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

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.

@mjrice2 I recommend balanced cables and the JC5.

You could try to demo both cable terminations and see if you hear a difference.  Some components provide a little more gain when using balanced cables.  I used RCA cables most of my life, but prefer balanced after I conducted A/B comparisons.  I owned the JC5 and it was a great amp, plus I bought it used from The Music Room, so the price for performance was excellent.

Your challenge will be to find a decent turntable with balanced outputs

@audiojacks Since the phono cartridge is a balanced source, all you have to do is replace the tonearm interconnect cable. If the arm has a 5-pin plug this is quite easy, if a set of RCA jacks with a ground post its also easy.

Its a bit harder if the arm wiring is also the interconnect cable, but if this is the case its usually just a matter of changing the connectors at the end of the cable. Some arms, like the Triplanar, which are built this way can be ordered with XLR outputs.

The reason for doing this is by running the cables balanced (and if the signal is received in this manner) then you minimize the artifact of the cable itself. If you’ve ever auditioned cables and heard a difference that is what I’m talking about.

In any system with a turntable, the tonearm cable is the place where you really have to get it right as no matter how good the rest of your system is, it won’t be able to make up for a deficiency in the cable.

Another obvious advantage is the cable doesn’t have to be expensive for it to be do this. That is what ’cable immunity’ is all about :)