SymbiLink Balanced Inputs?

[R05Nismo 10+ year member]

I just got 2 Zapco Reference amps and they have SymbiLink Balanced inputs. I read alittle bit about it but could someone explain to me the difference from RCA's and if I should buy the SymbiLink cables or just use RCA's. Not sure if it matters but H/U is an Eclipse 5V.

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[R05Nismo 10+ year member]

someone has to know something about these...

 

[Ge0 10+ year member]

I assume your Reference amplifiers are the models that DO have RCA inputs. Otherwise you would not be asking this question. Some of their amps, like the ones I use, only have balanced inputs.

In my opinion, go with standard RCAs at first. It's much cheaper. If you find you have noise issues you can't overcome, THEN, try the Symbilink balanced solution.

Ge0

 

[Ge0 10+ year member]

I see you are in PA. If you are anywhere near Jasons shop http://www.audioriginals.com/ it may be worth contacting him. He is pretty darn good with Zapco equipment.

Ge0

 

[R05Nismo 10+ year member]

yes they have rca inputs also, so if I dont have any noise issues with rca's there is no other benifit of the symbilink cables?

 

[R05Nismo 10+ year member]

I see you are in PA. If you are anywhere near Jasons shop http://www.audioriginals.com/ it may be worth contacting him. He is pretty darn good with Zapco equipment.
Ge0

Thanks i'll check it out.. I need a good place in PA for car audio.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

yes they have rca inputs also, so if I dont have any noise issues with rca's there is no other benifit of the symbilink cables?

Nope.

Symbilink or any other balanced system's benefit is in noise rejection and potentially lowering of the noise floor. If you have no noise issues with regular RCA's, you'll gain nothing by going with the balanced system (Symbilink in this case).

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

must be a new marketing thing...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[onegr8greekguy 10+ year member]

Another thing to consider,

If you are planning on using the zapco line drivers in your system, the benefit in using symbilink cables is that they not only carry signal to your amps but also power and ground for the line drivers.

Not a huge deal but it does allow you to use less wires overall and allows for a cleaner install.

 

[R05Nismo 10+ year member]

Another thing to consider,
If you are planning on using the zapco line drivers in your system, the benefit in using symbilink cables is that they not only carry signal to your amps but also power and ground for the line drivers.

Not a huge deal but it does allow you to use less wires overall and allows for a cleaner install.

Would the line driver be needed with the 5V pre amp?

 

[onegr8greekguy 10+ year member]

Personally, I think that it's a good idea. Instead of getting 5v input, you'd get up to 16 (I'd have to double check that value but at any rate, it would be greater than h/u alone).

Greater input strength yields cleaner sound. Keep in mind though that the line drivers arn't cheap and buying used can be a challenge because they are relatively rare.

Something to consider anyway.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Personally, I think that it's a good idea. Instead of getting 5v input, you'd get up to 16 (I'd have to double check that value but at any rate, it would be greater than h/u alone).
Greater input strength yields cleaner sound. Keep in mind though that the line drivers arn't cheap and buying used can be a challenge because they are relatively rare.

Something to consider anyway.

cleaner sound if there is no noise. all you are doing is affording the possibility of turning the gains down...

 

[R05Nismo 10+ year member]

Personally, I think that it's a good idea. Instead of getting 5v input, you'd get up to 16 (I'd have to double check that value but at any rate, it would be greater than h/u alone).
Greater input strength yields cleaner sound. Keep in mind though that the line drivers arn't cheap and buying used can be a challenge because they are relatively rare.

Something to consider anyway.

Each amp came with the Adjustable Symbilink Transmitter so I would just need the cables which I seen for $40. Is the transmitter the line driver?

 

[onegr8greekguy 10+ year member]

yes sir the transmitter you are talking about is the line driver. the transmitter has a switch on it that lets you select something like 0, 6 and 12 db.

Kinda makes sense though. You want to 'boost' the line voltage at the source for the trip through your car, all the way to the amps mounted on the other end. And yes, you can keep the amps gains turned right down. The gains on my c2ks are actually full counter clockwise.

The line drivers and symbilink won't do a thing for you if you've got crappy amp and h/u grounds. They arn't magic but there is some benefit to using them.

It's just a matter of justifying the $$. Some guys buy ultra expensive RCA's too. IS there a benefit??? They think so.

Personally, I really like my symbalink and line drivers.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Greater input strength yields cleaner sound.

If he has no noise with a lower voltage unbalanced system (i.e. RCA's), he will gain nothing by going with Symbilink or a line driver/higher voltage. The higher voltage potentially lowers the noise floor and increases SNR.....but if it's already at inaudible levels, then the net result is a lot of $$ spent for zero audible benefit.

Again; It's all about noise. If you have none using RCA's, then call it a day as you will not improve upon it in any way with Symbilink or a line driver.