Hi,
I have a dCS Bartok + Diablo 300, with Dynaudio Contour 30 speakers.
Any of you have any idea if the Bartók have really balanced XLR input?
And the Diablo 300 is really balanced?
I know that if one of the 2 components is not a true balanced one it is better to use RCA cables.
Which cables do you recommend?
I am reviewing all wiring from scratch and i don’t know what to choose.
I just sold a pair of Audioquest Earth RCAs that were not bad.
I have a great separation of the instruments, a lot of depth, and a good width of the scene.
But I would like the music to come towards me too, fill the room and touch me.
What you are looking for shall not come from a pair of cable…but a possible choice is Transparent reference balanced XLR…I am pretty happy with that cable…
But has anyone here ever said if the Bartók is really balanced?
As far as I know, if it is only achieved with one processor, without having 2 distinct circuits for each channel, it is better to prefer RCA.
I should ask the Gryphon folks if their Diablo 300 is better to use with RCA or XLR and if it is preferable to use 2v or 6v.
Do you know if the Bartók sounds better with 2v or 6v? I didn’t notice big differences, maybe I prefer 6 volts.
I read here about people satisfied with Nordost’s Tyr2. I asked a friend to let me try them, see you soon. While I don’t know anyone who has Trasparent. The Siltech Classic Legend 680 also intrigue me.
The Bartók does not have balanced inputs, but balanced outputs.
The input sensitivity of the Diablo 300 is 0,617V, so it is best to output your Bartók at 2V, if you connect it directly to the Diablo without a preamp. Which you do, of course, because the Diablo 300 is an integrated amp.
Lele80 , you have effectively asked this question already in another post.
I know English can be a tricky language for non-native speakers but you refer to input in regard to Bartok’s connectivity to Diablo. However it is a balanced output that you mean. @Anupc has answered this in his response to your other question.
Yes, Bartok is truly balanced and I would be confident given the reputation of The Gryphon that Diablo that its balanced inputs are also truly balanced.
Sorry I created a double post because in one I only ask for the technical specification of the Bartók. While in this I ask for a general opinion on the whole system. Forgive if I make writing mistakes. In the Diablo 300 manual it says that it accepts pre signals up to 6v. Why do you say 0.617v?
Somewhere I had read that the Diablo 120 doesn’t have true balanced inputs. I don’t know if the 300 is different.
My whole system is Iconoclast. I’ve met the designer he is an impressive guy an audiophile and cable engineer. His cables are absolutely fantastic. The prices are fantastic too and they offer really simple return policies in North America if you aren’t satisfied. Not sure about the rest of the world. You can find indepth reviews at Audiobacon.
I have bartok + diablo 300 and magico A3.
I am using siltech classic anniversary line 770 full loom, xlr, sc and pc.
They’re very neutral, dynamic, organic and balanced cables.
Don’t mix brands for cables, go for one and get all the cables the same brand. The siltech power cords are good enough for this setup.
For the voltage I find 2v works best for me.
For the power, if you can try to put a dedicated line, one for the bartok and one for the diablo.
It makes a huuuuge difference, better than any cable.
In a few weeks they should send me some Siltech Classic Legend 680 to test.
I hope they send me the whole set, power, signal and speaker cables.
I should also be able to try a friend’s full Nordost, it has Tyr2 XLR signal and speaker cables, and Frey power.
What kind of connection did you prefer? RCA or XLR?
Other friends have done various tests with various electronics and have always preferred RCA.
A few days ago with Holo Spring 3 kitsune + Diablo 120, same cable in RCA and XLR version they preferred RCA (they know it was more musical).
I will try some “Faber’s cable”, model: Quinto Element, from an Italian manufacturer, his power cables are phenomenal. Currently I have his Level 3.
I’m very curious to hear Tiglons cables, maybe I organize a test.
Finally, I’ve heard of Shunyata as arguably the best power cord manufacturer (but I’m not sure if that’s true).
Using Bartok does not provide such a simple 1:1 comparison of RCA v. XLR connection. Most audio electronics derive the single ended RCA output by using one half of the differential circuit used to provide balanced connection. That is why the voltage output of balanced is then exactly double that of the singe ended connection.
