Tvad wrote:
"standard rca audio interconnects use only a single "unbalanced" conductor.
This is not true. Single ended RCA terminated cables use two conductors. One positive, the other negative. The (+) carries the signal away from the source. The (-) carries the signal back towards the source. Both conductors have an equal effect on sound quality. For this reason, one should never use audio rca cables in which the (-)conductor is a braided shield.
A balanced XLR cable also carries two signals. One being in-phase, the other out of phase. A third ground wire allows the ground potential between the components to "equalize".
"standard rca audio interconnects use only a single "unbalanced" conductor.
This is not true. Single ended RCA terminated cables use two conductors. One positive, the other negative. The (+) carries the signal away from the source. The (-) carries the signal back towards the source. Both conductors have an equal effect on sound quality. For this reason, one should never use audio rca cables in which the (-)conductor is a braided shield.
A balanced XLR cable also carries two signals. One being in-phase, the other out of phase. A third ground wire allows the ground potential between the components to "equalize".