XLR+RCA doesn't mean the same voltage through both outputs, but signal through both outputs simultaneously (4.2V xlr and 2.1V rca)
This is the point, he's saying that when he selects Analog RCA the RCA volume is - say - 2.1V, and when selecting XLR/RCA the same RCAs are higher in voltage (not saying it's exactly 4.2, but could be...) And this is very weird to me... shall we ask @mirror for comments?
I know that. You know that. Almost everybody knows that. The question remains, though, according to the OP...
He should check the volume levels first. When he switches between xlr and xlr+rca outputs the volume level on each output can be different. Maybe he decreased the volume level while using the "xlr" output and then switched to the xlr+rca output where the volume level was higher ("startup volume" setting?).
It was volume matched, had them both set to -40 In the end I did a factory reset of the A8 and now using RCA both 'Analog-RCA' and 'XLR/RCA' have the same volume.
hello. I need help. I'm not sure what I'm doing I am using myA8 as a dac/preamp. id like to run a 2.2 system. my mono blocks are using the rca...they're not balanced. can I run each sub using the xlr, to sub high pass rca, via a xlr to rca cable? thanks in advance for any help.
That doesn't look like a XLR to RCA cable to me... moreover the RCA plugs have the standard white (left) and red (right) channel color codes... Anyway, with the right (not right as in left/right, but right as in right/wrong) cable you can. Your subs would need to do lowpass for themselves, of course, and your monoblocks will receive the full frequency range as your subs. Do not hi-pass in the 8, as you will end up with no content for the subs (as XLR and RCA are not separated outputs, just the same output circuitry with balanced/unbalanced rails) Do not low-pass in the A8 as you will end up with no content for your monoblocks for the same reason as above.