Should people with no turntable or reel to reel be considered audiophiles?

You're all a bunch of boring audiophiles :))
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>>>>>Huh? The pros only use XLR? For that reason I’m out.

Please use quote button when you want to quote someone, it will help readers to understand.

You don’t need XLR for your walkman or cassette deck, but try to tell something about RCA to someone on the studio when you need a cable over 5 meters long. Our music recorded with XLR cables only (all studio gear connected with XLR, balanced). 

I think Ralph explained million times the benefit of XLR for LOMC cartridges on this forum, someone could search on the forum.

Separate question that I haven’t been able to get answered in another discussion about phono stages (not sure why). What is the advantage of a balanced input or output for phono stages? Is that feature only available on very expensive models? Is there a special MC voltage where this feature is helpful?

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I must admit that designers of ultra expensive High-End audio equipment are very slow and probably the last people in audio who came into balanced (XLR) connection, because this is the ONLY TYPE of connectors (inputs,outputs,interconnect) professionals are using for ages. Come to any studio and you will never find any RCA unbalanced cables, ONLY XLR (Balanced) for everything including microphones.

You can run only balanced cables from MC cartridge to the speakers like Zu Audio Druid (they have XLR port too)

More very nice XLR cables from ZU for audiophiles 

While the conventional hi-fi RCA cables must be short (under 1.5m ), the XLR cables can be very long.

Hey Chakster-should I worry about my 5’ or 1.5 meter interconnect going from my phono stage to my preamp? It’s a Kimber PB&J.

Phono cables are the most critical, especially with low voltage signal coming from a LOMC cartridge, the signal can be 0.15 mV or even less. This is where the Balanced phono cable, especially for a long distance, is better, but you need a phono stage with balanced inputs too.

It’s been said before and explained in details that using balanced phono cable with LOMC cartridge you will get louder signal.

For MM or MI cartriges with much higher output this problem is irrelevant if your unbalanced RCA phono cable is not too long.

Interconnect unbalanced cable for line level signal between components can be even 3 meters, but normally they are 1.2 meters and that’s fine. They can be shorter if your components are close enough to each other.

Moving the boxes around and switching to a shorter Interconnect cable (which I have a .5 meter one of the same brand) would work without any $$ investment. Would you say this is a no brainer and I should definitely do it?

I don’t use XLR myself, my unbalanced cables are less than 1.5 meters, some of them are 60cm. I have many phono stages and a few preamps, but none of them have an XLR inputs. My Gold Note PH-10 have XLR output, but my Pass Aleph L preamp does not have XLR inputs.

Since all my phono cables and interconnects are super high quality the balanced cables will be the last thing for me to think about. But for those who think about it from the start choosing XLR balanced components is a good point.

I wouldn’t change any of my high-end gear (phono stages or preamps) just because they don’t have XLR connection.

So would you swap the 1.5 meter cord out for the .5 meter one? My cartridge output is on the high side for a MC, .65.

In analog playback a CARTRIGE is NUMBER ONE thing. As much as your cartridge must be matched very well with tonearm, your speakers must be matched very well with your amp. If you already have some nice speakers for your analog rig then think about cartridge and try different ones, start with MM or MI. This is where you can notice a huge difference in sound immediately without breaking the bank. Until you will not find "your cartridge" do not bother with cables and stuff if they cost more than a cartridge.

If your 1.5m cable is very well shielded i wouldn’t bother. If you have some hum then you can try a better shielded cable. If your cable is good i don’t think you will notice any difference even if you will cut it in the middle and re-solder the connectors.

But if you will change your cartridge you will be shocked by the difference in sound you can hear immediately without changing anything else in your system. The best cartridges are not the most expensive ones for sure (experience is the key).

You can use 47k Ohm with any MC, there are many nice phono stage with optional loading, the manufacturer recommendations is not mandatory. Same with MM cartridges, 47k Ohm is not mandatory, in many cases 100k Ohm for MM is better.

Once you will try many cartridges and many different loading options you can say what is better for yourself.

I tried 3-$5k LOMC cartridges and they are no better than some $1k MM (tried many rare ones).

Regarding cables the sort one is the most important between SUT and Phono stage for example.

Balanced phono cable is another story, it’s not just about the length.