MSB Premier DAC to Naim NAC 552 connection

Hi-Fi Corner
1

I just received my MSB Premier DAC with Digital Director, I am connecting the two analog XLR outputs of the MSB DAC to my Naim NAC 552 RCA inputs. I would love to explore the possiblity of using the DIN inputs, for that I would need a custom XLR to DIN cable (both XLR analog outputs to one 5-pin DIN connector). Would this work?

The reason I am trying to do this is to avoid the RCA downsides (if any), which I read in the following post: Why Naim use DIN Connectors - Frequently Asked Questions - Naim Audio - Community

2

You would need MSB’s transformer adapters to RCA, the 552 is single ended only. Then any RCA to 5-Pin Din 180° cable would do.

1 Like
3

I doubt this would offer any improvement in sound quality, probably the contrary… I was unsure if the XLR analogue outputs can be converted to DIN but I guess not.

4

Chord company can make a custom cable for me, would it technically be possible to have a cable with a 5-pin DIN at one end and two XLRs at the other end for the analog connection (MSB Premier DAC output to NAC input)?

5

The cable can be build, but the XLR output of the MSB Premier DAC is balanced while the inputs of the 552 are single ended, so there will be an electrical mismatch. Your only real option is getting the MSB transformer adapters to convert the XLR balanced output to single ended RCA.

6

ok, that is what I was not sure off. The RCA transformers are again putting the RCA in the signal path which I was hoping to avoid. I guess I am stuck with XLR-RCA to NAC then.