Inter Connects - What I know and don't know


I've been researching Balanced Cables in anticipation of adding a new pair of mono-blocks (Atma Sphere Class - D) to my system. I'm hoping some of you who know a thing or two about cables might help me (us) clarify or demystify certain assumptions.   

 

My assumptions:

- You get what you pay for ($300 Brand X will produce more detail than say $60 Mogami Gold).

- The larger the gauge the better.

- Crimped and soldered connectors are better than screw tightened.

- Two or more large braided strands are better than several smaller gauge braided strands (all things being equal).

- Silver conductors are better sounding and measuring than Copper conductors.  

- Rhodium, Gold, Silver, Copper, & Brass, connectors objectively sound different. (as opposed to in your system).  

 

Remember, the more objective your responses are the more helpful they'll be to a majority of readers. 

Thanks in advance for your "feedback"

 

 

 

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Maybe I was being presumptuous by assuming that the signals pins == "signal circuitry" in the diagram.

@nquery You were. the lines from the bottom of the 'signal circuitry' box are ground connections. The signal passes from left to right in the diagram.

This document relates to how EMI circuitry should be used in balanced connections to deal with high frequency issues that may result in noise. So it shows a variety of hookups and shows how a number of them can be problematic.

In any even while the signal circuit does use ground as a reference, the signal current does not enter or use ground. For example in our preamps, which have a patented direct-coupled balanced tube output, if you ground one side or not, the signal level remains constant; IOW is the same amplitude.

I'd be very interested to see a circuit where signal currents are not present in the ground, yet when operated balanced you get double the output you do single-ended!

@atmasphere ok, one last thing then and i’ll stop harassing you :) .... where in the AES48 doc does it define the requirement for the signal current (pin 2 and pin 3) to reference each other and not reference the ground in order to be compliant? because other than that, on the face of it it would seem that T+A is meeting the requirements as laid out in this doc. (and the recommended practice in the other Rane article you linked).

[edit - to be more succinct, this AES48 doc only discusses shield connectivity and the "pin 1 problem" as per it's introduction. I see no discussion on pin2 and pin3 grounding which I thought you had said was part of AES48 ]

 

fyi, I have only become interested in this topic after having bought a pair of your fantastic class-D’s and maybe looking at a new DAC sometime soon. Not having to worry about balanced interconnects (as much) would be nice.