Balanced vs. Unbalanced - What does it mean?

I had an Ayre amp and preamp which I used for years with RCA's because I didn't think the more expensive balanced cables would make a significant difference. Then I got the audiophile bug and tried balanced cables. There was an obvious improvement, well worth the extra expense.

We need a better technical explanation. I asked and was given two different answers. One it just means that the signal is always kept equal between the two channels. As if centered if there was balance pot that made sure it was centered. with a dumb look-- like you know --balanced.
I thought it would always be balanced if you have no control. AS in the usual setting for a any option which is no longer worth making the signal path longer for. If you are thinking like a true audiophile.
As if the balance knob is alway dead center. Which what you got when the preamps and integrateds had a balance knobe and a defeat button/switch to employ. The balance is defaulted to precisely equal for both channels.
The other answer was that the signal is always kept grounded in essence with hand waving.... you know?? I don't! The expense and lack of xlr inputs on the first couple of amps has kept me using RCAs that are SE I guess. Although they could be SPDIF lurking in RCA clothes for all I know.
Where are the technophiles, bring in the technophiles.

The techies can tell you what it is but cant tell you how it sounds.As usual synergy rules and that is to be found in the arena,not on paper or cyberspace,YMMV,cheers,Bob

Balanced connections mean that there are two signal wires per channel, each carrying a different polarity of the same signal and twisted together. There is no ground, per se, as any ground lead is only to shield the wires and the two signal leads, only, are connected between the two components. The most significant result is that any RF or electrical noise picked up by these leads is effectively canceled because of the differential termination that subtracts one from the other at the (differential) termiantion. This will make for less noise in electrically noisy environments or with VERY long runs.

Unbalanced consists of a signal lead and ground lead.

In practice, there is no real difference unless you have unusual conditions such as RF noise and/or runs of many meters. My interconnects are 10 meters and there is no audible difference between balanced and unbalanced except that the XLR connectors on the balanced lines are more secure and durable.

Kal

I would add that XLR circuits use higher signal levels - so better signal to noise or more dynamic range.