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Real experience - Balanced or Unbalanced between Luxman Pre & Power Amps

Hi Folks, 

After having spent quite a bit of time testing both balanced and unbalanced cables between a luxman c10x preamp and m10x power amp.  I'm not noticing any difference.  

My balanced cable is from blue jeans and interconnect is a QED ref 40.  

Does anyone have any experience with these components, if so what has your experience been and what are you using between them?

sdavada
hedgehog's avatar
hedgehog
188 posts
 

It seems the experiment would be more instructive if using the same cable for balanced and non-balanced. Using the same cable length in each case, of course. If one’s equipment is capable of running balanced, there doesn’t seem to be any reason not to. 

celtic66
1,750 posts
 

Have experienced palpable differences (balanced vs unbalanced) with preamps feeding my active speakers.  Balanced cables between Luxman C900u and ATC active speakers, quite noticeable.  More dynamics, better resolution, faster attack and better sound stage construction.  Actually, surprised by that.  Between electronics, not so much of a difference.  YMMV.

Numerous combinations and permutations enter into that equation.  Regarding incessant pedantic droning of some that all cable upgrades are a waste of money, time, effort and brain power....... well, let them go on, we've no investment in their systems and don't listen to their creations.

Perhaps they pontificate upon the virtues of Denny's, drive Yugos, live in mom's basement and have ugly girlfriends... or no girlfriends.  Not our lives to live.

Smile and enjoy your system, your music as you please.

tubeguy80
117 posts
 

I use a relatively modest (compared to yours) combo of the Luxman CL-38uSE preamp and MQ-88uC amplifier. They only have RCA connectors so I use those and am in love with the sound my system makes.

Prior to these I had different models from McIntosh, Audio Research, Parasound, and others. Many of these had options for XLR and RCA so I usually went with balanced. It never really made a huge change though. The differences between RCA and XLR seemed more dependent on the specific components involved and not any inherent superiority from XLR over RCA. Sometimes it was a small improvement, other times no improvement at all. 

My point here is that I wouldn't worry too much about it. The differences between models of cables is probably more important compared to the XLR or RCA choice. 

996turbo911
55 posts
 

I always use XLR if I have the option. It seems to sound more full bodied in many cases. 

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