Transparent Interconnect Question....

rats, the situation you refer to is one where the Bal and SE jacks are internally wired together. A typical example are amplifiers that have both Bal and SE inputs, but to use the SE, you need to install a jumper clip into the XLR jack, usually between ground and the XLR's negative hot pin. This is because the RCA hot is connected internally to the plus hot of the XLR while the RCA neg is connected internally to the neg hot of the XLR. The jumper connects the RCA neg to circuit ground in order to make the SE input work. Only now, you are definitely driving only half of the amp's input circuitry with signal.

So you are right, in that you don't HAVE to have an inverter at the input, but then the relative benefits of using the Bal inputs just increase.

If you equipment benifits from balanced (my Gamut CD1R does) then balanced transparent is the way to go, but to truely take advantage make sure you can also do transparent speaker cable, so if that means a step down, then do it.

I found the latest MM to be vastly better than XL even on the Reference (and I use to own Reference XL Single Ended (not with XL) and the Reference with MM XLR is superior in my system.

KMILLER5-I recently answered a very similar question via A-B audition, as follows:

All Audio Research Equipment with true balanced circuitry--AR DAC 2, AR Pre-Amp, AR Amp. Kept a Transparent Reference MM running from the Amp to the Speakers, and Transparent XLR, Balanced cable running from the AR Pre-Amp to AR Amp throughout the testing.

A-B tested the cable running from the AR DAC 2 to the Pre-Amp with SE Transparent Reference vs. XLR Transparent Ultra. There was a difference.

One man's findings: clearly more clean volume with the XLR Ultra--perhaps a tad "tunnel like" but nothing that jumps out at you unless you're comparing it to Transparent Reference.

With the SE Reference, there was more detail and a wider range of detail. For instance, Diana Krall's voice sounded great with the XLR Ultra, but that slight lip smack she does at times, just sounded more "present" with the SE Reference--you knew she was just a feather's width away from the mike with the SE Reference.

Guess: Transparent says the difference between the Ultra and the Reference and the Reference and the Reference XL is a matter of build quality tolerances. I'm just guessing, but I'd say it was also a matter of design. Somehow the Reference shunts away the grit and grime of stereo electronics more precisely than the Ultra. Not that the Ultra is in anyway worse sounding, but in a way that the Reference is better sounding. I know, sounds crazy.

A final guesstimate: there may be something going on along the line of synergies within model lines, ie. all ultra interconnects vs. all reference interconnects.

Hope it's not too late, but if you've decided already, let us know what you found... WM2001

I have an exact suggestion. In your system try any cable that you can borrow in both balanced & unbalanced. You will then notice how much of a difference balanced makes. I tried Transparent in my system in several ways. The balanced didn't make a difference in certain versions (different preamp or CD player or amp) of my system. In my current system running balanced is a revelation. The noise cancellation properties of balanced in only a 2 Meter run was significant beyond belief. On another note, then you can find out if you should go up a level w. Transparent. I would characterize Utra vs. Reference as being a big step up but I wouldn't know the difference between the current generation w. MM. I have owned XL tech. Also the step up is mostly apparent only after all cables are upgraded. This means that your system will sound as good as its weakest link (this is an exageration) and your final upgrade w transparent will show the biggest difference.

The difference between MM & XL technology is very apparent but for me the difference between Ultra w. XL tech & Reference w. XL tech was more apparent & if memory serves me correctly I was rewarded w. greater transparency & much closer to the music. The MM changes the character of the tonality making the treble more natural & the bass is more resolved. It is significant but if you have a system that is bright I would go for MM tech, if your system isn't bright I would go for lower level w. XL tech & maybe balanced. The typical characterization is that a lower level cable w. MM tech is better than the next level up w. MM tech. I don't know this to be the case. But the difference between my speaker calbes & interconnects was as I described above for going up to MM tech. I still don't have MM tech from my preamp to amp so there might be a bigger step once the entire chain is upgraded. This is typical of transparent so I am saving up for the next one & looking for it here on Audiogon.

Hope I helped you. You can email me offline if you need more help.

I am currently auditioning the MusicLink Balanced and the Super SE. For my system I just ordered 2 pair of the balanced. 1 for my Benchmark DAC1, and 1 for my Manley Monoblocks.