XLR or SE cable?


After reading the current posts relating to the volumne differences between XLR and SE cables and the recommendation of ARC (to use balanced) I find myself in a quandry as to an avenue of selection for a possibile change and could use some help. I have an ARC CD 3 Mk2 using with a Classe CAP 151 integrated amp. Currently I have them tied with SE Ridge Street Poeima ICs (1 mtr), I must add that listening is nicely relaxed and not fatiuging at all but, I was looking to warm up the presentation a little more and get a bit more bottom end extention as well. ARC recommends using balanced for optimum results (which I could do), after contenplating a change I was wondering if this would be the right route to go? Also after seeing the posting about volumne differences between using the two this additionally leaves me questioning it as well becuse I'm used to the settings I currently use for listening. I have settled on a new pair of ICs from Grover Huffman and before I invest I would like to make the right decision to do so and could use some advise as to XLR or SE being the better or best selection and benefits for optimation? Speakers are Apogee Slant 6s and I listen to soft rock, blues, new age, and jazz.
rsjm80

Showing 1 response by mordante

The only times XLR is usefull is when you use extremly long IC's. Or if you equipment is build for XLR. By that I mean that all the signal processing is balanced. Most of the time this is NOT the case since you need double the amount of components to do that. I think in 90%+ of all XLR ìn and outputs there is a circuit behind/before it that takes a SE signal and converts it.
Even Bryston is not build for XLR use they convert the XLR signal to SE and then amplify it.