Hegel H80 Balanced vs Unbalanced Inputs

Thanks for the response. 

I was unsure about the internals of the H80 though their product page does state "The H80 features 5 digital inputs with 24 bit technology, 1 true balanced analog input and 2 unbalanced analog inputs". Does "true balanced" mean that it is balanced internally? Hard to really tell and I can't dig anything else up from the internet other than 1 poster on this site that said that the soundstage really opened up with balanced connections - but the gain is also know to be higher and so hard to say if it was not just louder.

Good point on the DAC outputs - I know that the Schiit Gungir *is* a real balanced design, but one of the other DAC's I am looking at, Gustard X20, might not be. Again, it has twice the gain on the balanced outputs so looks can be deceiving.

Thanks for the insight. So while they state they are 'true balanced' inputs that only goes as far as the inputs. So I am assuming I would gain *something* by using a truly balanced source. Question is how much and weighing that against other factors.

I am down to two DAC's - Schiit Gungnir Multibit "Gumby" (balanced design) or an Audio-GD DAC-19 10th anniversary (R2R single ended). From what I have read some people feel that Gumby in Balanced out is about equal to the DAC-19 but falls behind when used SE. DAC-19 is $400 cheaper and while very very well built, it isn't as easily upgradeable like the Gumby, nor US based. Decisions, decisions .... 

I have asked Hegel to confirm (though they are bad about responding to emails), but based on their separate pre-amps/amps, their design methods across various products, and their use of "true" when describing the balanced inputs ... my best guess is that the pre-amp section of the H80 (and H160) is electronically balanced, but the amp section is obviously not balanced/differential.

Ok thanks! I am guessing that you didn't notice any difference in soundstage. The only other concrete report of XLR/RCA comparisons for Hegels that I have seen said that the soundstage "exploded" with balanced out of his Oppo, even when adjusted for volume gain.