Balanced XLR vs RCA for phono stage

In your case, having high quality RCA, I presume not having any existing problem, there is no advantage.

My limited XLR experiences:

I tried 30 lf run, no improvement, because I didn’t have a problem to solve, no interference potential/realities.

Short runs in home audio systems (no mics, mixers, eq ...), where no problem exists, make no logical sense regarding the XLR’s different design/interference resistance, yet I tried short 6’ XLR runs.

In one case (not all cases): two advantages, not sound quality improvements.

a. XLR are locking connectors, so movement of other cables will not inadvertently disturb XLR’s.

Note: I converted all my RCA’s to LOCKING connectors, that problem’s gone. However, heavy RCA cables, locked connector or not, can be a lot of weight pulling down on the less sturdy RCA jacks. One set of my rca jacks is beginning to feel less than solid, I will be taking the cover off, checking them out, to prevent real trouble.

b. XLR from my SACD player sends a slight increase in volume compared to it’s RCA output. Is it the cable, or is it the player’s output? In any case, use of XLR from that unit is yielding a slight volume increase.

Suppose you have a progressively noisy volume control like I had on a prior 60’s receiver (don’t go past 11), a slight increase of incoming volume might help keep the noisy volume control a bit lower/less noise.

elliottbnewcombjr

... Short runs in home audio systems (no mics, mixers, eq ...), where no problem exists, make no logical sense ...

Many components that are differentially balanced yield 6 dB more gain in balanced configuration; or, you could see that as gaining 6 dB in s/n. So depending on the equipment, there can be very much to gain by using XLR connections.

@cleeds From the Goldnote manual: (Output specs) Unbalanced RCA @ 2V and balanced XLR @ 4V

The specs on their website show +12dB for the balanced output.

To your point, that seems like a lot of gain or s/n.