I have a DJM350 (only has RCA outs) and have recently bought a pair of KRK Rokit 6’s which offer all kinds of inputs. Basically where before I could run to my amp and then speaker wire to un-powered speakers I am now going straight from my mixer to the KRKs.
I currently have my KRKs within a 1m distance from the mixer due to the restriction of my current RCAs but want to increase this distance to around 2/3m and want to know if I you guys think I should buy 3m RCAs or get some RCA to XLR connectors (/converters).
You won’t get anything with RCA to XLR cables (google difference between balanced and unbalanced connections to better understand the problem).
Get yourself good quality RCA cables and you are good up to 10m distance
I’m aware a cable won’t convert this to a balanced output, I should have asked how much the signal would deteriorate through an RCA over 1m but you’ve answered that, cheers!
For home installations - do we REALLY need to worry about balanced/unbalanced cables? I don’t think it’s a problem for the vast majority of us here.
My speakers are about a metre away (each) from my mixer (and amp), and I use a combination of RCA to XLR (simply 'cos I came up on some really nice cables for cheap!), RCA to 1/4 Jack, and RCA to RCA, of various quality…
So, I suppose my question is (specifically for home installations), IS THERE REALLY a noticeable drop in quality when using unbalanced cables?
Maybe, when you try to connect your whole home with every room to a sound system.
BUT, the distances and interferences in a simple living room or bed room are not so big. So you won´t take advantage of a balanced setup. Up to 15m should be no problem with one good RCA cable. Using different adapters (without any use) or expansion connectors will decrease the quality of your signal more than any interferences in your room.
Balanced outputs become relevant when your signal has a long way (more than 20m to the amp).
@Truckie:
Buy some good 5m RCA cables and you are fine.
what he said. ^^
but still, If I have a mixer with balanced XLR/TRS outputs and speakers with balanced inputs, I would use them even if it’s just 2-5m.
You’ll change apartments, bring your gear to a friend’s place and eventually you could be in a place where better (shielded, balanced) cables will mean the difference between enjoying a jam session and having noise in the speakers (and spending time unplugging gear to find the source).
XLR are more durable (will last you longer) and if you purchase a short set of them (5m best) you can easily extend them later with another cable without a need to buy a adapter (if anyone else has been in a situation where you have 2 sets of RCA cables with male plugs and no adapter at hand - you’ll understand).
