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SQ difference XLR vs RCA ?

I’ve read lots of the discussions on this forum about balanced vs single ended connections.  My understanding so far is that balanced connection has better signal to noise than single ended, which helps if you have hum or noise problems or if you have long runs.  
My question is this:  if I have a quiet system with short runs, do balanced connections sound better?

mabonn
mahler123
3,317 posts
 

Probably not...

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,443 posts
 

Nope, unless you own components that sports balanced design. Components with unbalanced design even with XLR jacks offers no improvements over RCA with short run of Interconnects cables.

When in doubt, check manufacturer specifications :-)

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad
1,551 posts
 

RCA and XLR can be implemented differently.   I think your question assumes that they are the same signal sent through RCA wires or XLR wires.  But XLR can be implemented different ways.  Often a small transformer is used in the XLR input.  This will change SQ, maybe better, maybe worse.  It may pair well with your preamp, it may not.  So implementation methods of XLR may make your question more complicated than you meant and answerers may not realize how their xlr is implemented.

In my amp, Decware, it is hard to compare.  The XLR amps have a transformer that adds about 8dB of gain.  so you have to adjust volume to try to do an A/B. Right now Im using XLR.  However, I've upgraded my RCA connectors coming out of the amp and may go back and forth.  I don't have a strong opinion.

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,883 posts
 

@mabonn,

SQ difference XLR vs RCA ?

See article below:

Mike

http://www.atma-sphere.com/en/resource-why-balanced.html

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