In the home environment, where I am running cables that are what...1.5meters typically ( and VERY well shielded) I just don't get it. The extra expense and hassle for balanced..why??
The reason for this is that balanced connections (if done correctly as they are in a stage environment) will sound better even if the cable is only a meter long. The balanced line system was devised for the purpose of eliminating cable artifact (which allows them to also be longer lengths).