Balanced vs Unbalanced Digital Cables

@bigwave1

I suspect (but don’t know) that there is no “3db gain” with a balanced connection in the digital domain.  I mean, you’re either saying “1” or “0”, but more forcibly?

Not to say the signal might not come in stronger (perhaps 3db more if one hooked it to a amplifier without a DAC, or more clearly, but it’s not “gain” like one would think of it in the analog world, as in “louder” after it comes out the analog side of a DAC.

Again, this is purely a hunch, not knowledge.

I just email Lumin to see their reply and thanks folks!

I’m running XLR’s from my DAC to my preamp and from my preamp to my amps. Both made a difference in the sound. I have been using AQ Colorado XLR’s for years between the DAC and the preamp and I am currently testing some Clarus Crimson XLR’s.  There a difference, but so far, it’s small and I am able to keep them a couple more weeks, so I’ll decide then.

In most cases there is little, if any difference, between the cost of a single ended or balanced digital cable.

My personal preference are balanced digital cables or bnc terminated single ended.

Try some digital cables from the cable company.

Balanced digital?