Hey..So i got a pair of monitors and I want to hook them to my comp. My audio card has RCA connections and RCA is unbalanced, correct? The monitors can use balanced XLR cables or balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS cables. Now, is the unbalanced form of TRS cables called TS? And would i be able to hook up a TS cable to my monitor, then use a cable that goes from 1/4" to RCA and finally hook up to my sound card with no problems and with same sound quality if using straight TRS or XLR?


Thanks



Later

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uuummmmmmm.......English dude ......like if you were to break it down some one might be able to help you just a tip

Well, TRS is just like a 1/4" phone jack but balanced and TS is the unbalanced form of TRS, if I am correct. And XLR is just another type of balanced cable for pro audio gear.

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So...Can anyone help me with my question.....Lol..I need to get off these forums...

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quote:

Originally posted by Substance Hey..So i got a pair of monitors and I want to hook them to my comp. My audio card has RCA connections and RCA is unbalanced, correct? The monitors can use balanced XLR cables or balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS cables. Now, is the unbalanced form of TRS cables called TS? And would i be able to hook up a TS cable to my monitor, then use a cable that goes from 1/4" to RCA and finally hook up to my sound card with no problems and with same sound quality if using straight TRS or XLR? Thanks Later

in theory it should work
although if anything i would run the speakers through an amp first
that way you'll know they'll work properly
i don't think a sound card is capable of putting out a strong enough signal by itself to run monitors
unless they are powered

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The monitors are bi-amped so I don't have to run them through an amp.. Thanks

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If you are just using an adapter to convert the RCA to the TSR (1/4 or 1/8, should be the same idea in theory) then you can bring it right into your soundcard (as long as you have it the right type for the soundcard's input, usually 1/8). Then the soundcard output goes to either a set of powered speakers or through an amp before going to speakers.

Ok, thanks. I wasn't sure if it was that simple because I'd be going to balanced connection from an unbalanced connection.

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Check radioshack, they carry most types of audio adapters.

Okay, first off, TRS stands for tip, ring sleeve. If you look at the male end of the headphone jack, you will see first a tip on the conncetion, then a black ring or two and then the rest of the plug(sleeve). The rings are the important part. One ring means that the device connected to the plug will output a mono signal. Two rings mean that the output will be stereo.

As for the balanced/unbalanced part goes. I believe, though am unsure if this is correct, that balanced/unbalanced refers to the sound volume output for each of the left and right stereo channels. If a TRS output will stereo with two rings and will produce an unbalanced output(since the two channels are segregated) then it would make sense for the TS (if that is what the cable is called--since it has only one ring) which has a mono out will in essence, only need one channel anyway, so it has to be balanced because only one volume level occurs.

I hope that I didn't confuse you more, and I hope that this answers your question.

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all you need is a mono 1/4" to RCA cable, or adapter.

BUT, make sure the 1/4" end has ONLY the tip and sleeve, not the ring. the tip is just that, the tip of the plug. the sleeve is the contact at the base of the 1/4" plug. TRS jacks (which are basically 3 contact stereo 1/4" jacks, like for a headphone) use the ring (center contact) to form a balanced circuit. shorting the sleeve and ring form an unbalanced circuit, which is exactly what the 2-contact mono 1/4" jack does for you.

so, you just use a 2 contact 1/4" plug if you want unbalanced.. with an RCA plug on the other end.

i fecking hate 1/4" TRS connections.. i hav been after a good quality 1/4" TRS to Jack Cable for sooooooo long. I still havnt found a place to get one, and i hav an unbelievable amount of Hi-Fi stores at my disposle. If anyone no's where i mite find one pls feel free to post