TRS to RCA cable?

Riaan

Hope the recording experts can advise: I don't have powered monitors at the moment, but I have a Pioneer Hi-Fi amp and a set of Infinity speakers, which will have to do as "monitors" for the time being. I need to connect my Edirol FA66 to this. The Edirol has six outputs, some of which I believe are balanced TRS outputs.

So my first question: does "balanced" TRS means that it carries stereo, in other words I use one of these only to go to the hi-fi amp? So I don't need to use one output each for left and right?

Secondly, my hi-fi amp has left and right RCA inputs for CD, phono and tuner. I would need to take the TRS output to one of these (I guess CD is the best?) - is there such a thing as a TRS to RCA cable? Where can I get this?

Neps

Riaan, on the 1st question regarding balanced.. Nope, balanced does not mean stereo. It uses a 'stereo' jack, but it is in no means a stereo signal. All balanced is, is a cable with a + (hot), -(cold), and earth cable. A balanced TRS is the same as a balanced XLR, it's just the plug that differs.

So, you'll still need 2 outputs to your amp.

2nd. You can make your own TRS to RCA cable. You can even use unbalanced jacks to RCA, which should work fine. I've done that many times without a problem. But make sure your system is earthed, and you dont share a plug point with a fridge or something like that.

CD & Tuner on the amp wil be fine. Dont use the Phono connection. On some amps the phono connection is a RCA connection, but the inputs are deigned spesificaly for Vinyl outputs.

Riaan

Thanks Neps! So it's one of the Edirol's outputs to left, and one to right, each with it's own TRS to RCA cable. I'll make my own cables then, I see that the Edirol's outputs support balanced and unbalanced plugs. What exactly does "hot" and "cold" mean, is that positive and negative?

Neps

Jip, Hot is positive, and Cold is negative. Trust us audio blokes to have weird and wonderfull descriptions for gear and terminology.

AlanRatcliffe

Balanced lines are cool. I don't buy anything without them anymore.

Riaan

I made my own cable last night...a temporary job just to see if it works: beautiful stereo sound! I used an unbalanced jackplug from an old guitar cable and connected it to a RCA plug. However, I found this on the net this morning and ordered two. Looks like quite a nifty little plug that will eliminate soldering and destruction of more guitar cables.

Neps

Riaan, you can get those plugs at Hi-Fi corp or any store with RCA cables.. work like a charm, i just found though that if you disconect them quite a few times they start loosing signal. as if the metal starts corroding. but then again i bought a bunch of cheap ones.

deanBailey

You could buy those at your nearest music store for 5 bucks +/- ?

EDIT: lol Worcester...um..maybe my nearest music store

Riaan

EDIT: lol Worcester...um..maybe my nearest music store

Exactly....there are many benefits to life in the platteland but variety of choice of products and services is not one of them...I ordered these from an electronics store in Cape Town. It saves me having to drive all the way for just two plugs.