At this level of high(er) end audio why not offer balanced connections?

This is an @atmasphere , question.

He was one of the first designers to offer equipment that used the AES 48 standard.

Long story short, designing equipment that not only offers XLR, but adheres to the AES standard, makes it challenging. Many offer XLR connectivity, but do not use the AES standard-which makes the XLR connection subject to cable influence.

Okay, I should probably back up even further. 

The AES 48 standard insulates the cable from introducing 'cable artifacts'-or for a better phrase, 'cable sound'. This standard has been utilized by recording studios for decades. And, understandably so, considering that equipment is spaced over quite long distances.

So, when a manufacturer offers XLR/balanced, the equipment should adhere to the AES standard in order for the cable to introduce the minimal amount of 'coloration'.

Unfortunately, doing so makes it a bit of a design problem, albeit with additional cost.

Hopefully, Ralph(Atmasphere) will chime in.

Bob

@jerryg123 Yes, I'm speaking of those with their amp in the same room as their preamp.

@carlsbad  Yep what I thought and I agree sir. 

Yes, examples would be helpful so we can see where you want this discussion to go. Off the top of my head: Pass, darTZeel, Soulution, Levinson, Krell, FM Acoustics offer both balanced and XLR. D'Agostino offers only XLR, so that turns it around a bit.

Maybe contacting the specific manufacturer's marketing department would be of more help since we can only... speculate.

Maybe contacting the specific manufacturer's marketing department would be of more help since we can only... speculate

Would the engineering department also potentially know why?