In my experience only listening will really tell, as it also depends *how* the balanced is IMPLEMENTED in the source equipment(s).
This unless some very long IC connections will be the case and RF issues adding to the mix.
With my equipment (all ML) feeding PASS poweramp, and having tried unbalance, balanced *always* by tiny SQ improvement won the day.
This, mind you, with no IC longer than 5' and the shortest less than 1'.
At the same time folk with diffent equipment and set up, having different synergys, will tell you, unbalanced will improve air and spaciousness, as oppose to a more dence and firmly focused image presentation.
Long story short, only testing and listening will tell it, is my learning.
Michélle
This unless some very long IC connections will be the case and RF issues adding to the mix.
With my equipment (all ML) feeding PASS poweramp, and having tried unbalance, balanced *always* by tiny SQ improvement won the day.
This, mind you, with no IC longer than 5' and the shortest less than 1'.
At the same time folk with diffent equipment and set up, having different synergys, will tell you, unbalanced will improve air and spaciousness, as oppose to a more dence and firmly focused image presentation.
Long story short, only testing and listening will tell it, is my learning.
Michélle