RCA versus XLR interconnects

Well, it might matter. It depends, yeah.

OCD hi fi guy just did a video on balanced vs RCA

https://youtu.be/tPBitFrmlzo?si=lBq_-oMQSXna2dGw

@eylai777 

Listen to @ghdprentice.  He speaks the truth. XLR work on a higher voltage and will give you a slight increase in volume, but for a one meter IC, I doubt either of us will hear any other details.

All the best.

ghdprentice

... I find the quality of the interconnects are more important than whether they are single ended or balanced. Balanced are a bit louder… but this difference is not likely to net you a performance gain.

It really depends on the design of the equipment. For differentially balanced components that are AES48 compliant, there should be no volume difference between single-ended and balanced. But many differentially balanced components do not observe the AES48 standard, such as most (if not all) ARC amplifiers. In that case, you get 6 dB more gain using the balanced connection. Or, if you prefer, you can look at it as a 6dB improvement in S/N.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPBitFrmlzo

The video was very helpful. To have a truly balanced component, it needs to have 2 completely identical circuits that are out of phase (full deferential). OCD HiFi Guy also said true balanced components do not have RCA connectors, only XLR. 

My source is an Eversolo DMP-A6 which at $850 most likely is not balanced even though it has XLR outputs. My preamp and amp are MacIntosh C2300 and MC 302. While they are more expensive, I am doubtful they are fully deferential, and they both have RCA connectors. 

I will, however, call the companies and report back. At the end of the day, it doesn't sound like XLR versus RCA for my system will make a significant difference.