Balanced connections to my VPI turntable?

How are your turntable interconnects wired now? What are you using for a phono preamp? If you're using a balanced phono section with RCA inputs and have kept the pickup arm ground separate from the signal ground, you're probably already enjoying the benefits of the balanced circuit. Changing to XLR connectors won't change anything. And many balanced components do indeed deliver 6dB better s/n (or 6 dB more gain, if you prefer to see it that way) when run in balanced mode. For example, here are specs for the ARC Ref Phono 3 SE:

Gain:

Selectable 51 dB (Low) and 73 dB (High) at 1kHz BAL; 45 dB (Low) and 67 dB (High) at 1kHz SE.

(Note that the ARC has RCA inputs only.)

If your pickup arm ground is connected to the grounding post on the JC3+, your phono cartridge floats above ground and your preamp is running balanced. (Assuming, of course, that you're using the balanced outputs of the JC3+ into a preamp balanced input.)

badbruno

i believe the XLR is better for noise rejection, your thoughts ?

I don't see any particular benefit to using XLRs here. You're balanced ("floating") either way. XLRs do tend to be more robust connectors.

tooblue

I believe that the side benefit of the 6db in gain also translates to a 6db lower noise floor

It all depends how you look at it. Yes, some preamps will yield 6dB more gain. But if you don't use the added gain and keep the level the same, then you have 6dB better s/n.