That's even easier, saw it on their website, cool setup. Thanks for the info. However the combo of my Lyra Kleos and Stellar phono stage as stated earlier makes it very unlikely I will ever go that route. I like my system as is and am winding down on the many upgrades and tweaks done over the last 4 years in my house of stereo. I really enjoy spending most of my time listening to music now instead of trying to improve the sound.
New TT : Balanced vs. Unbalanced Connection?
I am in a six-month process of assembling a system will last me for the next 5-10 years. I’m set on the components, so please do not try to talk me out of my selections. My question here is a technical one.
I have purchased a Thorens TD–1601 and a Nagaoka MP–200 cartridge. I am trying to decide on the Integrated amp between Yamaha’s A-S3200 and A-S2200. The key difference for this question being the A-S3200 has two balanced inputs and the A-S2200 has one. I will use the first balanced connection to connect a recently purchased HiFi Rose RS-150b Streamer/DAC.
Now to my real question. The semi-automatic Thorens TD-1601 has both balanced and unbalanced outputs. I am considering buying a Schitt Skoll phono pre which has balanced in-and-out. In that case, I would buy the Yamaha A-S3200, needing two balanced inputs.
So, ASSUMING the phono preamp on the Yamaha A-S2200 is comparable to the Schitt Skoll, will I get markedly better sound by going fully unbalanced, with the Skoll and the much more expensive A-S3200, or unbalanced direct from Thorens TT into the highly regarded phone pre of the A-S2200?
What benefits will I get by going balanced? How much benefit? It is worth the complexity, extra box, cables, $2,000-3,000? I can afford it if much better, but don’t want to spend money unnecessarily. The TT and the integrated will be right next to each other, so distance is not a factor. Or is the A-S3200 that much better? …I like the BIGGER meters.
My current speakers are Paradigm Reference Studio 40 v2, which I love and have two pair, a super sleeper. They are not likely to be changed…one day Fyne Audio.
To reiterate, this is a technical question about the merits of balanced turntable connections. Thanks for the input. I have learned much from this forum over the last few years.
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@tablejockey thanks, I appreciate your attention to this thread. I do have a zphono, personally, I cannot hear a difference between it and the onboard pre in my current integrated. The zphono is a nice piece, for sure. I have been reading about the new Schitt Skoll Phono Pre, and aside from its fully balanced function, I am impressed its capabilities with the measured reviews. Probably where I will start. Open to comments on it. |
@willy-t , @elliottbnewcombjr , @rmdmoore , If I can straighten some things out here: You don't get any more gain. That only happens with active outputs that don't support the balanced standard, AES48. When you run a cartridge balanced, it supports the standard. So no increase in gain. For home use, the advantage is that a properly set up balanced line will minimize the 'sound' of the cable. If you've ever auditioned cables and heard a difference, that's what I'm talking about. The tonearm cable is the best place to really get that right; no matter how good the rest of your system is, it can't make up for colorations and loss from the tonearm cable. Even if the cable is only 1 meter, you still get a benefit as opposed to an RCA cable. Keep in mind the cartridge is a balanced source to begin with. |
1++ Cartridges, with only a few exceptions are balance devices. For the best sound (no sound of their own), tonearm cables and interconnects should be balanced. This is mandatory for long runs. With tonearms the ground is isolated in a fifth wire, so RCAs can be balanced also, it is up to the manufacturer of the phono stage whether or not it is operated truly balanced. When we use XLRs we leave pin #1 blank. Great choice of turntable. You may have to add some weight to the tonearm for the MP 200 which is on the stiff side. Soundsmith sells a set of graded cartridge screws that are great for tuning resonance. You want it down by 8 Hz. You might even be able to go lower. You can get the real compliance with a test record. the HIFi News record seems to be the most popular. |
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