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Balanced versa single-ended

What is the general consensus (if there is one) on balanced versa single ended operation for gear that supports both?
If all of your components are balanced (source, pre-amp, amp), but you connect everything (or just source let’s say) as single ended, what do you lose if anything?
Here is my dilemma. All my components are balanced and connected that way. I want to move to passive pre-amp whose cost is significantly less for single ended version. My source is Wadia 581 player. What will I lose if I connect Wadia to pre-amp using single ended interconnects, and connect pre-amp to the amp with single ended as well?
I was not able so far to assess this myself due to lack of interconnects, so I was wondering if anyone has done such comparison of moving from balanced to single ended?
sashav

Showing 2 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
Balanced operation does indeed offer lower noise as well as greater interconnect cable immunity. You are not likely to get all that with a passive system though- part of the balanced standard is that it operates at lower impedances, something that is a bit of a weak point with passive volume controls.

Usually with a Wadia you are better off with a good quality balanced line stage between it and the power amps, if you want to do it properly. Set the output level switches to the lowest setting, and set the Wadia's volume control at 100.

Brianmgrarcom is correct, some of the benefit of balanced operation comes from the equipment itself, it not just a cable thing!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
Sashav, I am in fact suggesting that you will want an active line stage. Otherwise you will trade one problem (the loss of resolution as you reduce volume in the Wadia) for another (loss of bass impact and a change in tonality as you reduce volume with a passive).

There is another active thread on this topic: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1209044329&read&3&4& It happens to be a fact that if you have a good balanced active line stage, that interjecting it between the Wadia and the amplifiers will actually get **greater** transparency with no tradeoffs.

I've seen this so often that you'd think it would be in a manual somewhere, but it isn't...
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