Looking for preamp which is good at BOTH single-ended AND balanced output

The over-looked EAR-Yoshino 868L, designed and built by the recently-departed Tim de Paravicini, occasionally available used for around $3,000. The 868 sports two pair each of single-ended and balanced outputs on it’s rear---all independent of each other, the balanced outputs created via Paravicini’s legendary transformers. Each output is capable of driving a 200 ohm load, a brutal task required in pro recording studios, a field in which TdP did a fair amount of design work. Amplification is provided via a pair of 7DJ8 tubes.

EAR-Yoshino is distributed in the U.S.A. by the firm doing the same for two other superior UK companies: Townshend Audio (the unique Rock turntable---currently unavailable, the line of Seismic isolation products, a passive pre-amp, a super-tweeter, and interconnect and speaker cables), and Helius Designs (tonearms). Paravicini chose the Helius Omega tonearm to mate with his Master Disk Turntable.

ccheung
Looking for preamp which is good at BOTH single-ended AND balanced output

No voodoo here it all comes down to the design.

First one must ask the manufacturer, is their preamp circuit a "single ended design" with single ended rca output, but also with a "pseudo balanced circuit opamp" tacked on the single ended output to give the optional balanced/xlr??
If so in this case, the single ended rca output should sound better, over 1-3mt runs

If it’s a true balanced design all the way then the balanced should be quieter over very long (>5mts) interconnect runs, if 2mt or less the RCA should sound just as good.

Cheers George

RIP Tim P

This would be hard to find, but an SST Ambrosia is a world class Preamp with 2 single ended and 2 balanced..... You can get the first series for $3000, maybe less.  The series 2 is essentially the same preamp, but the moved a few circuits around to get rid of the fan.  You won't find a series 2 under $3000.  Do a search for the reviews, this is worth hunting down. Good Luck,  Tim

@ccheung  Just so you know, balanced and single-ended are incompatible. So there likely isn't a preamp good at both.

In single-ended circuits, the ground connection is part of the signal. In balanced circuits ground is ignored. The output of a balanced circuit **should** (if its supporting the balanced standard) not have any reference to ground; pin 2 is generated with respect to pin 3 and vice versa; neither signal is generated with respect to ground.

You can convert from one to the other using a line transformer. One of the benefits of balanced operation is no longer having to deal with interconnect cable artifact. You won't get that if the preamp does not support the balanced line standard.