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).

Why would that be the case? Is it merely the improved SN ratio, etc. from being balanced, or is it something circuit related with running each channel's plus and minus through separate amplification stages?
greg7
Thanks for all the discussion folks.  It's always nice to read a thread that actually educates, or at least presents the opportunity...
For those of you who might be technically less adroit, I suggest to search for "pints with Ayre" and listen to why balanced is one of their design constructs (along with "no op-amps", zero feedback, etc).
Thanks everybody I feel like this thread should be a sticky. I'm learning a lot and also being confused by a lot of this high level discussion!