Balanced or single ended leads from your arm.

Dear Ken: Speaking of an IC phono cable of 1m, balanced vs unbalanced, and using Eichman or Nextgen RCA against Neutrik XLR connectors, with the same cable and in the same phonolinepreamp you could not hear any difference, even in worst cases like Spencer's RFI ( here was a shield problem of the RCA cable. A well shielded cable has no problems at all, at least in 1m cables. ). If you hear differences that ones will be for the different connector but not for the cable it-self or the balanced/unbalanced subject.
Albert I can't be sure but I think that you take advantage of the cryo tratment ( different sound ) and that the Aesthetix has two balanced stages by design.

Now, the most important subject about balanced or unbalanced issue is not at the cables but at the phonolinepreamp design: in any well designed fully ( input to output )balanced phonolinepreamp we take a paramount advantage against an unbalanced design: in a balanced circuit the noise and distortions are canceled and the signal is degraded the less against an unbalanced design. So, the best way to go with a phonolinepreamp is with fully balanced designs, no question about.

Btw, I agree with Dgarretson about that the phono cartridge is not a true balanced source and the BAT recomendation maybe has to be with their own circuit design because there is no reason to take ( input ) a unbalanced signal in a balanced circuit.

I agree too with Neil on the long run IC phono subject: no more than 1.5m.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul, agree with you and others here. Good solid sharing of info on hooking up our phono cartridges.

Gregadd;

What you prefer Swiss cables over the Purist? Blasphemy!:-)

I can't tell if your teasing me with the smiley face or wondering why I changed cables. I still love Purist, my balanced connections from cartridge to phono is Purist Anniversary. The comment was a rave for Neutrik connectors (Swiss made), I love their construction and finish and as stated by others here, VERY reasonably priced.

I actually got mine from Aesthetix, Jim White is a good friend and I wanted the exact connector he builds Io and Callisto with. Turns out you can do a Google search and find Neutrik all over the net at a few bucks per connector.

Mine were cryo treated with a batch of Porter Ports I was getting done. Did a second set for backup in case I ever sell the Walker (not likely :^).

dgarretson: Are you sure BAT said that? Must have been a reason. I have a all BAT system and they recommended balanced into my BAT VKP10SE-ditto my dealer. Since I've upgraded to the Superpak version...

I heard it was a increase in signal by 6 db. Noise fell for me.

All I can say is mine did sound better running XLR's on the phono stage...just my experience...your's may vary.

Interesting thread: Since there has been mention of balanced phono stage, I ran across this one a short while ago:

Aqvox Phono

It is a current amplier with fully balanced layout. This one got excellent reviews in Europe. And it is not that expensive, only about Euro 750 shipped.

I did not have a chance to listen to it but it seemed to fit the topic...

Rene

Jfrech, here is a post that Victor Komenko of BAT made awhile back that sums up his view on the matter. The 6db advantage in SNR actually goes to the SE connection between the TT & the phono stage.

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=31747&highlight=balanced+phono+cable&r=&session=