All dCS DACS are different to the above in that they use completely different circuits of different designs for RCA or XLR connection. The single ended ( RCA) connection is OP amp based and the Balanced (XLR) one is fully discrete. Both are as good as you get but I have never read of anyone preferring the RCA output if they can use the dCS balanced output into a proper balanced input.
Single ended v. balanced is always a question of implementation rather than theory and it is always worth trying both and making up your own mind. IMO Some components are fundamentally single ended designs where a balanced option has been added for marketing rather than engineering reasons. They will tend to sound better if used single ended. Others have been conceived as balanced designs from the beginning but have single ended outputs added as not everyone has balanced equipment to connect them to. Those designs tend to offer better sound from balanced connections. This consideration applies both to the source component and to the amplifying component that it is connected to.
I haven’t tried RCA vs XLR under the assumption that XLR > RCA, let me know if you try it yourself.
As for the cables, I just tried Siltech in this system, I’m quite happy with it, I don’t feel like the cables are restraining or colouring anything.
I was initially between Siltech and Shunyata but being in Europe, the similar line of cables from Shunyata would have cost double the price of the Siltech.
About the new classic legend line, I haven’t tried them myself but my dealer told me that they were more extended in the high’s and low’s and could give a sense of a less organic medium vs the classic anniversary. I’d still like to try them myself at some point.
About Shunyata being good cables, I have no doubt, but they specialise in their noise reduction technology. So in my eyes, it is treating a problem. I decided to go one step further and eliminate the problem by installing dedicated lines.
Before you look at any cables, you should really look into this possibility if you have the chance.
The cost is relatively modest and the results are more than worth it. It is not the same system plugged on another outlet. It is really a huge difference. Completely noise free and huge dynamics.
IMO it is the first thing that should be addressed in a HIFI system before anything else.
After months living with my system now, the biggest yields have been obtained by optimising the power at different places.
Also, if your system is new, expect 5/600 hours before you can make any valuable evaluation.
It will be impossible to objectively compare cables before you have reached that point.
Let me know if you’re interested about more tips and my experience optimising this system and if you need more details about the dedicated lines.
Thanks for your experience.
Not being able to install a dedicated line,
I have recently had new 10 sq mm cables installed which reach the apartment from the meter. In the apartment I have a circuit breaker dedicated to the system with a new dedicated line of 2.5 sq mm. If I want, I can turn off the whole house and leave only the system line switch on. From the tests carried out by turning off everything, fortunately, I do not notice substantial differences. The voltage in the evening is constant at 230v during the day it never drops below 220v. So I would say that I can count myself lucky in terms of the power line. But I’ll do other tests.
io sto utilizzando cavi di alimentazione Valhalla 1 e Tyr2 , di segnale Tyr2 rca , cavi diffusori Heimdall2 ,cavo coassiale Ansuz c1 per la meccanica cd e un Sablon ethernet dallo switch al Bartok
Hi, I haven’t been able to test the Siltechs yet, on the other hand I have on test these days in Nordost Tyr2 XLR and speaker cables. also I’m testing EtherRegen as well. At the end of the tests, I will write what I heard.
Hello,
Can you tell us how was the Nordost tyr2 XLR between the Bartok and the Gryphon ?
At the end, which cable did you chose ?
With XLR, do you still use 2V output, or do you finally prefer 0.6V output ?
Thank you by advance.
Tyler Durden
I had a full loom of TYR2 but my amp is a darTZeel 8550MKII. I Then went to Valhalla 2 and in my opinion the TYR2 is the best value for money, then the SQ improvement does not get in line with the price. I had an Odin power cord from the wall to the power block and i then was trying the Odin Gold and its crazy money. I try the top of the range of synergetic research SRX full loom with the SRX power filter its far better than the Odin Gold.
I use the XLR connection and in the past use 6V but its a matter of taste that i think most is psychological because you get lot more loud for the same volume but you just have to see if the power input of your pre or integrated amp allows the voltage.
Meanwhile I’ll do a post of my experience testing the Odin Gold Vs the Synergetic SRX.