It seems that us humans like to make everything more complicated than it needs to be.

I have a Pioneer receiver that has RCA pre-out's

I have an Anthem MCA5 that has both RCA and XLR inputs

I now have a DSP that has to go between those two units that also has RCA and XLR inputs/outputs


General rule of thumb for audio is that 16AWG wire would be better than 22AWG wire. (Thicker must be better). XLR runs two wires and seems to be better at no hummmmmmmm but costs more.

I don't believe that RCA cables made from that $300 unobtainium sound remarkably any different than a well made $6 RCA cable from monoprice.

I can buy an RG6 (18AWG core) RCA cable for $6 for a 6' cable.
I can buy an RCA to XLR (16AWG core) cable for $9 for a 6' cable. an XLR m/f cable is about $10

Sadly they are all out of 3' cables..

So I can spend that extra $40 for XLR connectors that won't come loose or fall off, but will they sound any better? or just be another thing to go wrong?


Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5