2. amps-preamps
  3. 177204-110235

Balanced versus single ended

From my experience, every situation that had both options, the balanced connection and/or increased gain sounded better, regardless of the bolume knob’s final position. More detail , air, emotional connection etc. The single ended cables used were good, not the bargain or so called high end extreme.

Sometimes using balanced or xlr it involved just the source, but optimally it carried through thd entire chain.

Anyways, my question is: has anyone ever thought that single ended sounded better?given the 2 options. Im only referring to a truly balanced connection.

I ask, because a manufacturer who makes tube amps, recommends single over balanced connection. Is there something else involved in this decision, additional parts or labor complexity? Is the signal path extended?

Thanks in advance

 

recluse
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,173 posts
 

@holmz,

does cable create the conformance to the AES48 standard?
or…
the electronics that it plugs into?

They both do! 😁

Mike

 

ghdprentice
8,123 posts
 

@ditusa

 

Ok. If I am running interconnects for several hundred feet… it is important. But this is a condition that is vertically nonexistent in high end audio.

 

The reality is that the quality of the interconnect usually trumps single ended versus balanced for the vast majority of actual systems. I have never heard a system where the single ended / balanced was a significant factor. The additional cost for balanced typically is significant. So, it really remains best a dilemma for folks with very high end systems.  If you have to be budget conscious. Then get single ended… don’t think twice. If you are trying to assault the highest achievable… then try both.

My average component cost is $20K and my manufacturer recommends balanced… I couldn’t detect the difference… so it is small. I suggest worrying about the big stuff… this ain’t it for most folks.

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

They both do! 😁

There is not a lot of reason to trade up in cable with the electronics that conform.

It is possible to make a cable that does not conform, or that flips the phase, but realistically the cables should all conform.

So it looks like a sales pitch for cables… for electronics which are masquerading as conforming, but do not conform.

Starting with better electronics seems like a better value than “spicing to flavour” with cables.

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,173 posts
 

Starting with better electronics seems like a better value than “spicing to flavour” with cables.

I agree!

 

zlone
952 posts
 

Just for the purposes of discussion, what if you used an AES48 compliant cable between compliant devices, but used such poor quality wire that both signal wires  in a cable negatively affected the sound in an equivalent fashion. 

More to discover