balanced vs. unbalanced sound quality

This debate comes along often. It really depends on the components involved as there are numerous varibles. For short cable runs there`s no clear winner(very long runs favor balance cables).Some of the very best cost no object components are single end design per builder preference. Try both and see what you like best.

Jdub39 - I don't have a lot of experience with balanced vs. unbalanced, but I did have an amp that used both. When I first tried balanced it sounded much better, but then I realized that the balanced connections have more gain, i.e.: The music was a little louder. I believe much (maybe not all) of the "Balanced is better" is due to the increased gain.
So, did you level match?

Nineballg - I use 0.5m balanced with class D amp. Balanced cables have locking connectors. In addition they use male/female connectors preventing accidental touching of the input (exposed input always female).

to a certain extent it is almost pointless to ask other people what might sound good to you. while the quality of sound of balanced vs. unbalanced inputs is dependent upon the quality of the components as pointed out in another reply, from my perspective, you tend to get better sound from xlr inputs. it is true that you get a higher signal level from xlr output, but components of which i am aware tend to attenuate the xlr input signal to compensate. however, the higher signal also results in a better signal to noise ratio, so the signal might sound a bit cleaner. that said, don't expect the difference between balanced and unbalanced inputs to be "night and day".

Hi Sebrof, yes the adjustment for the 6db of gain was adjusted for with a trusty Rat shack calibrator. One of the biggest things I noticed was sound stage height and a more enveloping sound, excellent separation between instruments, more of a carved out center image with no loss of already great ambience retrival, and a harmonic bloom I didn't think was possible at this level. And to top it off, an over all cohesiveness to the music. After carefull listening, it didn't even sound like the same amp! (Halo A21)), after many RCA cables they all got me to about 75% of the potental of the amp. Balanced revealed the 25% RCA wont IMHO. Even my Anthem AVM 20 sounds more refinded. For me the urge to upgrade to a dedicated 2 channel preamp has been put to rest. Mabe a new dac?.