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Mixing balanced and unbalanced inputs/outputs on Ayre preamp - amateur question!

Hello,

I have been enjoying my system for a few years but I am now in the position to start upgrading. I have a pretty basic question that I can't seem to find a good answer to. I am looking to upgrade my preamp to an Ayre K-5xeMP that accepts both balanced and unbalanced inputs/outputs. I will also be upgrading my DAC and it will likely also have balanced output as an option. I will also be adding a phono preamp (currently integrated with my pre) that will be unbalanced. My amp is an old Mcintosh MC2125 that is unbalanced. I would prefer to not upgrade the amp for a while.

Could I run both balanced and unbalanced inputs into the Ayre followed by unbalanced output to the Mcintosh? Or does the entire system either have to be balanced or unbalanced? I understand I may not be getting the best quality by mixing, but if I can mix the inputs/outputs it allows me to slowly upgrade all components to ones that accept balanced connections.

How my system may look in the near future
DAC balanced output -> Ayre balanced input -> Ayre unbalanced output -> Mcintosh
Phono preamp unbalanced output -> Ayre unbalanced input -> Ayre unbalanced output -> Mcintosh

Is this possible? Or is it all balanced or all unbalanced or it may cause some damage to the preamp? Of course eventually I hope to upgrade the amp and phono section, but I can't do it all at once.

Thank you for the help! I know this may be a silly question, but it's my first experience with balanced connections.
blefevre
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,992 posts
 
Since the Ayre has both connections its no worries.
Some tips:
The Ayre converts all single-ended sources to balanced due to its differential operation. So no worries on the input side.
All phono cartridges are balanced sources FWIW; the tone arm connection is where things go single-ended. Usually you can just replace the tone arm interconnect to restore balanced operation.
The advantage of balanced operation is not only longer cable can by used, but whatever cable used will have less artifact. For example in the phono you don't have to have an expensive cable for it to sound right, just one that is properly built.
Balanced operation is also a way of preventing ground loop hum. 
blefevre OP
1 posts
 
Thank you everyone for the responses. I appreciate the help. I definitely want to go full balanced eventually, but in the meantime I will have to have mixed input/output.
frostdotcom
39 posts
 
I dont know about how the circuits of the Ayre sound but my bryston sp2 connected to a classe cav150 sounds better unbalanced than balanced.  Remember, internally, all throughput is unbalanced.  The balancing and unbalancing happens at the input and the output of the line level connections.  In short runs theres no benefit unless the transformer or balancing circuit affects the sound in a positive way.  In longer runs balancing becomes a big advantage.  Source: current pro audio engineer with an EE degree, former professor in music technology.  
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,992 posts
 
my bryston sp2 connected to a classe cav150 sounds better unbalanced than balanced. Remember, internally, all throughput is unbalanced. The balancing and unbalancing happens at the input and the output of the line level connections. In short runs theres no benefit unless the transformer or balancing circuit affects the sound in a positive way. In longer runs balancing becomes a big advantage. Source: current pro audio engineer with an EE degree, former professor in music technology.  
@frostdotcom
The reason that your amp sounded better this way is that the Classe uses a separate circuit in series with the signal to convert from balanced to single-ended and you can hear the effects of that circuit.

The statement from your friend is false. There are plenty of amps and preamps that are internally balanced/differential and there is a benefit from running balanced connections in short runs (even if only 6 inches); finally a transformer does not have to be part of the circuit (although its tricky if no transformer is employed).
frostdotcom
39 posts
 
That source was not my friend, its me.  There are indeed circuits that run balanced internally but Id call them more rare than common.  Ive only see one mixing board that operated that way (it was a ward beck, im sure there are others but many ive worked on were not).  Most of the balanced gear ive encountered from eq's to mixing boards to mic preamps (20 years as a pro audio engineer) were balanced at the input and output.  Even those that are balanced at the input and output can have a pleasant sound as the transformer or balancing circuit can be a pleasing analog sound.  However, Ill forever disagree that balanced is always better for short runs as some of the worlds finest gear is unbalanced internally and sounds well, world class still.  
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