound-card-head-amp.html

 

 

Look here...  That means?

 

System Requirement
Windows XP and XP2

[mansr]

4 minutes ago, GeneZ said:

Look here...  That means?

 

System Requirement
Windows XP and XP2

Windows XP2? Sounds like something exclusively available from street hawkers in Shenzhen. Genuine, of course.

[GeneZ]

Some XLR outputs with certain components are really unbalanced connectors in balanced clothing.  XLR circuitry must be "true balanced."  From what I understand, true balanced requires an arrangement of amplification having two opposite signals and a ground. Pseudo balanced connections (though an XLR socket) only provide a signal and a ground. 

 

True balanced cancels out noise by virtue of its design function.  Unbalanced shields out nose, but does not actively cancel noise per se.   From what I have been able to glean from articles.. that about sums it up.

[bobfa]

Something I read a while ago that might fit into this discussion.  There is even a section on Balanced cabling and systems.  It is worth the little time to read it.

 

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up.701900/page-1195#post_13349690