Balanced vs. Single Ended Interconnects

The same to me. There are more permutations of unbalanced cables because it’s much harder to get them "right." The majority have 50% of the audio signal configured as a shield. Unbalanced is dated technology.

Ask Ralph.

I thought proper xlr cables used “common mode rejection”?

meaning the two half signals being 180 out of phase… thus cancelling out any real EMI/RFI when summed at the termination?

in other words, XRL cables with no shielding at all should work just the same…

but single ended RCA cables improve with proper sheathing?

I know I have a lot to learn in the balanced versus unbalanced cable department lol

For shorter lengths i suggest you try both and see what you like best.

My experience is that both have to be of equal quality no matter what the configuration. 

For whatever it's worth I have done a lot of critical listening over the years with a lot of different high-end audio equipment and at short distances (1/M - 1.5/M) and I have not noticed a difference in the music comparing XLR to RCA other than I acknowledge that when the volume is set at the same level the XLR cables are about 3dB louder. Therefore assuming your equipment has both RCA and XLR inputs and outputs I recommend staying with a good pair of RCA interconnects unless you are talking about extremely long runs.

If they sound the same, then other conclusion would be to just run XLRs.
They are more immune to noise.

 

I thought proper xlr cables used “common mode rejection”?

meaning the two half signals being 180 out of phase… thus cancelling out any real EMI/RFI when summed at the termination?

in other words, XRL cables with no shielding at all should work just the same…

but single ended RCA cables improve with proper sheathing?

 

I know I have a lot to learn in the balanced versus unbalanced cable department lol

I think you have learned it.

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.

Even it is transformer coupled, one stills get the CMRR benefit from the XLRs.
(Those Jenson ISOmax couplers are used for the main reason in that they work.)

fagetaboutit