Just thought you might be interested in some history:
We introduced the first balanced phono preamp in 1989- the MP-1. It is also fully differential and was the first all tube preamp that was fully differential from input to output. The EQ is handled in differential mode to prevent tube aging from affecting EQ. Although the unit has a line stage it was built with the intention as a stand-alone phono reproducer.
We devised the system of using XLRs with phono cartridges, eliminating the separate grounding wire.
One thing that the high end audio industry does not seem to get is that the balanced line system was created to eliminate interconnect cable problems. Balanced lines allow both long cable lengths without degradation and inexpensive cables to be used, also without degradation. This advantage is not available to single-ended cables. Not all balanced line preamps in high end audio support the balanced line standard, but if they do the difference between a really expensive cable and a really cheap one will be very little. Effectively the hidden cost of the interconnect is removed from the cost of the preamp/volume control system.
We introduced the first balanced phono preamp in 1989- the MP-1. It is also fully differential and was the first all tube preamp that was fully differential from input to output. The EQ is handled in differential mode to prevent tube aging from affecting EQ. Although the unit has a line stage it was built with the intention as a stand-alone phono reproducer.
We devised the system of using XLRs with phono cartridges, eliminating the separate grounding wire.
One thing that the high end audio industry does not seem to get is that the balanced line system was created to eliminate interconnect cable problems. Balanced lines allow both long cable lengths without degradation and inexpensive cables to be used, also without degradation. This advantage is not available to single-ended cables. Not all balanced line preamps in high end audio support the balanced line standard, but if they do the difference between a really expensive cable and a really cheap one will be very little. Effectively the hidden cost of the interconnect is removed from the cost of the preamp/volume control system.