Balanced?
Pycroft
Posts: 1,961
Hi all... Quick question.
I have heard people comment on balanced connections between amps and preamps. Is that the connection that looks like you are plugging in a microphone in (i know that's a bad description, but for a lack of picture, I know no other way to describe it). Can someone comment on what using the balanced does to the sound, and if it is preferred over the standard RCA connections. Thanks,
James
I have heard people comment on balanced connections between amps and preamps. Is that the connection that looks like you are plugging in a microphone in (i know that's a bad description, but for a lack of picture, I know no other way to describe it). Can someone comment on what using the balanced does to the sound, and if it is preferred over the standard RCA connections. Thanks,
James
2 Channel/HT:
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player
Post edited by Pycroft on
Comments
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That's been covered 100 times on the forum. Literally 100 times, do a search.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
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Thanks.
James2 Channel/HT:
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player -
Is that the connection that looks like you are plugging in a microphone in (i know that's a bad description, but for a lack of picture, I know no other way to describe it).
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Not to beat a dead horse but I have a question based on the reading I did of the linked post. Someone commented that it would be silly not to use balanced if your gear is "Fully Balanced". I read all of the thread, and I'm sure the answer was there, but I'm not a very technical person when it comes to this. So, can someone explain that comment? Does fully balanced mean that both the amp and preamp have the balanced inputs and were meant to go together? I know some amps have a pre-amp designed to accompany it. Do I assume if they both have inputs that it will automatically sound like it is supposed to or are there other issues involved? Thanks so much, and forgive me if this has been asked, but again - James = non-technical.
James2 Channel/HT:
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player -
Your amp, pre amp and source should all be balanced to answer your question specifically."Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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Some electronics convert a balanced signal to unbalanced signal, or vise versa within the device. That would make the signal actually unbalanced within the device. Having the XLR setup is good for transmitting the signal over long distances. Now if you have a fully balanced system from source to pre to amp and they are all truly balanced then you have something their. This usually only happens on higher end gear.Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
Thanks
Ben -
Just bear in mind that just because a particular piece of gear says that it is balanced does not mean that it is actually is. Truly balanced gear is more on the expensive side of things...a big expense on the manufacturer to do it fully. A lot of gear might have balanced inputs but are far from being truly balanced throughout."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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Bingo on the above.
For example in the short future I want to pick up some BAT stuff. They are a fully balanced design, however carry a heavy price tag. A lot of gear has the XLR inputs, but its really not truely balanced. You have to read carefully and check to see if the gear is truely a full balanced design and then also make sure all the parts are that way. So the CDP-Pre-Amp all have to be the same in the chain.
