XLR vs RCA

Years ago I TONS and TONS of A/B comparisons of RCA vs. XLR. XLR won out every time. My favorite all time cables are the original Transparent Reference XLR and speaker cables. End game for me.

For decades the standard interconnect was RCA. Somewhere around twenty years ago balanced designs started becoming common and balanced interconnects became increasingly common. Now I would say the default for most companies are balanced... some offering newer methods. So, I switched to balanced about ten years ago. 

Folks invariably end up with a number of extra interconnects laying around. Which can be useful. So, it is very helpful you standardize on what is mainstream... since that is where most component companies are going to but their greatest effort. So, for now XLR is it. 

I try to stick with balanced whenever it is an option. Some components only have RCA and that's fine, if I can though I'll go XLR. In my experience it is usually the better bet.

I had a very similar experience as you about 8 years ago. I had a balanced system, but had it wired single ended. Just for fun one day I decided to wire it balanced with some 30 year old mic cables that were probably less than  $30.00 each when I bought them and they had all been dragged through mud and beer and everything in between. The results were amazing. I will never go single ended again.

I should clarify...

Just an FYI, the PS Audio S300 amp is a "true" or "fully" balanced design.  I have also noted that when connected to a "fully" balanced preamp, it sounds better with XLR cables.

I'm referring to connecting to the S300 in particular.  Paul McGowan (owner of PS Audio) has always been a champion of using balanced cables, to the point that I can't remember anything they have made in a long time that didn't have XLR connections.  

I find Mogami is a highly underrated cable. 

No brainer.  If you can, always go XLR!!!  Happy listening.    

incorrigable

XLR signals can reach a theoretical 20 volts DC which provides superior headroom.

I'd hope you're not running any DC (other than maybe a few tiny millivolts) through your balanced audio cables.

XLR signals can reach a theoretical 20 volts DC which provides superior headroom. Superior design connector. No wrestling RCA cables living fear of breaking the male RCA connector. 

SOIX - I was using Linn RCA interconnects

There is a reason why sound recording studios use XLR instead of RCA. Having equipment that satisfies the AES standard brings you closer to the original signal.

B

What RCA interconnects were you using?

Just an FYI, the PS Audio S300 amp is a "true" or "fully" balanced design.  I have also noted that when connected to a "fully" balanced preamp, it sounds better with XLR cables.

From everything I have been able to find out, both the Linn and PS Audio a fully balanced.  But either way it sounds fantastic.

XLR & RCA are simply connectors.   The important question is what are they connecting to?    Is it a truly balanced circuit - which uses XLR?  Or is it a single-ended circuit - which uses RCA?     

Are both components balanced?  Or is just one balanced? Or are neither balanced?  Or is the XLR connector on the chassis a fake balanced circuit.  The manufacturer simply daisy-chained the XLR connector to the RCA internally in the component. This is for convenience and to look cool    Homework is needed to determine what kind of circuitry your gear has.  It should be in the specs.

More info here.

A lot of times this has to do with the components being used. Like if a fully balanced device offers RCA inputs or outputs, and those are generated from the balanced signal being internally converted to single ended. Just to allow for more compatibility. That option often won't sound as good as sticking with the native balanced format. It is possible to handle that conversion well enough to be pretty transparent but a lot of designs cut corners here and it doesn't sound the same.

Not sure if this applies to your equipment or not. It could also just be that you prefer the Mogami cables to your other brand, even if they aren't as expensive.