Mcintosh c46 balanced input vs. fully balanced pre

Merely having balanced inputs/outputs is indeed different from having a balanced circuit design (input and output).

Just because a component has balanced inputs/outputs does not necessarily mean that its circuit has been designed that way.

If properly implemented, a balanced circuit design will lead to, among other things, a lower noise floor due to what is called common mode rejection.

McIntosh C46 is not balanced, just a hook up convenience...nice pre though.

Just as I Thought. So "fully balanced" is a significant description of design. "Balanced inputs and outputs" means something different, a convenience. Thank you for the knowledge.....

So it is possible that the one balanced input is truly balanced through the output Bob?....

My Ashly electronic crossover (pro sound equipment) has an interesting version of balanced output. The output actually has only one active signal(+) pin on the XLR connector. The other signal pin (-) is simply connected to ground, but not directly. There is a resistor of value equal to the output impedance of the active circuit. Common mode noise rejection happens at the input of the receiving equipment. Since both wires in the cable are at the same impedance noise pickup will be the same, and the benefit of balanced interconnections is realized without extra circuitry. A clever idea, and it does work. Any preamp lacking balanced output would be easily modified using this scheme.