Are you referring to balanced signal paths between preamps/amplifiers? Digital components or just the use of that style of connector? There is a difference when it comes to the signal path (balanced/unbalanced) and there are other situations where unbalanced coaxial would be better as well.
If I were to offer the most simplified response it would be the difference between professional and consumer products- but that has also changed over the years.
At this level of high(er) end audio why not offer balanced connections?
I am curious - and please, save us all time, refrain from speculation on this - why do companies persist in omitting balanced connections when it comes to high / higher end audio products?
I understand that when it comes to lower price point items manufacturers would not want the additional costs. But when many folks have higher end systems, why would an manufacturer not offer balanced connections?
Appreciate those with non-speculation replies.
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My guess would be that equipment that is manufactured as truly balanced, would always have XLR connections. And all other equipment having balanced connectors are only fooling the buyer into thinking there will be an improvement in sound by using them? By using XLR cables into an unbalanced amp, does the signal not have to be processed one extra step? |
@carlsbad : +++++ |
The use of the XLR connector system has nothing at all to do with the application (electrical specification or the type of signal). Electrical signalling may be balanced or unbalanced or differential. It does not even specify the number of connector pins. The assumption is that 3 pin connectors define the use of balanced signalling, with positive (pin 2) and negative (pin 3) being equal and opposite in polarity with respect to signal ground (pin 1), and symmetrical with identical phasing. Some applications simply do not adhere to the concept of balanced signalling (i.e. phono cartridges), but do work well at maintaining an electrically consistent path from cartridge to phono stage. In fact, the use of coaxial connectors (i.e. RCA pin connectors, tip/sleeve, BNC et al), is fundamentally incorrect because it uses one of the signal-carrying conductors as the shield. To sum it up, in the audio spectrum, the type of connector matters very little. The quality of connector matters a lot. The use of balanced electrical signalling, the use of differential signalling, for interconnects is preferred over unbalanced electrical signalling, but only where the signal origin is balanced (i.e. at the output stage). |
Some of the best sounding components ever made use only RCA. The fact that a component has XLR does not mean it's "better" . My last preamp, Zesto Leto had a full set of both RCA and XLR inputs and outputs. Aside from the difference in gain it was hard to tell which format was being used. They sounded identical |
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