Just retired and want to get back to vinyl listening

curious as to why more TT/tonearms would not have balance outputs and equipment inputs for these in various equipment be the xlr balanced inputs

The idea of the cartridge being a balanced source was introduced to home audio in 1989 by Atma-Sphere (the MP-1 was the first balanced line preamp for home use). Before that it just wasn't around. To this day, I still occasionally run into tone arm manufacturers that don't realize that the cartridge (and thus the tone arm) is a balanced source. If we're talking about inexpensive gear that uses OPamps, its almost the same cost to run balanced as it is single-ended. But the industry relies heavily on tradition- meaning that it will try to do the same thing the same way decades on after its been shown that there is a better way. In that regard audio is like a host of other industries- and maybe that's just a human nature thing. 

I am instead asking you how RCA outputs from a typical modern table can be used in balanced form as you clearly stated.

This is sort of a cringe-worthy thing that you sometimes run across. The idea is that the RCA connection is not tied to ground- usually they 'float' and if tied to ground, are done so by a wire. But you could use the ground side as the minus output of the cartridge, and so- you could then have the input circuit be a differential amplifier and *if* the ground wire is tied to chassis it would work. Sort of- you do have this little problem that the '+' output of the cartridge is likely going to be shielded by the '-' output of the cartridge (by the single-ended tone arm cable), and this is where the cringe-worthy issue comes up- this leaves the system highly vulnerable to hum. Now if the cable was built balanced, and the shield was actually the ground wire, then the only area where the system is hum susceptible is the RCA connector itself.

I think this idea got going so that the preamp would be instantly compatible with any turntable interconnect, but in reality it isn't. On top of that, as soon as the minus output is acting as a shield for the plus output, the construction of the cable is going to have an effect on the sound, so you just lost an important aspect of balanced operation, which is cable artifact immunity. IOW it really should be done with an XLR.   

Been pondering 12" Tri-planar terminated - cartridge to XLR straight through. Mounted on modified Technics 1200 G . 

Still pondering cartridge choices.

Kuzma 4pt can be ordered same way. Might be others. Maybe someone else can with knowledge can add to this thread.

Suggestions for cartridge choices are welcome. Considering .....
Koetsu Black Goldline
Transfigureation Proteus
Lyra Etna 
Van de Hul ?
Suggestions ?????????

Been Scantek guy since 88'
Have my first Dynavector XX 2 mkII 

60s, 70s, 80s R&R
Jazz for about 7yrs now
Select Classical for 3yrs
Then the quirky stuff that that only I like.
Then the 50s stuff that older brother and sister listened to.

Ralph-I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for being the resource that you are. You lend a tremendous amount of reliable information in simple layman's terms to this Board. 

Suggestions for cartridge choices are welcome. Considering .....

Cartridge manufacturers really don't want to admit this, but the ability of the tonearm to properly track the cartridge is far more important than what cartridge! The Triplanar is one of the most adjustable arms made (even can adjust effective mass a bit) so as a result it can track a pretty wide range of cartridges.

IOW you will do well with all the choices you have listed. Your taste in music has nothing to do with it; no cartridge made cares what sort of music you play (this is true of electronics and speakers too), nor does a particular cartridge favor a certain type of music.

So I look at it in terms of how well the cartridge holds up. I've had a Transfiguration Orpheus that has done quite well- its on its 6th year and is still relaxed and musical. I expect sooner or later the suspension will die and when that does it will have acquitted itself quite well.

Modwright KWI-200 integrated amp.  Can also get a phono section in the amp at extra cost.  Modwright stuff sounds very good and the 200 watts per channel will drive most any speaker.  You're out west so if you have no major reservations about buying used, your money can go MUCH farther.  You can generally get equipment for 50% of the list cost, sometimes much better than that.  Used, you can get this IA with phono for under $3500, maybe better.

If you have any woodworking skills at all, buying a used Lenco 70, 75 or 78 TT and doing much of what the Home Depot thread on Audio Circle tells you to do, can yield an awesome sounding table.  I have ZERO mechanical or electrical knowledge and I did it and the idler driven platter is dead accurate on all speeds and sounds frightened dynamic and real.  I second the use of a Trans-Fi Terminator straight line tracking air bearing tonearm.  I did the combo and after many parts upgrades it cost me about $2500 for the pair.  A Shelter 501 Mk II or III MC will get much of the higher priced sound right.  An Allnic H-1200 phono section is the most dynamic phono preamp at a still reasonable cost.  If you were to get the last pair used, it would cost about $1300-1400 so for $3800 and some work by you, you'd have a very good analog section that could compete with $10,000 set-ups and not be embarrassed.

Speakers are a matter of preference, however, the Tekton Double Impact speakers are all the rage on Audiogon Forums.   Many have sold their very expensive speakers and bought the DI's and love them--very dynamic and live sounding.  Base price is $3000 new, although Tekton does offer a couple upgraded parts DI's at $3600 and $6000.

Cables can effect the sound in very positive or so-so ways.  When I jumped to Darwin Silver ICs, it was a big jump up in performance over Morrow or many others in the good for the money group.  Also, the Amadi Maddie Signature ICs are very good and the equal of the better Darwin cables.  The AMS's are also silver wired.  Neither Darwin or Amadi ICs are bright sounding but very detailed and transparent with excellent bass.  I have several pairs of either available at used prices.  It took ICs that were more expensive to make a big difference and it was super synergy in my system that cause me to go for that change after hearing them.  There was nothing out there at the used price of the Darwins or Amadis that is their equal--$140-$250.

Amadi also makes very good power cables along with Cerious Technologies.  Speaker cables like Speltz Anticables are awesome at their price--under $85 for an 8 ft. pair new.  Very clear and detailed again with no brightness.  It took a pair of Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme cables to take them out of my system for good. The CTGE cables are $640 for 8 ft. pair.   Amadi also makes an excellent speaker cable at about $600-700 an 8 ft. pair.