Balanced vs. Unbalanced - What does it mean?

Some electronics are designed single ended with balanced operation included so that the buyer would think that the component is a greater performer. The truth is that those circuits that are designed single ended with XLR options sound the same in either configuration. Circuits like those that are designed around a balanced circuit such as Ayre will greatly benefit from balanced operation, although single ended operation is available for convenience.

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I don't know or understand the difference and I really don't care. All I really care about is how either will sound in my system. However, I tried both single ended and balanced. Balanced sounds better in my system.
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Thanks for the information everyone and Almarg - thank you for the links.

Has anyone compared balanced to unbalanced on the McIntosh MC402 Amp?

“Line-level” signal level for consumer audio equipment is nominally -10dBV (0.32V RMS). However, “line-level” signal level for pro-sound equipment is +4dBV (1.23V RMS). Simply put, pro audio gear is looking for a 14dB higher signal level.

Anyone who suspects that 14db additional signal level will likely translate into significant benefits in dynamic range would be correct (never mind the length of your audio cables). Most electronics does not perform as well at very low signal levels. Of course, it won't matter much for a hyper-compressed Green Day album but on a good recording you'll often notice a small or slight difference with balanced.

Also the "hum" that Al mentions is even more of a significant problem when using lower signal levels - not to metion the lack of shielding and the problematic grounding of chassis when using RCA. Serious audiophiles really should consider balanced before investing in things like resonator cups, as there is science as well as a long track record behind balanced XLR equipment.

Nevertheless be careful. Pro audio gear will often be too "hot" for consumer grade stuff and you'll get clipping unless you attenuate pro quality balanced signals when interfacing to ordinary consumer grade gear. RCA is ubiquitous ONLY because it is cheap and often adequate.

I should add to the mention of adapters and adapter cables in my previous post that although these are viable alternatives for interfacing a single-ended output to a balanced input (using an rca-male to xlr-male cable or adapter), interfacing in the other direction (balanced output to single-ended input, using an xlr-female to rca-male cable or adapter) should not be done with typical commercially available cables and adapters without careful investigation of whether the output of the particular equipment can tolerate having one of the two opposite-polarity output signals connected to ground.

Adapters and adapter cables used for that purpose will typically ground pin 3 (which on USA equipment carries the negative-going or "cold" signal polarity). Grounding that signal will result in improper operation or damage to the output stages of some equipment.

Regards,
-- Al