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Actually, it has everything to do with "fully balanced" amplifiers, and @atmasphere is especially well known for his balanced amps. Owner Ralph Karstens even holds an interesting patent covering his topology. I've now provided to you three original sources that reveal your beliefs to be myths. |
@cleeds He talks about benefits of balanced cables and differential inputs. It has nothing to do with "Fully balanced power amplifier" vs power amplifier with balanced differential inputs. I will leave it at that. |
I understand that intuitively what you wrote seems "true," that it "feels" like it's correct. But it is completely false. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Here’s a guy who actually understands balanced circuits and who notes the myth of your claim. (I suspect you’ll reject this, just as you have the information I’ve quoted from other manufacturers. I’m including it for the benefit of others): Balanced line equipment is often also fully differential, like our amps and preamps. A differential amplifier has two inputs, and in theory only amplifies what is different between those two inputs ... A differential circuit isn’t double the number of parts of a single-ended circuit, although it does have more parts. |
@invalid S300 output is supplied from single supply only. To achieve net zero output at 50% duty cycle speaker is "flipped" between V+ and GND by bridge of 4 Mosfet transistors. Some modules achieve it with dual +/- supply and only 2 Mosfets. To me it is more "bridged" than "balanced", but it doesn't matter, as long as we know what it is. |
@cleeds Input stage can be either "balanced" or "true balanced". "True" refers to inputs that are not referenced to GND, like in instrumentation amp or transformer. |
Of course you are free to define terms for yourself anyway you like. But a "fully balanced amplifier" doesn’t require two separate amplifiers. You simply do not know what you’re talking about and your claim conflicts with the manufacturers' published literature. An amplifier using balanced inputs, balanced circuits and providing balanced outputs is, by definition "fully balanced." It’s as simple as that. |
@cleeds It is amplifier with balanced input and not the "Fully Balanced Amplifier". "Fully Balanced Amplifier" term refers to amplifier consisting of balanced input followed by two separate amplifiers - each driving one terminal of the speaker. |
Look here. Big clue: Input impedance Unbalanced 50KΩ
So? You seem to not understand how a balanced amp works. This amp looks like it's differentially balanced, a perfectly valid approach. This is taken from the data sheet you provided: Input Stage Output Stage
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@cleeds I don't see anything in specs showing fully balanced operation. |
You might want to check the specs of the amplifier here. They certainly reflect those of a balanced amp. |
PS Audio S300 is not fully balanced. "Bridged" output might suggest that, but it isn't a bridge of two amps but 4 Mosfet bridge to flip speaker direction between V+ and GND, since output is single voltage supplied. Some class D modules, like Hypex, use dual +/- supply and only 2 output Mosfets. S300 is based on 300AS1 Icepower module, almost identical to 200ASC (in my Rowland 102), but with stronger output Mosfets. Both my amps Benchmark AHB2 and Rowland 102 don't have RCA inputs. |
I think two things are going on. First, Paul McGowen at PS Audio has always been a fan of using balanced cabling over single ended. Second, and probably the most important reason, is that the S300 is a fully balanced design. If you use RCA's, then the input has to be converted to a balanced signal first. Thus adding another layer to the circuit. I currently have a S300 amp with the PS Audio Gain Cell preamp in a secondary system. When I got those two pieces, I did a comparison between using a balanced cable and RCA's (both were Audioquest Columbia's) and the balanced cable did sound better. Not by much, but it is tighter in the treble and midrange driving my Martin Logan electrostatics. - Jeff |
You will get a volume boost... but the only thing that probably means is that you will generally move the volume button one twentieth of an inch less clockwise on your preamp. Most likely the quality of the wire will make a much bigger difference than then connection type. But it can make a difference because component manufacturers do a better job of internally converting from the topology of the component to the opposite output. For instance, I have Audio Research Equipment. It is of balanced design and that is what is recommended. However, it is very good equipment, so they spent a lot of time making sure the single ended connections were good. So, when I compared the same brand and tier of interconnect, I could hear no difference between single ended and balanced. I spent some time doing this. But I did not spend a couple week intervals with one, then the other... maybe then I would have detected a difference. I am sure Audio Research spent a lot of time make sure they sounded the same. So, of course, you have to try to find out. You have different components. But you must compare using the same brand and model of interconnect. |
Looking at the specs for your amp, I'd surmise you're going to have 6 dB higher gain on the balanced input. You might not need that gain, but you could also think of it as 6 dB better s/n ratio. Using the balanced amplifier inputs also gives it a higher input impedance. That might be a friendlier load for your streamer. |
