Should I switch to a preamp with balanced outputs

SE versus balanced is largely a matter of taste and layout. If you have long cables from amp to pre-amp, you're probably better off using balanced. If not, SE works fine. For me, SE sounds consistently better--more liquid and dimensional; balanced sounds more detailed and articulated but flatter and less engaging. This is ture for me over a variety of very good amps using a fully balanced pre-amp. Maybe a different pre-amp (mine's a VAC) would tilt the balance toward balanced, as it were, I don't know. I have identical sets of cables terminated RCA and XLR, and I keep trying balanced but always go back to SE. That's just me. Others consistently prefer the opposite.

Keep what you currently have. You are very happy and enjoy the sound, that is the most important criteria. I see no reason to pursue balanced.

If you already have all the gear and it sounds good the way it is, leave it alone. Just because you change to a balanced preamp doesn't mean the only changes you will hear are from the balanced operation. It will still be a different preamp and will most likely sound completely different than you CJ, balanced or no. Also, its not very likely that you will be able to get a preamp that sounds at least as good, if not better than your CJ for $700.

I've used balanced mic cables in pro audio for centuries but for hifi isn't it a gear specific thing? I read reviews where the reviewer finds the balanced output (or input) sounds better sometimes, but others show no difference. Long cables...balanced of course...I use short balanced cables mostly because I like the "canon plug" connectors, but my power amp input ties two pins together anyway thus somewhat obviating the benefit of the balanced cable from my ACTUALLY balanced preamp, so I guess you gotta try variations. If there's no noise I figure you're doing fine.

Skipper320 hi, I believe you want to know is there an advantage using balanced (xlr) over single ended (rca)?

The short answer is NO, if the interconnects are around 5mt or under, and not passing next to any heavy noise noise generating equipment EG: a switchmode transformer.

The only time (xlr) can have an advantage over rca is "noise" if the interconnects are >10mt long

Even then, sadly many poweramps and preamps I've seen, use an opamp to create a balanced inputs or outputs, only to be really a single ended in design, these definitely sound better via their single ended inputs or outputs because all you are hearing via the balanced, is an opamp in the single path before the discrete rca circuit.
And I've seen this on some high end equipment!!!!!!

Cheers George