Please clear up my confusion re: meaning of "balanced" !

The Wikipedia article on balanced audio probably covers everything you're looking for. Clicking through some of the links in the article will give you more details.

The non-technical answer in audio is that a balanced connector (type XLR) uses one of the three legs for a ground wire. The only thing to know is some audio designs are a fully "balanced" ground and some are not. A fully balanced ground design lets you run long runs with adding noise to the system and are often at a higher level than the unbalanced connectors (RCA type).  

Thanks for your responses.

@russ69:

Yes-- this is the distinction that concerns me-- connecting a "fully balanced" component to one that merely has XLR connectors.  

I read the Wikipedia article, but am still unclear regarding my question about connecting the two components I mentioned. 

I guess I will have to ask the manufacturers directly. 

There are differentially balanced equipment that the circuit is fully balanced, then there are balanced equipment that uses transformers to still get a balanced connection. There are some equipment that use XLR's but don't have a balanced connection.

Yes you can connect them. Balanced topology or not does not affect that in the least.

Here is a very simple rule that will serve you well throughout all your life, audio and otherwise: if the connectors fit, you can use them. Period.

Every single connector on every single thing made in every single country on Earth works this way. They are all designed in order to prevent damage, specifically risk of fire. Why everyone isn't told this, or hasn't figured it out, is one of the great mysteries of life.

@stuartk ,
PM or call Ralph Karsten (atmasphere).
In fact, if you search the Audiogon archives, you'll find many of his posts explaining the rational of the 'balanced topography'.
As you seem to have found, some equipment offers balanced input/outputs, but in order to achieve the AES 47 standard, the equipment must adhere to that standard. Otherwise, you might get unwanted interactions- like hum.
B

3 pin XLR connectors are considered balanced cables and connectors.

Not all devices with XLR plugs are balanced either in the input or circuitry.  That is, some amps have XLR inputs for convenience, but the (-) pin and GND pin are shorted together, so in fact you gain none of the long distance/noise cancelling benefits of a true XLR connection.

Then there are manufacturers who essentially create a new amp/preamp section for both the (+) and (-) sides.  This requires twice the parts.

I appreciate all the responses. Some went over my head. 

Thanks to millercarbon, in particular, for answering my question in a direct and non-technical manner. 

I am confused about this term. I’ve been told it can refer to either a type of topology or simply a type of connection.

Both.

Many components have XLR (balanced) connectors.

Many of those components have XLR connectors for convenience, but they are not balanced circuits.

Can you connect those two components? Absolutely.

The La Voce S3 Discrete DAC specs state "XLR balanced asymmetrical", which means it is not balanced. The XLR connectors are for convenience if connecting to a preamp or integrated amplifier with XLR inputs. The JOTUNHEIM specs state it is "inherently differentially" balanced. Regardless, you can connect them, you just won’t be taking advantage of better noise rejection provided by a differentially balanced DAC. Will you hear it? Maybe not. You know a differentially balanced DAC module can be added to the JOTUNHEIM, right?

Some balanced connections need shorting pin to operate properly without signal loss, my krell amp needs these to operate in single ended mode.

Hi tvad:

Thanks for taking the time to read through the specs and provide me with additional clarification. I really like the Aqua DAC, so I don't feel an inclination to bypass it at this time. 

@invalid:
 
I could ask Schiit about the signal loss issue.  

uncle paul's classroom...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8hoG8OOfsI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t-4W1kKDeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzEmKPTb18g&t=402s

@jjss49:

Thanks.  I'm simply wanting to know whether connecting the Schiit Jotunheim to my Aqua La Voce S2 with a pair of XLR IC's could result in noise or signal loss. 

I've emailed Schiit about this. 

@stuartk

given the dac, the question would/should be to aqua la voce -- it is the piece that is without true balanced circuit at its outputs, whereas the jotenheim surely is... as is clearly stated 

in any case, if the cable run is short, should be ok... both are high quality pieces

I’m simply wanting to know whether connecting the Schiit Jotunheim to my Aqua La Voce S2 with a pair of XLR IC’s could result in noise or signal loss.

It won’t result in noise or signal loss.

100% certain Schiit and/or Aqua HiFI will confirm this.

Were you using a differentially balanced DAC with the Schiit Jotunheim, then there is a possibility of less noise versus connecting single ended (RCA connectors + cables) due to the inherent noise cancelling of balanced topology. Would you hear quieter operation? Possibly. It would largely depend upon the noise floor of your system.

You can easily experiment by alternately connecting the Schiit Jotunheim and Aqua La Voce S2 with XLR interconnects, and RCA interconnects (ideally from the same manufacturer and model range to eliminate a variable ).

@tvad:

OK.   I misunderstood your previous post.
Thanks for correcting my mistake! 

I'l go ahead and order the Jotunheim. 

Well, things won't work right if you connect a phono RCA jack to a line-level RCA jack, or a consumer-level RCA jack to a pro-level RCA jack, or an analog audio XLR jack to an AES/EBU XLR jack, or a component video BNC jack to an audio S/PDIF BNC jack. So sometimes the same jack doesn't mean you can connect the two things—but I'm being pedantic only to avoid the potential for misunderstanding. But no, doing so shouldn't cause a fire and shouldn't make anything break, just things won't work.

Likewise, you should use the correct cable type (specifications), independent of the connection type. Sometimes it won't matter, or won't matter much, but sometimes it can negatively impact the signal if you use the incorrect cable type.

I guess connecting a line-level XLR output to an XLR microphone 12V phantom power input might cause damage to the output gear.

you should be able to connect it just fine the only hiccup would be a polarity issue because the standard for balanced connections is not the same from brand to brand you may have to reverse the polarity to maintain proper polarity because they may be wired with different balanced polarities.

the only hiccup would be a polarity issue because the standard for balanced connections is not the same from brand to brand you may have to reverse the polarity to maintain proper polarity because they may be wired with different balanced polarities.

In this case, no hiccup.


XLR pin assignments for the Aqua HiFi DAC and Schiit Audio amp are the same:
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal - (inverting)

https://www.aquahifi.com/file/manuals/La_Voce_S3_manual_EN.pdf

@tvad:

Looks like you've put this issue to rest, once and for all. My technical knowledge is obviously lacking. Very kind of you to take the time to look into this!   

@speakermaster:

If that's a possibility, the La Voce does have a polarity switch. 

@nekoaudio:

Thanks for listing the potential hazards!     

@tvad knows what he is talking about... :)

and of course neko too...

One thing to know with Schiit they build all their inputs and outputs to be live all the time. Running one out put does not cancelled the or turn the other out. Example you can run xlr out to xlr amp and run rca out to rca in on tape deck and both are live. Listen and record or listen from speakers and headphones if rca to headphone amp.

Ordered Jotunheim (amp only). 

The black units are back-ordered 6-8 weeks and although I'd prefer black, as it would match all my other components, I went with silver, as I simply didn't want to wait that long.

In the meantime, Patrick Cullen is making me some XLR IC's. 

Hopefully, by the end of next week, I'll be set...