Balanced vs Unbalanced?

IMHO, Audio merits are based on scientific merits. There is no magic here.

BTW, this topic has been debated for the Nth times. Search is your friend, my
friend.

According to McIntosh's manuals with their balanced gear, if your interconnect cables are 6' or under, unbalanced connections are quite satisfactory. However, longer than 6', a 40db advantage in noise reduction is possible. Whether you can actually hear any difference between the two types is subjective.
Here's another one--why is McIntosh the only company to use autoformers, when other companies (i.e. CJ) don't use them? Any sound differences?

While I agree with the above responses, usually the XLR connectors on balanced cables are better. They are beefier and "lock" in place for a more solid connection.

Use balanced if noise is a problem. The XLR is a beetter connection, but requires more circuitry, thus sonically the circuit is beetter with RCA provided the RCA make good connections. Remember, Sheffield lab used coax cable that went from Wiley Chapel about 200ft. out the door to the recording equipment, no XLR's. How much noise do you hear on those recordings? It was shielded cable as well. Jallen