Balanced versus single ended

Balanced will always sound louder, but your system isn’t going to be capable of playing louder. So you have to adjust the volumes to be the same for a true comparison of quality.. Fortunately my Audio Research equipment allows that. So I can flip between them with the volume equalized.
 

The only direct comparisons I have done was with Transparent cables and Audio Research gear (all balance designs). I was not able the discern a difference. 
 

I think in most cases it is negligible or at most a small difference. If the component design is balanced and you use single ended interconnects… then inside the components are converters to change from balanced to single ended and visa versa.  In high end equipment, the designer puts effort and high quality sub components into doing it. 
 

XLR cables cost more… often a lot more. If I was relatively young I would go with balanced… component design is headed that way. But if I was on a budget you can save money on single ended. But as has been pointed out to be sure with your components, you have to try to be sure.

@runwell 

Thanks for the clarification. I guess this is where it comes down to what equipment you own. Mine does not sound bigger. 

@fsonicsmith

“As an owner of an ARC Ref 6 and Ref 80S and Ref 150 SE I know that Warren Gehl and Co strongly suggest running balanced with the very best IC’s you can afford. I conducted listening tests with a wide assortment of balanced IC’s at all price ranges and heard huge differences. I settled on Cardas Clear Beyond. ‘

I just saw this. Very nice system. As an illustration to the forum… I am going to repeat your text with my experiences. This is in no way saying you are incorrect. But I am pointing out no matter how similar your systems the answer can be different.

My experience: As an owner of an ARC Ref 6SE and Ref 160s and Ref 160m monos, I know that Warren Gehl and Co strongly suggest running balanced with the very best IC’s you can afford. I conducted listening tests with a wide assortment of balanced and unbalanced IC’s at all price ranges and heard huge differences. I settled on Transparent Ultra after extensive testing of Cardas Beyond. I found no significant audible difference between single ended and XLR.

There are a lot of similarities in our systems and yet to me in my system Transparent was far superior to Cardas (I tried all kinds). But we definitely agree that there are very large differences in the sound quality among interconnects.

@ditusa

Ok. If I am running interconnects for several hundred feet… it is important. But this is a condition that is vertically nonexistent in high end audio.

The reality is that the quality of the interconnect usually trumps single ended versus balanced for the vast majority of actual systems. I have never heard a system where the single ended / balanced was a significant factor. The additional cost for balanced typically is significant. So, it really remains best a dilemma for folks with very high end systems.  If you have to be budget conscious. Then get single ended… don’t think twice. If you are trying to assault the highest achievable… then try both.

My average component cost is $20K and my manufacturer recommends balanced… I couldn’t detect the difference… so it is small. I suggest worrying about the big stuff… this ain’t it for most folks.