Phono stage options - balanced with XLR both input and output...

Even my old, last millenium, ARC PH2 has balance in and out.

I really like my Elac PPA-2, it's surprisingly good and has bested the few others I've tried.  I use XLR/balanced for input and output (for the first time with this one).

It is starting to glitch, and I am considering purchasing another one ('preowned'), but before I do wanted to check here what options you know of in terms of fully balanced phono stages with XLR input and output.

If that company is still in business couldn’t you send in your unit for a repair?

If they cannot repair it, then I would not be looked for another one used.
But of you like it, then why change now?

Holmz, the presence of XLR connectors does not necessarily mean that the signal is treated in balanced mode. I don’t know what’s inside your PH2, but AR is not known for balanced circuits.

There is a better chance of a balanced circuit when we see an XLR.
Certainly the odds are stacking up in our favor there.

When I see an RCA I assume that it is single ended, however I suspect that there could be 1 or 2 where the shell is isolated from the chassis and not connected chassis ground, but to a differential input… which would help with CMRR.

One needs 2 wires for a twisted pair and also for a CMRR balanced circuit.
The 3rd with is for a shell, but it is not absolutely required to be an XLR to be balanced.

it would be rare though.

@hagtech ​​@lewm , phono cartridges are indeed balanced items. Just because the device does not have a third ground wire does not mean it is not balanced. In this case it is the tonearm that is grounded by the third wire.

Or the third rail? 😎

It is hard to have a motor with one side pushing and pulling and the other side somehow at zero.