Balanced vs. Single Ended Interconnects
From your experience, would you expect a higher quality single ended interconnect or an entry level balanced interconnect to sound better when connecting two balanced components?
More specifically, I will be connecting a Denafrips Ares ii to a Pathos Classic One Mkiii and I currently have Audioquest Sydney RCA interconnects. Is it worth getting some cheap Monoprice XLR cables or should I just wait until I can justify purchasing something from Audioquest (probably Red River or Belden BAV) in the future.
- robot
Though I may be mistaken, it looks to me that your Pathos Classic One Mkiii is not truly balanced. That is, it does not use differential circuitry; the balanced inputs are either transformer-coupled, or simply single-ended inputs on XLR connectors. If that's the case, you're not likely to get much (if any) benefit from using a balanced cable. |
According to Ralph (Atmasphere), if both components use true balanced architecture, there is minimal benefit in using uber expensive balanced interconnects. Ralph, if I have misinterpreted the above feel free to correct me. IMHO there is really never any situation where using really cheapo wire is advisable when Blue Jeans, Redco and plenty of other companies sell interconnects (and speaker and other wire) using excellent Mogami and Canare wire at VERY reasonable prices.
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@cleeds about 6.50 in Kevin addresses the balanced input question. It is fully balanced according to Pathos.
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I'm not sure whether the Pathos Classic One is fully balanced or not. In the video, Kevin says it has a "fully balanced front end." That sounds to me like the amplifier itself is not a differential design, @jerryg123. But, with that front end, I can see that there could be advantages to using a balanced cable. |
