confused about balanced input amps

husker77
10+ year member

CarAudio.com Elite
I am thinking about getting a different amp for my subs, my deck has balanced outputs so I thought I would get an amp that can accept them instead of using my balanced line adapter. Problem is the amps I see with balanced input use some special cable, my deck has 6 rca outputs, 2 rca's each for high, mids and subs(or front, back and subs depending on how you set it up). So are there amps that would accept balanced rca inputs?

 
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I am thinking about getting a different amp for my subs, my deck has balanced outputs so I thought get an amp that can accept them instead of using my balanced line adapter. Problem is the amps I see with balanced input use some special cable, my deck has 6 rca outputs, 2 rca's each for high, mids and subs(or front, back and subs depending on how you set it up). So are there amps that would accept balanced rca inputs?
you got me there bud.....I would recommend running your RCA's down the opposite side of the car from the power wire , thus helping to keep electrical interference to a minimum. In anything shorter than a school bus, a balanced signal is unnecessary anyways due to the short lengths of wire run required on each output. It won't hurt a bit to run to any amp's RCA, as long as the voltage levels can be matched (amp gain), just don't tell nobody and they won't know if they are balanced or not.

 
In anything shorter than a school bus, a balanced signal is unnecessary anyways due to the short lengths of wire run required on each output. It won't hurt a bit to run to any amp's RCA, as long as the voltage levels can be matched (amp gain), just don't tell nobody and they won't know if they are balanced or not.
lulz were had.

love it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fro.gif.c695f1f814b01c4ad99fe7f8cccadd29.gif

 
eclipse cd8053.

So no one knows of any amps current or discontinued that had balanced inputs that used 2 sets of rca's? I can still always use the bla but so it's not that big of deal just thought if I was looking to see what I could find.

 
eclipse cd8053.
So no one knows of any amps current or discontinued that had balanced inputs that used 2 sets of rca's? I can still always use the bla but so it's not that big of deal just thought if I was looking to see what I could find.
Ah, yes...cool head..You scared me when you said you wanted an amp with balanced rca inputs....it ain't happinin. BUT there is a Differential Balanced RCA Input...kind of a marketing thing, if you ask me, kinda like the "Balanced RCA" outs on you deck...there are several amps out there with "differential balanced" inputs.

WoofersEtc.com - Q 1200.1 - Image Dynamics 1-Channel 1200 Watt Amplifier

I would nor worry too much though, with 8v outs, you can dang near drive any amp out there with minimal gain adjustment... might try twisted RCA's and careful wiring if you are worried about interference

 
eclipse cd8053.
So no one knows of any amps current or discontinued that had balanced inputs that used 2 sets of rca's? I can still always use the bla but so it's not that big of deal just thought if I was looking to see what I could find.
Maybe I am just not seeing the whole picture. You are looking for a sub amp. As you described earlier, you have 6 rca outs. 2 for front, 2 for rear and 2 for sub...let's see ..2+2+2= 8, i mean 6, right? Now you are saying you want a sub amp that has 2 sets of Balanced rca inputs?

I am sorry, but I missed the one that had L+R+L+R rca inputs when I was growing up...sounds like another Japanese trick. I did use Zapco and their system at one time...a true balanced line system with those crazy connectors you mentioned earlier.

 
I have same hu. From my understanding you use a y adaptor and connect pos and neg together for each one.

 

---------- Post added at 03:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 AM ----------

 

It will give you 16v outs :0

 
I have the balanced line adapter, so hooking up to amps is no problem. I don't know that it was a marketing gimmick, overkill or unnecessary, maybe? But what really is not in this hobby?

@rebelfromva, I'm not sure that's right, I thought you just used one set of rca's if you don't have the bla, but I could be wrong(I usually am, just ask my wife).

Like I said it was more the fact if I'm going to get a new/different amp then why not see if they make one that works with my hu's outputs. I know they used to make a few, but I haven't found any yet. Plus I'm looking for the 6k-10k range.
 
I am thinking about getting a different amp for my subs, my deck has balanced outputs so I thought I would get an amp that can accept them instead of using my balanced line adapter. Problem is the amps I see with balanced input use some special cable, my deck has 6 rca outputs, 2 rca's each for high, mids and subs(or front, back and subs depending on how you set it up). So are there amps that would accept balanced rca inputs?
Like someone else said, 8v for the unbalanced output would probably be high enough to possibly not even notice a difference. From what I've seen most amps don't have balanced inputs. I had a Zapco that did. The soundstream Reference series does. I'm guessing that amps that cost over $6,000 probably will as well.

 
[quote name='husker77']I have the balanced line adapter, so hooking up to amps is no problem. I don't know that it was a marketing gimmick, overkill or unnecessary, maybe? But what really is not in this hobby?

@rebelfromva, I'm not sure that's right, I thought you just used one set of rca's if you don't have the bla, but I could be wrong(I usually am, just ask my wife).

Like I said it was more the fact if I'm going to get a new/different amp then why not see if they make one that works with my hu's outputs. I know they used to make a few, but I haven't found any yet. Plus I'm looking for the 6k-10k range.[/QUOTE]

some companies like SS , Zapco and HiFonics ie:( Maxximus) do state that their rca inputs are unbalanced on many of their amps..as i'd say most are unbalanced. The Kicker ZX advertises differential balanced inputs, but I don't know about the Warhorse. You really should get someone like @TaylorFade to help answer your question. TaylorFade recently ran a comparison on a few amp brands that might meet your requirements...and offer better advice on the input sections of those amps....Good luck!
http://www.caraudio.com/forums/general-discussion/548814-new-b2-audio-zero5-versus.html#post8058346
 
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I would recommend running your RCA's down the opposite side of the car from the power wire , thus helping to keep electrical interference to a minimum. In anything shorter than a school bus, a balanced signal is unnecessary anyways due to the short lengths of wire run required on each output..
That dosen't work... and I dissagree that a balanced signal isn't necassary because of a short run... if that were true we wouldn't have to worry about noise in a car audio install to begin with...

Just so everyone is on the same page if your amp or deck are differentially balanced then the signal ground is 'floating' and is isolated from power ground.. ideally both amp deck would be balanced, but if only one or the other is it should still be enough to prevent induced noise... in otherwords if you don't have any noise issues now, I wouldnt worry too much about it OP...

Most amps only amplify what is on the +'ve RCA wire and just use the ground as a referance...

 
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