Which is best, using balanced or non-balanced connection?

Here is a quite recent discussion on that topic:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/more-on-xlr-vs-rca-considerations

Thank you, It was helpful

One thing the discussion didn’t mention is that the equipment should adhere to the AES Balanced Standard. Otherwise, all bets are off.

@mjrice2 , Atmasphere (Ralph Karsten) is a great guy, you should either call him at Atmasphere.com or PM him. He know the ins and outs of balanced tech and was one of the first to introduce it into home stereo equipment.

Bob

Balanced rejects noise that why all professional audio gear is balanced. So doesn't matter on short cables, but anything longer than 6ft should be balanced ideally. I run 12 ft cables, all XLR.

Thanks to all for your inputs. They were greatly appreciated. I'm to go with balanced.

Thanks again,

Marvus

"Thanks to all for your inputs" Lol, very punny!

All my gear is balanced. Your challenge will be to find a decent turntable with balanced outputs or decent rca to XLR signal converters or adapters if your pteamp only has XLR ins and outs. Very few good turntables have XLR outs. This of course assumes that you spin vinyl. If not then no worries!

I have a preamp on my desk and an amp on the shelf above it.  The cable runs amongst various other signal and power cables and there was always an audible level of hum coming from the speakers.  Substituting RCA for XLR removed the hum completely.  So there's that.  In less challenging situations, though, I don't think either has an advantage.

Along these same lines (pun intended) I run RCAs from my table to a phono preamp and balanced from the phono pre to the pre, then RCAs to the amp that does not have an XLR connection.  Is there any point in running a balanced interconnect in a circuit that begins and ends with RCA?  Would it make more sense to run a high quality RCA from the phono pre to the pre and use the single XLR input on the pre for my DAC that has an XLR out?  Now that I've posed the question I guess I'll go to the trouble to give it a try, but I would be interested in hearing about your experiences with similar situations. 

Which is better?

Yes.

"Balanced rejects noise that why all professional audio gear is balanced. So doesn't matter on short cables, but anything longer than 6ft should be balanced ideally. I run 12 ft cables, all XLR."

Over 99% of all pro gear isn't balanced. Pro audio typically uses point to point balancing. The components themselves are single ended and the signal gets converted at the inputs and outputs. In order for the component itself to be balanced, all the parts in the signal path have to be doubled up to make a path for the 2nd signal conductor. To do it right raises the cost of the component significantly. Doing point to point allows for longer cable runs and better noise rejection, so its a good thing to do. However, if you want better sound quality that balanced operation delivers, the components themselves need to be balanced.  

052rc

In order for the component itself to be balanced, all the parts in the signal path have to be doubled up to make a path for the 2nd signal conductor.

That is false and it’s amazing how frequently this myth is repeated. Many truly balanced components use differential circuits and that is not at all how they work.

However, my question is how I should connect the external amp for the best sound. Should I use the balanced or unbalanced connection?

@mjrice2 If your amp has a balanced input and is internally balanced, driving it balanced will allow it to have slightly lower distortion.

If the equipment supports AES48 you'll get less interaction (possibly quite a lot less) with the interconnect cables. In my system even though its quite revealing, you can't hear interconnect cable differences on this account.

I have purchased the JC 5. In communicating with Parasound they informed me that the JC5 is fully balanced from input to output.  Here is their response:

• Lower Noise & Interference Resistance: Balanced cables help reduce noise and interference, which can be especially beneficial in longer cable runs or environments with potential electrical interference. 
• Higher Signal Integrity: The JC 5 operates as a fully balanced amplifier from input to output, meaning an XLR connection allows it to perform at its best.
• Improved Dynamics & Clarity: Many users report that balanced connections provide a more refined and dynamic soundstage compared to unbalanced RCA connections.