Thanks Jan
This is the RME ADI-2 DAC FS and this model has both balanced & unbalanced outputs.
When I hooked up the dac remotely (away from the Naim setup) to the active Focal Alpha 50’s in my lower level studio commputer workstation the sound was definitely cleaner with XLR vs the RCA cables which were quite ‘hissy’ - enough to be distracting at nearfield monitor distance. Perhaps this was a ground loop in effect ? In this case anyway, the el cheapo $15 Balanced XLR cables definitely outperformed the $200 Unbalanced RCAs by a long shot.
This difference led me to my original question - wondering if it might be worth exploring a hypothetically cleaner sounding XLR hybrid connection from the RME to the Naim system in order to free up the single pair of rca inputs on the NAIT 3 integrated amp for a secondary dac that I could just leave connected at that location … but overwhelming advice (kindly offered) from members on the forum is to stick with unbalanced RCA lines into the NAIT3 and not overly complicate things.
So I will heed the sound advice offered & install the RME w/ RCAs with the Naim system and as a consolation, I’ll just need to pick another balanced DAC to keep me company in my studio (!)
The RME certainly has brought our much loved naim system from the early 90’s back to life - w/ MacOS + Audirvana 3.5.44 fed from a NAS system it really does sound good. Our poor old naim cd player doesn’t see much action these days of course.
Thanks Jan for the heads up on the ‘dc-coupling’ and I have highlighted that section in my manual for future reference.
I have a power conditioners installed at both hifi rack and studio, and with the RME ADI-2 DAC >>> RCA >>> NAIT 3 configured upstairs (at the Naim hifi location) there is not the same noticeable ‘hiss’ that there was downstairs with the active monitors and rca connections (same AQ RR cables) - so have hopefully avoided any glaring ground loop issues on that upper circuit where the RME DAC will now be kept.