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Audioquest Design Question

I’m comparing some of the Audioquest interconnect options and am curious from what advantages would be expected from a triple-balanced design for a single ended application.

The Chicago (what I currently have) is, for example a double-balanced cable that only comes with RCA connections.

The Red River (next level up) is a triple-balanced design and has an XLR option.

The only other double-balanced design is the Yukon that is for the RCA terminations while the Yukon interconnects with XLR connections are listed as triple-balanced.

The triple-balanced design makes sense for a balanced connector that has three elements, but single ended connectors only have two elements.

It seems that the triple balanced design may not add actual value to the cable and is just a method of terminating a balanced interconnect design with single ended connectors.

Anyone with some actual electrical engineering knowledge that could comment on this?

Update: Looking at their spec sheets it appears that the Sydney cables might be the sweet spot for single ended RCA connections in the most budget price ranges.

 

mceljo

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,703 posts
 

I have spent a lot of time (~ 1,000 hours or more) evaluating cables, interconnects and power cables. I have never found any value in understanding the technology… or anything a web site says about how things are constructed. You just have to listen to them. Reviews are good about how they sound but that is no garentee they will perform that way in your system… although generally a good indication.

 

The only exception is that the composition of the conductor in inexpensive versions tend to somewhat predict the overall character.. copper warm, silver coated copper more detailed, silver highly detailed… maybe harsh. 

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