Differential Balanced Sound Quality

I've read where running a true balanced (differential) amplifier as such sounds much better than running it single ended (I'm assuming the same amp has both balanced and single ended inputs here).

That's the story. The one time I was able to do a valid comparison that is sure not the way it went. Dealer wanted to show off his Krell and how great it was balanced. So I made him let me hear it with the same interconnect both ways. Obviously not the same RCA/XLR but the same brand and level interconnect. As close as close can get.  

With balanced there definitely was a blacker background and...  that was it. The sound had slightly more of a hard edge to it. Just the kind of thing a lot of guys confuse with detail. 

Anyway, it is all beside the point. Because it is so obviously the wrong way to go. The number one factor in quality sound is quality parts. Going balanced requires twice as many parts. A whole duplicate circuit. So even if there is some advantage, it would have to be twice as good. And it's not. Nowhere even close. At best a slight improvement. Which you paid a hefty price tag to achieve. Bad move.

Balanced is in my opinion a misuse of technology. Balanced is totally designed for professional use. Runs of hundreds of meters. Not tens of feet. Components with hundreds of connections frequently being moved around. Home systems have a few and they tend to not be moved around much. On and on it goes. Every design attribute of balanced has the professional in mind. Home systems need locking connections? I don't think so. 

Good choice though if your system is the Kingdome. 

You’ll find the thoughts on this very polarizing, and in reality, it just depends. My current system is all single ended, with the exception of my phono pre out. I run that balanced for several reasons. I’m not a fan of preamp to amp balanced connections. I’ve always preferred single ended overall. YMMV

     My preamp, amps and universal disc player offer both balanced and unbalanced connections.  I use balanced/xlr cables for all connections since they are objectively more secure and I subjectively perceive them as quieter and a heck of a lot cooler than unbalanced/rca cables.  My dog and 2 cats also can't knock anything loose when they manage to get back there and start messing around.

Tim 

Have had both and I must say that while the balanced front end was not of the quality that my present unbalanced front end now exhibits, there existed a depth in the music that was at times uncanny. Reducing the noise floor in my opinion is a critical aspect of a system when attempting to hear into the music. 
I still use balanced power with both an EQUI=TECH wall unit and Balanced Power Technologies  AC treatment. Still I have found that "spooky" sound quality a bit less prevalent in the current system. 
Using a BAT VK P 10SE phono stage fed my system a very deep and quiet signal. Alas the unit at 20 years old began to have problems. 
Running high efficiency speakers brings out the charm of a balanced system. I say it's worth it.