Europa and amp with balanced xlr input

[bassmannen]

Hi
I've got an Europa and my amp (http://www.ashdownmusic.co.uk/bass/detail.asp?ID=118) has a balanced input. Does anyone have an idea how I can get this to work together the best possible way?

[crgaston]

Welcome, Tor!
 
I am a teacher, too!
 
It looks like there is a regular line input as well, according to the picture, so you should be able to just plug into the 1/4 jack.  If you want to use the XLR input, then you would need a balancing transformer of some sort.  A regular direct box (DI) would work fine.
Let us know how it goes.
 
Charles

[bassmannen]

Thanks
Jepp, I know I could always use the jack input. But in the quest for The Tone, we do what we have to do. And I thought there migt be an improvement using the other input. Using a DI box would be the same as using the jack input. So what I need to do then, is having someone go bananas on my Europa with a soldering iron.... Wrap me in bacon and call me silly, but I don't see that happend. Not this week anyway.

[olieoliver]

I understand the advantage if you have a bass with a balanced output on it (either XLR or T/R/S) but wonder if this is lost using a direct box to plug into your amp.
I not sure I see the need for a balanced cable between your axe and amp unless you running a 40' (or longer)cable. Then you would need it to help with signal degradation. I mean it may be a little cleaner signal but I wonder if it would be noticeable.

[bassmannen]

Thanks
Jepp, I know I could always use the jack input. But in the quest for The Tone, we do what we have to do. And I thought there migt be an improvement using the other input. Using a DI box would be the same as using the jack input. So what I need to do then, is having someone go bananas on my Europa with a soldering iron.... Wrap me in bacon and call me silly, but I don't see that happend. Not this week anyway.

[bigredbass]

At normal guitar cable lengths (25' or shorter) I don't see any real advantage to an XLR/balanced cable vs. 1/4/unbalanced.  ALEMBIC electronics are dreadfully quiet to begin with, and coupled to a good custom cable (Bayou, etc.) or first-quality store-bought cable (Monster, Evidence, etc.), especially in a 12' or 15' length, you'd have as good a bass/amp connection as is possible.
 
J o e y

[dfung60]

Since your Alembic is low-impedance (even though unbalanced), you shouldn't see any cable degradation with longer (25'+) cables either!  That doesn't mean that you aren't better off using the shortest cable you can get.
 
Generating a balanced output from the bass would require a matching transformer on the bass end. Unless you're in an extremely high EMI/noise area, having your signal pass through two transformers (one on each end of the cable) isn't going to do you any good.
 
A good transformer for the bass end would be something like $80+connector (3-pin XLR).  I'm not sure there are actually transformers for going from low-impedance output to balanced though

[adriaan]

I've heard it maintained that you should have the lowest possible number of connectors in any signal chain, especially when running an unbalanced line.

[dfung60]

Fewer connectors (or connections for that matter) will always be better than more from a signal quality standpoint, but for audio signals like this, you don't need to go psycho.  Each connector introduces more opportunity for poor connections and more noise.  But well maintained connectors shouldn't present any signficant problem.
 
At high frequencies like radio signals (MHz+)connectors really are a big deal.  What happens there is that changes in conductivity (a dirty connector for example) can cause high frequency signals to reflect back down the cable.  The echoes cause distortion.  At audio frequencies this can still happen, but this is not something you can hear.