balanced vs. unbalanced sound quality

I find the quality of interconnect wire to make more of a difference than the connection on the end. Just because a low quality cable has a XLR connectors doesn't make it sound better than a high quality cable with RCA connectors, especially for short runs. That being said, since my present system is fully balanced I do use XLR balanced interconnects. I also prefer the click connection of the XLR over even a locking RCA connection.

In my system balanced was quiter and more dynamic i was running single ended before that.Good luck!!

I think it depends on your system. 
I have a Spectral system and it was highly recommended that I use single ended. Professor Keith Johnson has said that the signal travels twice as far in a balanced cable and they present there own set of problems. 
Prior to my Spectral system I used balance cables. 
I do have a set of MIT balanced cables that I have never hooked up to the Spectral system. I will try to hook them up this weekend. I will report back after I have them hooked up.
I do use balanced cables from my JC3 to preamp and will try both types of cables when I hookup my Aesthetix IO. 
Keep listening 
joenies 

Professor Keith Johnson has said that the signal travels twice as far in a balanced cable and they present there own set of problems.

That's pretty funny!

If he really said this it suggests he doesn't know what he's talking about!!!
Look at a single ended cable- the signal travels in the center conductor, and the shield is the return path. In a balanced cable, the signal travels in a twisted pair, and the shield is ignored (not used for a return path). The distances are identical.

I'm guessing Johnson was referring to the signal path length within a balanced circuit, not within a balanced cable.