3.5mm to xlr adaptor - does it make it balanced?

[johnr10]

Hi. If I have a 3.5mm mic (Shure VP83) and an external recorder with xlr - if I use an adaptor, does the signal benefit? Ie, does the unbalanced 3.5 signal become balanced over teh xlr cable? Or is it just passively letting me connect from one size connector to another? Thanks

 

[americanaudiophile]

It doesn't convert it to balanced. Just lets you connect the mic. You would need a transformer in or at the mic. If the recorder has an unbalance input it may sound better since the balanced input would be designed to accept a higher input than the mic can output. No harm in trying it.

 

[johnr10]

It doesn't convert it to balanced. Just lets you connect the mic. You would need a transformer in or at the mic. If the recorder has an unbalance input it may sound better since the balanced input would be designed to accept a higher input than the mic can output. No harm in trying it.

Thanks! From what I've read the XLR pre-amps are often better so it may improve the sound even if it's not balanced.