Can Argon MK3 with balanced jack mod run on unblanced Amp/DAC?

Headphones Headphone Discussion / Help
41

Bottom line, do not run an unbalanced cable to a balanced port… you will run a very high severe risk to the equipment… this is common knowledge and should be taken seriously so that you don’t cause yourself problems in the future…

You also cannot just plug an adapter onto an unbalanced cable to make it balanced… the cable itself must be wired correctly with a balanced termination.

Balanced cables however can make use of an unbalanced adapter to plug into unbalanced ports and will work fine.

OP does not need to refund a balanced jack as long as he gets an adapter for it if he plans to use it on an unbalanced amp dac… you won’t run into issues… just make sure you have the proper adapter is all. As long as your not trying to go from unbalanced → balanced your fine… but balanced cable → unbalanced adapter → unbalanced port works just fine

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42

Part of it is also the spatial reproduction on their stuff, much flatter than for example the RNHP

43

You are talking double the price (270 SH-9 vs 530 RNHP) so of course I expect it to be better.
But compared to things in it’s price rang it ain’t that bad. it’s not the widest but the imaging is on.

44

I don’t actually know if the 3.5mm cable provided is balanced. I dont think it is, he just replaces it with a 3.5mm v moda cable. Can I use balanced headphone with an unbalanced lead into an unbalanced amp?

45

True, I should’ve probably said the A3 :sweat_smile:

46

since its the argons here… if you ordered them balanced then the cable should come balanced as well. I would find out to be sure… but since you ordered it balanced… all you need is a balanced cable(which should come with it in this case) and an unbalanced adapter… which those are quite cheap honestly. As long as you have an adapter that converts it over to unbalanced your fine to plug it into an unbalanced amplifier it will not cause you any issues.

if you mean can you use a balanced headphone with an unbalanced cable then the answer is no as you no longer have the correct wiring and it could cause issues.

47

But I can use my balanced headphones with a balanced cable into an unbalanced amp?

48

Using an adapter

49

yep, will work just fine. As said above though… -only- attempt this provided you have an unbalanced adapter attached to the balanced cable… plugging a balanced cable into an unbalanced port without an adapter could cause severe damage or even break a unit

to help explain it would go like this

Argon mk3 → Balanced cable → unbalanced adapter → unbalanced amplifier port

what will not work

argon → balanced cable → unbalanced amp port

balanced Argon → unbalanced cabling

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51

Thank you very much.

52

A minor correction. Yes, the XI Audio Broadway is balanced only, but they also make the Broadway S which is single ended only and about half the power.

53

Something like this for a balanced out from a balanced amp

And this to adapt to an unbalanced out from an amp that either has both outputs or is unbalanced only

54

I’m not sure, there’s the 99USD Atom/Heresy, 199USD Magnius and Geshelli Erish and the 249USD Element. I find the THX stuff severely lacks dynamics and microdetails compared to these similarly clean sounding amps

55

Ive used Liquid Spark in the UK and had no problem

56

Might be too late but here is a photo of the Liquid Spark power supply. Supports up to 240v

image
image3024×4032 2.85 MB

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