Technical reasons only - don't read this if you have a headache...
You have to consider the signal transfer through the cables and also the quality of the circuits on both ends.
Balanced circuits are more complicated, so more things can "go wrong" with them. If you go by the motto "the simpler - the better" then you'd probably prefer single-ended circuitry. There is a reason why SET amps are popular...
Now for the cables themselves. On a technical basis, cables have two signal wires in opposite phase. Logically, it is best to arrange these two wires in a balanced geometry (even for RCA cables) **AND** equalize the magnitude of the currents flowing in them. The electromagnetic fields of the two wires will cancel each other, so you get the least leakage (i.e. noise) from this cable. In addition, the geometrical balance will reject externally-induced noise.
Balanced circuits almost always guaranty the above condition for the equal magnitude of currents. Single-ended circuits do not always adhere to that. The reason is that the single-ended stereo (or multi-channel) circuits usually **SHARE** a common ground. The currents generated by the Left channel driver **CAN** flow in any ground wire in any interconnect, since they are all shared electrically, and have roughly the same resistance.
It is a different situation if the grounds are electrically seperated. Such is the case with a true dual-mono implementations or monoblock amplifiers, if they don't share grounds with an external ground wire or through the AC ground.
Confusing? Perhaps a little bit...
Bototm line is, that for your interconnect to do a good job - you either go balanced (guaranteed "success") or pay special attention to your single-ended setup. Anything else will compromise the symmetry of current flow in your interconnect and would make them possibly the "weakest link"in your system.
You have to consider the signal transfer through the cables and also the quality of the circuits on both ends.
Balanced circuits are more complicated, so more things can "go wrong" with them. If you go by the motto "the simpler - the better" then you'd probably prefer single-ended circuitry. There is a reason why SET amps are popular...
Now for the cables themselves. On a technical basis, cables have two signal wires in opposite phase. Logically, it is best to arrange these two wires in a balanced geometry (even for RCA cables) **AND** equalize the magnitude of the currents flowing in them. The electromagnetic fields of the two wires will cancel each other, so you get the least leakage (i.e. noise) from this cable. In addition, the geometrical balance will reject externally-induced noise.
Balanced circuits almost always guaranty the above condition for the equal magnitude of currents. Single-ended circuits do not always adhere to that. The reason is that the single-ended stereo (or multi-channel) circuits usually **SHARE** a common ground. The currents generated by the Left channel driver **CAN** flow in any ground wire in any interconnect, since they are all shared electrically, and have roughly the same resistance.
It is a different situation if the grounds are electrically seperated. Such is the case with a true dual-mono implementations or monoblock amplifiers, if they don't share grounds with an external ground wire or through the AC ground.
Confusing? Perhaps a little bit...
Bototm line is, that for your interconnect to do a good job - you either go balanced (guaranteed "success") or pay special attention to your single-ended setup. Anything else will compromise the symmetry of current flow in your interconnect and would make them possibly the "weakest link"in your system.