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Sorry, there just isn't any room on that chassis for the XLR jacks and transformers that would go with it.  

I will be making available our input transformers soon in a stand alone chassis, similar to our switch box that you could use to accomplish the same goal. 

It will feature XLR inputs feeding Jensen's best wide bandwidth transformers which will convert the output to single-ended RCA. The difference between this one and everything on the market is that this one will not be dropping the RCA output's voltage to the industry standard 2.0 Volts. Instead it will allow the full voltage of the balanced signal to be applied, be it 3.5 volts for consumer grade balanced, or 10 volts for pro grade balanced. The box will also feature a variable output level control that you can use to set the voltage anywhere from 0 to max. Using this approach, the dynamics and openness of the sound are simply spectacular. Something like this would work well with the Taboo MK3. Look for it sometime this fall. Not sure on the price yet, but it will be reasonable.

Steve

Rizlaw,

I got to hear Steve's prototype of the "magic box" as we called it, it's pretty slick - even more so now that I've read what Steve said above and have thought about it some more.

The box uses the same Jansen transformers that's on my Zen Mystery Amp. The transformer goes between the XLR input, and RCA output on the Magic Box.

What's cool, is that you get the higher voltage that the XLR output of your source supplies, but you can send that out to your preamp or directly to your amp. As Steve mentioned, there will be a volume knob to allow you to dial down that voltage to suit your next devices needs.

IMHO - the Jensen transformer seems to add some sparkle to the sound that makes everything running through it sound more *live*. Plus you get the added benefit of using the XLR cables for nice quiet long runs, galvanic isolation, *and* that added voltage you have from XLR conversion gives you more density to your sound (again IMHO). At least it does on Decware gear.  :)

The only drawback I see, is that you have to buy a short (preferably really short) RCA interconnect to go from the Magic Box to your device. Beyond that, it's all magic.

Here is a photo of the transformer on my ZMA - so you can imagine a box with two of these, that has XLR on one side, and RCA on the other, and a volume knob in the middle. Just think of it as a high end passive converter from XLR to RCA with a built in attenuation.  (because that's what it is! )

Yeah, we're only talking 10v, so it's not a big transformer. And the one Steve picked it really wide bandwidth. If I recall, it's flat to like 95Khz. you can see it's completely shielded, so it's really quiet and low distortion.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the finished product looks like. Steve was tying to talk me into getting one, but I'm saving up for a CSP3.  :)

Nice! Show pics when you get it! I'm curious what form factor it's going to come in...

I just came across this Jensen Transformers paper on the  "Interconnection of Balanced and Unbalanced Equipment". I thought it might be of interest to those considering Steve's "Magic Box" for use in their Decware unbalanced systems. I believe it shows the transformer Steve will be using in his "Magic Box".

Here's the link: http://www.jensen-transformers.com/an/an003.pdf

ToT,

Steve hasn't, as yet, made a sub-forum for the ZBIT. But I did post my initial impressions here:

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1415411351

P.S. Forgot to say, welcome to the Decware family.

This is an update to "Reply 8" above which provided a link to a Jensen PDF file on unbalanced/balanced connections. Jensen changed the location of the pdf download. The new link, for those interested, is: http://www.jensen-transformers.com/application-notes/
The file name is "AN003"  Jensen now requires that you register as an "Insider" before allowing the actual download.  :(