Should I upgrade to XLR interconnects?

SJTM - Just an FYI - a friend that had an Ayre system with balanced IC’s throughout.

As an experiment, he replaced the Kimber Kable silver XLR's between the DAC and the amp with my my KLE Innovations gZero3 single ended IC’s .

He found the the single ended IC's provided
- a bigger more precise and detailed image
- deeper bass with better control
- smoother top end
- more clarity

The Kimber IC’s were 2 meter silver IC’s, while the gZero3’s were 1 meter copper.

It can really depend on your components also.

Some argue that...
- single ended designs are simpler (i.e. no XLR circuitry) and therefore reproduce music more faithfully.
- some components with balanced I/O’s may be single ended designs under the covers and therefore do not capitalize on the balanced approach.
- the various balanced circuitry implemented in some components may not be of the best quality, resulting in signal degradation.

The best approach in this hobby is to try some cables and see how they react to YOUR components.

Try to get some loaners from hi-fi stores - or go through the process of purchasing and returning them.

Getting the right cable is a little like pin the tale on the donkey - now and again you’ll get it spot on, but more often it’s a pain in the ASS!

Regards...

"Some argue that...
- single ended designs are simpler (i.e. no XLR circuitry) and therefore reproduce music more faithfully.
- some components with balanced I/O’s may be single ended designs under the covers and therefore do not capitalize on the balanced approach.
- the various balanced circuitry implemented in some components may not be of the best quality, resulting in signal degradation."

willie,

Did you read the OP or my prior thread? The OP is not selecting components, but cables. If the gear is differentially balanced, using XLR cables will provide a "simpler" circuitry path than SE.

Dave

I like and use XLR balanced cables and like them over RCA. But just because you use XLR cables does not mean you are a truce balance system from input to out put. A lot of equipment offer XLR hook ups but are not true balanced units. They are single ended inside.
enjoy Pete

Again to be clear, your integrated is a single ended design. It is not balanced
Alan

Hi Alan,

Where do you derive your certainty that this is the case? Marantz’s literature indicates otherwise, but does fall short of stating that the preamp is fully differentially balanced as they do for the disc player. Were I the OP, I would check with Marantz to confirm this for certain.

Dave