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Phono stage options - balanced with XLR both input and output...

I really like my Elac PPA-2, it's surprisingly good and has bested the few others I've tried.  I use XLR/balanced for input and output (for the first time with this one).

It is starting to glitch, and I am considering purchasing another one ('preowned'), but before I do wanted to check here what options you know of in terms of fully balanced phono stages with XLR input and output.

go4vinyl
vinylvalet
841 posts
 

+1 Zesto Audio. Very quiet, excellent sound quality, balanced in and out.

lewm
12,511 posts
 

I confess lack of knowledge about the very latest ARC preamps. If the internal circuitry is balanced in the strict sense of that term, then I must apologize for conveying the wrong idea. Certainly classic ARC units were not balanced, eg, SP10, 11, etc.

went to ph2 website. Mea culpa. It’s balanced.

oldears
386 posts
 

Ayre P-5xe

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,370 posts
 

Ayre

joenies's avatar
joenies
258 posts
 

Hello mijostyn

It is my understanding now that the Aesthetixs I/O first stage is SE not balanced. Therefore the reason for using a SE cable.

‘I wish manufacturers would stop putting XLR/Balanced connectors on equipment that’s not truly balanced. I don’t see any benefit in doing that. It is my understanding that the I/O does have a true Balanced output.

Sorry for the confusion on my part.

Joe

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