More on XLR vs RCA considerations?

I use  XLR for all my components which includes: amplifier, CD player and R2R.  I find a definite improvement to my system.  My amp, a McIntosh, has both XLR and RCA inputs from my preamp to my amp

mulveling

The worst ones for me were Monster cable THX. Way too tight and the cable is probably just so so anyway. DIY Beldon wire with Neutrik connectors are my new favorites. They have a really nice fit, glide on and off with ease but not at all loose, the old Goldilocks test, seem just right. I don't do the DIY, I buy from a guy who does. They are not expensive but they seem to be very well made and so far, they sound good to me.The MIT cable on the VPI, has locking WBT RCA's that seem to be very good. 

Perhaps if the circuitry (caps etc.) becomes equal between the two, there is not much advantage to XLR? Not sure, myself. I like to have the option even though I've never used it, just makes me feel good, knowing it's there if I ever decide to use it. Long wire runs seems to be the main reason. Are there others? I heard, lowers noise floor with higher gain. OK.

@billpete There's a lot of confusion in high end audio about balanced operation. My company has been doing balanced line longer than anyone else in high end audio so I might be able to clear some things up.

1) Long cables is not the only reason to run balanced. The goal of balanced lines originally was to eliminate ground loops and interconnect cable coloration (if you've ever compared two cables side by side and heard a difference, this is what I'm talking about). But to do that the equipment must be designed to support the balanced line standard, known as AES48. So the benefits are available even if short cables are used.

2) because a lot of high end audio equipment does not support the standard, in some cases the RCA output may actually sound better. That is not the fault of balanced operation, just that the standard is that important to getting the cables to sound right. In such cases you might get a 6dB increase in gain if running balanced. If the equipment supports AES48 this doesn't happen.

3) the equipment does not have to be balanced internally. Transformers can be used to interface between balanced lines and single-ended circuits. That is how it was done in the 1950s and 1960s.

4) quite often a preamp that has a balanced output can convert single-ended sources to balanced no worries.

5) Phono cartridges and tape heads are examples of balanced sources. The reason to run them balanced isn't so much for lower noise (although that is possible); the main reason is to avoid colorations from the tonearm cable. If this is done properly, there's no need for that 'ground wire' that accompanies most tonearms since that is handled by the shield of the balanced cable instead.

more on this topic

atmasphere

Thanks very much for this and for the link. Very interesting. How on earth do we know if our gear supports AES48? I guess one way is to see if the 6db gain is present with the XLR's but maybe not definitive? Most of this is over my head but it is interesting and I get when I can from all this. I am always amazed at the wealth of knowledge here. Much appreciated.

Bill