XLR balanced interconnects vs RCA/Phono

[andyrlb]

So now I have a source with XLR outputs ( E sounds CD-5 signature edition) and my amp (Teac Distinction Ai3000) has XLR inputs should I go for it and buy some ? Bearing in mind I've just bought new Mark grant rca's to rca's !!
Is it just marketing bollocks like some say ?

BTW I've no idea what the balanced means anyway!!

[Martyn Miles]

So now I have a source with XLR outputs ( E sounds CD-5 signature edition) and my amp (Teac Distinction Ai3000) has XLR inputs should I go for it and buy some ? Bearing in mind I've just bought new Mark grant rca's to rca's !!
Is it just marketing bollocks like some say ?

BTW I've no idea what the balanced means anyway!!

Balanced cables are only really relevant in prof. audio on long
microphone cables to avoid rf interference.

Not really relevant with home audio.

Another case of the Manufacturers of home audio kit jumping
on the prof. audio way of doing things to sell their kit...

[Yomanze]

Yep, go for it. RCA cables have more of a sound signature whereas XLR cables are transparent. I think this is because of a dedicated ground wire, which is impossible with RCA as you need ground and return to be connected.

If your source and amp are balanced, then even better, because you will be making the most of the circuitry and it will only make things better through noise cancellation rather than making things worse.

[Yomanze]

Balanced cables are only really relevant in prof. audio on long
microphone cables to avoid rf interference.

Not really relevant with home audio.

Another case of the Manufacturers of home audio kit jumping
on the prof. audio way of doing things to sell their kit...

If the kit is fully balanced, then IMO it sounds better when used in balanced mode, regardless of single ended vs. balanced arguments.

[andyrlb]

Hmmm ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Yomanze]

Try for yourself, this is all the XLR cable you'd ever need: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-...-/282215887582 (you'd need to buy 2x, but under £30).

Mark Grant does a Canare XLR cable too albeit more expensive.

[andyrlb]

Cheers Neil

[Barry]

Yep, go for it. RCA cables have more of a sound signature whereas XLR cables are transparent. I think this is because of a dedicated ground wire, which is impossible with RCA as you need ground and return to be connected.

If your source and amp are balanced, then even better, because you will be making the most of the circuitry and it will only make things better through noise cancellation rather than making things worse.

Agreed - it's the arrangement I use in my system: CD -> preamp -> monoblock power amps

[Pharos]

The advantages of balanced are more hum elimination than RF problems, and in professional setups where frequent plugging and unplugging occur because of different implementations, reliable no hum is a great time and work saver.

Strictly, balanced circuits have about twice the distortion of SE ccts, but nowadays is so low that IMO it can be ignored.

I have had three pairs of ATC actives with balanced I/Ps, fed from SE preamps with no problems, and am currently using my balanced ADAM Gamma actives which are balanced I/Ps with an ATC SCA2 preamp which is also balanced.

All work smoothly and the currents into amps are so small that fine mic. cable is more than adequate, no need for hefty.

The (what I believe to be) best S/S pre available, the Benchmark, is all balanced, incredible spec, and sound.

[MikeMusic]

Direct comparison from Rega Isis to Pass Labs Pre Amp

RCA-RCA good

XLR-XLR better. Nice step up