Using both balanced and single ended outputs at the same time?

Some visitors to this thread might not understand that there are two types of circuits in stereo audio components: ’single-ended’ and ’balanced’. Single-ended is also known as as SE.

An RCA connector is used on a ’single-ended’ circuit. An RCA connector cannot be used on a ’balanced’ circuit. An XLR connector is only used on a ’balanced’ circuit. BUT, an XLR connector can be used on a ’single-ended’ circuit. It is simply piggy-backed on to the RCA wiring. Several manufacturers provide both RCA & XLR connectors on a ’single-ended’ circuit simply for convenience. (No need to buy new cables.)

A truly-balanced differential circuit is considerably more expensive to implement. A manufacturer will feature this design in their marketing. The benefit of balanced is best realized if all the components in a chain are also balanced. As with everything else in audio, ’single-ended’ vs ’balanced’ is subjective. They each of their advantages & disadvantages.

Having XLR connectors on a component, does not automatically mean that the circuit is balanced. And there’s the option of converting a single-ended circuit to balanced by installing a transformer. This would be for a different discussion.

I run my Eversolo A8 balanced out to my amp and SE to my sub.

@steakster , whether the circuit is truly balanced or the outputs are balanced in name only should not have an effect on OP using one pair connected to his amp and the other pair connected to his sub.

If your subs are powered like mine are, and you have both XLR and SE outputs like my preamp does, then you can run your XLR cables to your amp(s), and your SE cables to your subs. Fiddle with the level on your subs to how you like to hear the lowest bass and you're done. Also fiddle around with the positions of your subs and speakers to play the room the best.

Ok gonna play devils advocate just to point out the other option no one recommended...Run single ended to main speaker amps and balanced to the subs. Reason: the run to the main amps is probably much shorter due to the amps being closer to the preamps...if your amp(s) are basic stereo amps then they are probably close to the preamp with a long(ish) speaker cable run. If you have monoblocks for the main amplifiers and position them at the speakers, that is a different situation and using the balanced outputs to the mains probably makes sense. Obviously whichever set of outputs is leftover get relegated to subwoofer duty. I'll never do monoblocks due to the extra expense and the extra space gobbled up by extra boxes. Stereo amps are my preferred poison. That said, they will be as close to the preamp as possible and will have very short unbalanced cable runs to them. The subs may have to end up ANYWHERE in the room to sound good and so I reserve the balanced connection for them. Your mileage may vary but that is my approach and it works very well indeed.

My current system is a bare bones system with nothing but unbalanced outputs and I am not disappointed much because the noise is completely inaudible. I live in a noisy apartment building and could probably tolerate a noise level in the amp that many people because of their living situation find completely intolerable. What I have works fine where I am now. If I indeed ever get to move back to my home, the current system will get relegated to bedroom use or something equally undemanding. I cannot wait to be in my own home again.