When to choice XLR over RCA ICs.

atmasphere

... The 6dB increase in volume only occurs if the balanced line standard is ignored ...

Yes, you’ve pointed that out previously. That’s why I specifically mentioned Audio Research in my example, because that’s the equipment I use.

The 6dB improvement in signal to noise of the gain stage is theoretical

In my example of ARC, it’s listed in the specs, it can be measured and - most important - it can be heard. It is very, very real.

I see the really big advantage of balanced lines in that you don’t have to have an expensive cable

Yes, that is a potential advantage. As we’ve previously discussed, it’s not the only advantage, but I understand you feel passionately about it.

@atmasphere - RE:

I see the really big advantage of balanced lines in that you don’t have to have an expensive cable with exotic materials for it to sound just as good as a cable that does have the exotic construction and materials.

if by exotic materials you are referring to OCC copper, OCC silver and low Dialectric contant insulation, then I have found that

• OCC copper and OCC silver are vastly superior to ofther variants (e.g. copper alloys like Copper/gold and copper/tungston) in terms of dynamic performance
• this allows them to recreate a signal that is more accurate i.e. compared to the original signal
• which in turn recreates the image of the venue in which the track was recorded more accurately.
• Insulations that have a low dialectric constant result in less noise being generated within the cable, hence improved clarity, which once again improved on the recreation of the recording venue in the resulting image
• This applies to single ended cables and ballanced cables alike

This has been verified by many members of the audiophile community across the globe that have tried many variations of both wire types and insulatons, with whom I have conversed while developing my own DIY cables. Many of them were building XLR versions of the Helix AIR DIY RCA Cables that used the same OCC metals, and insulations.

So basically the same geometry, wire types and insulations, the only real difference being the connectors, but even they both used silver plated copper pins.

FYI, the development of these cables has taken approximately 10 years so far, with constant assessment of sound quality improvements (or changes, sometimes not for the better), by many individuals from around the globe, so there were many ears listening to many systems of varying abilities and performance levels.

But as I said earlier, in the end it boils down to individual preferences.

• no two systems are the same
• no two sets of ears are the same

Regars - Steve

@williewonka I'd be curious to see if there is a difference in the sound of the cables when the supporting equipment also supports the balanced standard.

Just like single-ended, if the balanced line standard isn't supported you hear big differences between balanced cables.

But the goal of the standard is to eliminate that problem- because it is a problem! Plug and play is the goal, regardless of the cable and over the last 70 years or so, its worked really well (all hifi recordings from the 50s and 60s used balanced lines).

So it would be really interesting to see if OCC wire actually made a difference.

@atmasphere I have Pass Labs XP22 preamplifier and X260.8 mono amps and I can hear the difference between XLR interconnects. I’ve tried a few at various price points. The difference was enough to choose one set over another