RCA versus XLR interconnects

I spoke to more than one designer in the audio industry and believe me very well respected in both cable manufacturing and equipment design and ALL SAID THE SAME THING XLR DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE NOT ONE LITTLE BIT in the sound

tokushi

XLR cables are balanced, while RCA cables are unbalanced. Balanced cables have an advantage ...

It is the circuit, not the cable, that determines whether a component is balanced. Some differentially balanced components use RCAs on the inputs, such as the ARC Reference Phono preamps. Some components use only XLRs on the inputs and outputs but in fact are single-ended components, and use only two pins of the XLR connector.

Depending on the component design, balanced circuitry can yield 6dB greater output when using the balanced input rather than a single-ended input.

@jordi

While it is true that a component with XLR inputs probably will not sound different when the component is not differentially balanced (but it is still a much better m/f connector, it absolutely does make a huge difference when the components are true/differentially balanced

hth

So much absolute BS on here lately.

Of course XLR cables make a difference on balanced components.

Anyone who says differently obviously hasn't tried using quality balanced components with good XLR cabling.

Ridiculous.

I upgraded from a Zesto Andros 1.2 phono stage that only had RCA outputs to a Zesto Andros Deluxe II that has both RCA and XLR output connections. I had been using a 32” Wywires Diamond RCA interconnect on the Andros 1.2 and used the same cable on the Andros Deluxe II for about 3 months. I experienced a significant improvement in sound quality and enjoyment with the upgrade.

The designer of the Zesto equipment, George Counnas, recommended I try an XLR cable from the Deluxe II phono stage to the preamp instead of the RCA cable. I was somewhat skeptical, but he promised me it would be a worthwhile improvement. Because I have found the Wywires Diamond cables to better every other cable I have tried in my system, I purchased a Wywires Diamond XLR cable to replace the Diamond RCA cable.

George was right and I was very surprised at the improvement the XLR cable made. The bass was better defined and more powerful, highs were more extended and airy, the background was quieter, images were better defined, and the overall sound was richer and more dynamic. While not as large an improvement as the upgrade from the Andros 1.2 to the Andros Deluxe II, the change from the RCA cable to the very same model XLR cable was another significant jump in performance. I can’t say this same improvement will hold true for all equipment, but in the case of the Zesto phono stages it certainly does.