New TT : Balanced vs. Unbalanced Connection?

atmasphere

You don’t get any more gain. That only happens with active outputs that don’t support the balanced standard, AES48. When you run a cartridge balanced, it supports the standard. So no increase in gain.

That is not quite accurate. It would be true if all balanced components supported the AES48 standard but - as you well know - many do not. As an example, Audio Research has many differentially balanced amps and preamps and they do not support AES48. Yet these designs still offer advantages over single-ended designs, as explained by Wikipedia:

"The primary advantage of the balanced line format is good rejection of common-mode noise and interference when fed to a differential device such as a transformer or differential amplifier.

It’s a simple fact that designs such as the excellent ARC products will yield 6 db greater gain when run in balanced mode. Or, if your prefer to look at it another way, they yield a 6 dB improvement in S/N. That can make a big difference, especially in something such as a phono preamp.

Ralph, I know that you understand all of this. But notwithstanding your fine trademarked and patented products, there are many other excellent balanced audio components on the market. You muddy the waters when you mistakenly claim they aren’t balanced. Here’s the spec on my ARC preamp, straight from the manufacturer:

REF5 SE: Main output: 12dB Balanced output, 6dB SE output.

I  like to say “all other things being equal” (same cartridge, same phono stage, same everything downstream) a balanced connection will get you 6db compared to an SE connection of all the same components.. usually this comparison is not actually feasible.

@atmasphere THANKS.  Great tip on the SS cartridge screws.  Compliance is an advanced concept for many of us.  

Does anyone have experience with the new Schitt Skoll? Good reviews.

And again, thanks everyone, this thread has been very helpful.

This discussion has gone off-topic. It is supposed to be about the virtues of balanced, differential interconnects vs single-ended. Yes, much of it applies to other interconnects, but this discussion is about the interconnects between the turntable’s tonearm and the phono stage. 

OP here. I personally don’t perceive the thread off-topic. With all due respect, this thread’s applied intention is to help a fellow audiophile with a complex (to him) technical scenario & purchasing decision. While it may have broadened, as the OP, I have leaned much, and am open to the other considerations that have arisen. My true curiosity is to achieve the best sound, and in my case, there is much to consider and study. I appreciate the community’s willingness to apply their experience and time & energy.