Changing Turntable to Balanced Output

"" The output of a cartridge is in principle balanced UNTIL one side (usually the negative) is connected to ground. This may happen at the cartridge (where the (-) side of one channel is connected to a magnetic screen around the cartridge internal wiring..""

Some cartridges came with 3 not 4 pin connectors. I can't find out a " vintage " thread where the normal statement that the cartridge is a balanced design was questioned by serious high technical knowledge oriented Agoners and if I remember J.Carr posted down there and the final conclusion was that in reality the cartridge is not a true balanced design.

I have not the elements about but that " cartridge balanced " could be a little controversiallly. I think that other Agoner in that thread was kirkus along dgarretson. I wish I could find out because is of true ineterest for all of us. Unfortunatelly I can't remember the technoical foundation about but exist somewhere.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

@atmasphere 

on the second page it speaks to the balanced outs coming from the phonostage. I’m not really sure this true balanced outs because the transformers feed both sidle ended and XLRs. I am relatively new to this.

But some good SE cables do use an audio ground connection via the same wire used for the hot side. In that case, the shield will not be connected to the audio ground wire, and using such a cable for balanced is "better".

Thank you @lewm , that will helps impedance balance on positive and negative lead, made perfect sense!

I’m not really sure this true balanced outs because the transformers feed both sidle ended and XLRs. I am relatively new to this.

@audiosaurusrex Transformers allow you to run single-ended or balanced simply by grounding one side for single-ended, or balanced by letting the transformer winding 'float' (not be referenced to ground in any way) and simply being connected to pins 2 and 3 of the XLR connection.

So to run it single ended you would use a switch or install a jumper to the XLR connection, thus connecting pin 3 to pin 1.

@rauliruegas The old Decca cartridges from the 1960s and 70s had only three pins and thus have to be treated as single-ended sources. They are the only exception to 'all cartridges are balanced' I've ever seen- even ceramic cartridges can be treated as a balanced source. The newer Decca cartridges have 4 pins and are thus balanced.

So, the Edison phonograph is not balanced? Heh heh, there is always so much to learn here.

  Differences between a balanced connection and a balanced circuit (not just an electrical adjustment, but in fact a truly balanced design) are important to remember. That can further muddy the waters by not just accepting that an input may not be true to its suggested nature.