RCA to TRS cable use on monitors

[digimixa]

I have a Focusrite Saffire 6 USB. I am connecting the Saffire to a pair of Rokit RP5 G2 monitors. Rather than going TRS from the Saffire and TRS into the RP5s (because my leads aren't properly shielded and cause a hum on the monitors), I have some TRS to RCA cables, so I want to go TRS from the Saffire and RCA into the RP5s. This seems to work fine and I don't get any hum or hiss, but my only concern is that the TRS outputs from the Saffire are unbalanced and the RCA inputs on the RP5s are balanced. Is there any problem doing this?

Thanks.

[divonic]

Probably not an issue.

I'm pretty sure you got it backwards. The outputs on the Saffire are balanced while the RCA inputs on the KRKs are not balanced.

http://www.audiostore-ks.com/wp-content ... 3e5a2c.jpg
http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio ... fications/

you should get TRS to balanced (3 pin) XLR cables. that way you can go from the balanced outputs of the saffire to the balanced inputs of the KRK.

Also TRS is sometimes confusing. See the picture below



TRS (the top jack in the picture) stands for Tip(3), Ring(2), Sleeve(1). You get two signals: tip and ring and a ground: sleeve. if the signals are the same (but one inverted) it is a balanced cable if they are different it is a stereo cable (best I can tell the cable is the same just what you plug it into makes the difference)

TS (the bottom jack in the picture) stand for Tip(3), Sleeve(1). one signal and a ground. If you plug this into a ballanced output it sends the inverted signal to ground. this is a MONO cable.

(4) are the insulating rings. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector

I doubt that you had a TRS to RCA cable. more likely TS to RCA.

[digimixa]

Thanks for the reply divonic you have explained this very well. Yes you are right I made a mistake, the outputs on the Saffire are balanced while the RCA inputs on the KRKs are not balanced. I will do as you suggest and get some TRS to XLR cables. Thanks again for your help.

[fishmonkey]

if you don't have any noticeable interference running unbalanced, then you probably won't be able to tell a difference even if you do run proper balanced cables. however A/B it and find out for yourself.