jumper pins for xlrs

Well Al, why even bother with balanced equipment then?

My experience is with my associated system gear, and I do believe it makes a difference, for the reasons you state...The balanced differential cancels out the distortion.

Although I disagree with you, please don't take it like I'm bashing you. Hence the happy-winky face in my previous post. ;^)

Thanks Steve; no problem.

Let me make sure it's clear, though, that nothing in my posts was intended to question the advantages of balanced interfaces or balanced internal signal paths, which I am certainly a believer in. Keep in mind that a balanced input stage will still function as such, providing rejection of common mode noise that may be picked up, even if nothing is connected to its inputs.

Best regards,
-- Al

try to spin some small solid conductor wire around the pins to connect them temporarily, something similar to wire-wrap