More on XLR vs RCA considerations?

Thanks guys

Sooooo.............The consensus is that I "should" hear a benefit to using XLR connections from preamp to amps even though nothing else is balanced?

Thanks,

Bill

What makes you think your thread will be different? Ralph, the BAT crew, and their follwers will swear you can’t have a good system without XLR. Many of the rest of us who swear by RCA, aren’t so married to it and we’ll likely say it doesn’t matter.

I have a custom amp made well beyond the price of most high end amps, and I had RCA inputs installed.

Jerry

carlsbad2

Ralph, the BAT crew, and their follwers will swear you can’t have a good system without XLR.

I generally prefer balanced components for a number of reasons but I don't think your claim is true. I ran single-ended for years with excellent results. As is often the case in audio, implementation is everything - there are good and bad (relatively) examples of each.

Jerry

I remember you talking about having yours made with RCA and you are talking about nice high end gear. Also, I find it interesting that CJ does not use XLR's. It seems that both can be excellent but maybe balanced has some advantage in some situations. Certainly in long runs but maybe some other situations as well. I am no expert, that's for sure. I can only try it with mine and see what I think. Even that won't prove a whole lot due to so many other factors involved but at least I'll have a taste of it and maybe I'll lean one way or the other. Hard to say.

I hope I haven't stirred more trouble. Not the intent at all. I appreciate all the input and I know there is a vast wealth of knowledge and experience here. Many thanks.

Bill

@billpete 

I believe you have the general idea:

It cost more in circuitry to produce balanced amps. Many lower price tube amps only come unbalanced.

It depends on the circuit design, but “usually” balanced is quieter than single ended.  No guarantees