Balanced vs RCA preamp output

If you are doing a particularly long run from preamp to amp the XLR connection will help with not picking up noise. The Aragon BB is I believe a fully balanced amp and would need a fully balanced preamp to take full advantage of the XLR connection. Sometimes there is a gain difference in the two connections and usually but not always the XLR will give more volume. Some amps sound better one way or the other and some sound the same. I do not think the Rega is a balanced Cd player so you may not benefit much if at all with an XLR connection on a regular distance such as 3 meters or less. XLR does give a lot of audiophiles more satisfaction if only in their minds and not necessarily in their ears. I like to use these connections if they are there.

I have numerous true balanced pieces. I have found without exception that they sound best using balanced cables instead of single-ended. Case in point: BAT. I have the VK50SE preamp and the D5SE CD. Another case in point, Levinson, both the 333 and 33H. All of these components came to life with noticeable improvement in sound with balanced use. Don't even consider BAT unless you run fully balanced. Your mileage may vary!

beemer

I tend to agree Beemer - the Sonic Frontiers is another case in point. But there are also amps that have balanced connections that are not internally balanced at all. These tend to sound worse when using balanced cables, than with RCA.