Using XLR for Phono out

Dear John, Can you cite me a reference for your statement that "transformers have some of the highest CMRR ratings"? This might be true if a transformer is properly implemented at the front end of a balanced circuit. But when transformers are used at the in- or output of an SE circuit, as is often the case, I don't see how you would get any CMR.

Am I missing something here, still? What pray tell, is the use of putting a balanced (xtr) connector on the end of a cable from a cartridge/tonearm when in fact the signal coming from it is single ended (rca) in every case? Is not this a wasted effort?

Happy Holidays & Listening!

R_f_sayles, almost all phono cartridges are balanced sources. Many arms are too. The signal is converted from balanced to single-ended usually in the way the RCA cables are connected to the arm. That is why there is that weird grounding wire that other single-ended sources seem to lack.

For this reason you can operate a phono completely balanced, and if you have a balanced preamp and amp, the signal can be balanced from needle to speaker. In our systems, that means a total of 4 stages of gain, so the signal path is actually simpler than many single-ended setups. The cables sound better (its a common myth that you don't need balanced unless you have long cables but the real reason for balanced lines is to eliminated interconnect cable artifacts) and there are blacker backgrounds... IOW there are immediate benefits.

Lewm, of course I was refering to the use of transformers as an input device. That was the context of the discussion. Even when used as the input for a SE (balanced to SE conversion) you still have high common mode rejection. If you apply the same signal to each leg of the transformer primary, as in common mode noise, you cannot generate any magnetic flux in the primary and thus no signal. This would be different if you were to ground one leg. A tranfomer "naturally responds to a differential signal.

Wow, Thanks again Ralph for a more complete explanation and understanding. I
must have had my recollection of my conversation with Jim White confused
somehow and that explains what Lewm was trying to tell me which I misread .
Sorry folks for the added distortion, I still have a few things to learn.

Happy Holidays Ralph and AudioGon Friends and as always...
Happy Listening!