Cable conundrum: Parasound A21 with RCA AND XLR

Having got this amp over the weekend, I am more than eager to know what Evergrey found out and which was better (RCA or XLR)? Some people claim that RCA is more musical than XLR. To them XLR seems more clinical.

Almarg,
The positioning of the switch is on 'balanced'. But, this does not make a difference in sound level/quality if i were to put it on 'unbalanced' as long as both connection types are in.
The ground switch is currently on 'lift'. I have not tried to change that. What about phasing?
~EG

Milpai,
At this point, i would have definitely said good quality RCA's are the way to go in my system if i could only run one type. The XLR's just did not have the the same sonic vibrancy/detail/depth. The initial increase in gain, actually seemed to deteriorate the sound, so i lowered the gains on the amp.

EG,

I can't formulate a precise explanation for your findings, but I suspect that if you put the ground lift switch to "normal" you may very well obtain results with only one set of cables connected that are similar to what you have obtained with both connected.

The ground lift switch isolates the ground sleeves of the rca connectors (and possibly also the ground wire on pin 1 of the xlr's) from the amp's chassis. I would only use that position if it is necessary to prevent ground loop hum or buzz. That isolation could conceivably account, in subtle ways related to the grounds, leakage paths, stray capacitances, etc. within the amp, for the sonic effects you observed when only one set of cables was connected.

Having both cable sets connected, while the ground switch is in the lift position, could conceivably alter the paths and impedances through which signal return currents flow, between the input circuits of the amp and the preamp. That in turn could conceivably alter or undo the sonic effects of having the cable grounds isolated from chassis.

That's all conjectural, but I definitely think it is worth reassessing your findings with the ground lift switch set to normal.

Re your question about phasing, I don't see any relevance, because neither the relative phase nor the absolute phase (polarity) of whatever inputs are selected (balanced or unbalanced) would be affected by the presence of the other set of cables.

Regards,
-- Al

I have a Parasound C2 preamp processor normally connected to a Parasound A23 amp using balanced cables. My ground switch was and is in the normal position and the cable switch set for balanced cables. I decided to try adding a set of unbalanced cables between the C2 and A23 based on Evergrey's post. The sound seemed fuller and more detailed through my Salk SongTower Speakers with both balanced and unbalanced cables connected whether the amp was switched to the balanced or unbalanced cable position. The unbalanced position sounded slightly better to me when the sound level was matched.
I do not believe the position of the ground switch is the explanation since mine is set to normal (not lifted). I have noted that even when the switch on the amp is in the wrong position for the type of cables used (that is unbalanced if only balanced cables are used or balanced if only unbalanced cables are used) there is some sound output albeit at a lower level. It may be that the amp is being input by both sets of cables although one at a much lower level that for reasons unknown to me gives a richer sound at the same volume. Then again this may be a placebo effect. In any case it was worth trying as I had the spare cables available. YMMV.