Unbalance vs Balanced

[Revolutions]

From an audibility standpoint, yes in most cases. From a technological standpoint, no.

Surely the measurements are backing up your position and not "meaningless"?

Ok, but what is the actual benefit to the listener?

100% with @Gray & @podknocker on this one.

Even in the music world, people will tell you not to run 5m guitar cables without additional buffers etc. I’ve never noticed a difference when playing big stages & needed long 1/4” cabling for guitar > pedalboard > amp.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Ok, but what is the actual benefit to the listener?

100% with @Gray & @podknocker on this one.

Even in the music world, people will tell you not to run 5m guitar cables without additional buffers etc. I’ve never noticed a difference when playing big stages & needed long 1/4” cabling for guitar > pedalboard > amp.

Well clearly there is no benefit in most situations. But they do measure better, unlike expensive Audioquest cables. that's all I'm saying. There is proven science in balanced cable design.

 

[Revolutions]

Well clearly there is no benefit in most situations. But they do measure better, unlike expensive Audioquest cables. that's all I'm saying. There is proven science in balanced cable design.

Yes there is proven science. But it’s irrelevant for the actual audio quality of any hifi without super long cable runs.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Yes there is proven science. But it’s irrelevant for the actual audio quality of any hifi without super long cable runs.

Is that not what I said?

 

[Gray]

There is proven science in balanced cable design.

There certainly is.
And the video below shows that the starquad cable geometry gives about as much immunity to interference as you can get.
Immunity to interference that can otherwise clearly be measured and heard.

OK, he's placing interference sources right on the cables - and he's working at mic level voltages. Line level hi-fi is never going to be as susceptible, due to its much higher signal to noise ratio - so it can easily be argued that starquad / balanced is overkill.

But, with electromagnetic interference increasingly all around - it's certainly not doing your signal any good - why not minimise it?

A couple of metres of Van Damme Starquad and 4 Neutrik XLR connectors are what your soldering iron was made for....and will be a darn site cheaper than many ready-made RCA cables.
So, once again I say that, given the choice it would always be balanced for me.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuGaA46kHfM

 

[manicm]

The general rule is, if you're using truly balanced components such as dual mono amps, and dual mono components, then you SHOULD use the balanced connections.

BTW the forthcoming Bluesoud Node Icon claims to be a fully balanced/dual mono streamer/preamp.

 

[darch]

I'm awaiting delivery of a new amp which has 3 sets of RCA inputs and 1 set of XLR balanced, the 3 RCA sets will be used for tuner, SACD player and phono amp, as my Topping E50 DAC has balanced TRS conection it seemed logical to me to get a set of TRS to XLR cables regardless of whether it improved sound quality or not, it just makes conection easier.

 

[RoA]

Balanced and unbalanced on one of my headphone amplifiers. Apart from more power, no difference.

 

[Jasonovich]

So I'm completely ignorant on this topic but I would like to know what is the advantage to running a set of balanced interconnects, which I guess would be XFR connectors, over running your standard rca interconnects. Has anyone made the switch and did you notice an audible difference? Thanks

I use balanced XLRs on my study setup, it is claimed that these have better noise insulation from radio frequencies and more volume gain.
It is a little controversial to say they sound better as is anything cables, they sound louder and arguably better separation but if you do blind testing many of us will possibly struggle to tell the difference.

I believe it was already mentioned, XLR are rock solid, it clips in the socket and firmly latched in, you can only release from the socket by pressing down on the clip, rock solid!
Also open to debate, in most cases, XLR has better construction than RCA.

 

[nopiano]

I'm awaiting delivery of a new amp which has 3 sets of RCA inputs and 1 set of XLR balanced, the 3 RCA sets will be used for tuner, SACD player and phono amp, as my Topping E50 DAC has balanced TRS conection it seemed logical to me to get a set of TRS to XLR cables regardless of whether it improved sound quality or not, it just makes conection easier.

I agree, and have done very similarly with my Primare integrated amp and Linn preamp.