BAT VK 600SE: SE vs. Balanced


I have read in the Positive Feedback Online review(s) of this amp that it was preferable to run it in balanced (XLR IC's) mode. So much so that one should not even consider purchasing the amp if one were to be running it single ended.

Well, my preamp is single-ended only (Herron VTSP-2). How much degradation would there be in running the BAT this way?

Bill
billspecfoc
Hello Victor,

Thank you for your reply. Does it mean that you use phase splitter to convert the single ended input signal into two wih equal (to the half of the original signal) and oppose amplitudes? Otherwise, I do not see how your circuitry can work effectively....

Regarding "...Of course ideally you should give it balanced signal for other reasons..."
If my preamp and interconnects are with low, non-audible noise then what other reasons should I consider when choosing between balanced and single ended inputs?

Many thanks - its truly great when designers participate in our forums!!!
Rafael
As I mentioned, all our gain stages are typically differential. In simple terms you can say each stage is its own phase splitter. I know some people think balanced circuit has two independent signal paths, but that is usually not so, there is really just one path which amplifies the difference.

The benefits of such processing are numerous and well known - all high quality electronic instrumentation is built that way - but fall well outside the scope of a small post.

BTW, one common misconception is to believe balanced circuits have lower noise - in fact their OWN noise is always higher, they just reject some of the external noise.

As far as why it is better to give the circuit a true and clean balanced signal even if it can develop one on its own - try this simple exercise. Face your friend and take his hands into yours. Now start turning his body left and right by pushing one hand, pulling the other. Go back and forth and see how easy it is to turn his body. Now drop one hand, and do it with just one. Not as good, heh? :)

Victor

I love my VK-600SE power amp fed from a VK-31SE preamp feeding Legacy Focus SE speakers.  It is amazing.  My only issue is when I need to move it!  This monster is heavy!!! At 70 it's definitely a chore.  I recently moved from Anchorage AK (after 47 years of living there) to Spokane, WA to be closer to my son and grandkids and moving and setting everything back up was a lot of work! BTW Victor Khomenko is an amazing designer. Whenever I have had any issues with my BAT equipment, he has been very supportive and helpful.