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Balanced / single ended night and day difference

Just for kicks I connected the balanced and unbalanced outputs of my universal player (Marantz ud9004) to an unbalanced and balanced input on my multi channel analog preamp (Theta Six Shooter). I then ran the single ended output through the (single ended only) HT bypass of my 2 channel preamp, so the signal was never fully balanced end to end. Expecting little difference I was in for a shock. Completely different sounding. In a nutshell, RCA is more "dispersed" wider sonudstage, while balanced is more focused (especially vocals are dead in the middle between the mains), I guess better imaging in audiophile speak. Anyone had similar experience? How can this be?
edorr
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Thanks, George. Edorr, a quick experiment that I think would be worth doing would be to see if you hear anything when you select the rca path while the xlr connection is present but the rca connection is not, and vice versa.

Any low level crosstalk that is not precisely in phase with the signal it is coupling onto would certainly figure to affect image focus.

Regards,
-- Al
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Always compare XLR to RCA of same model IC if possible.

I don't recall any brand/model of IC that I have used where the sound was absolutely identical between RCA/XLR, even though I have used some very high end cables. The similarity between the two when compared to an entirely different brand/model is easily heard, but there is a distinction between them.

I have found that typically every cable and every connection makes a sonic difference.
xti16
1,525 posts
 
Douglas I agree 100%. I used the same Nordost Frey Ic's. They are not the same sounding at the same volume. Had it been for the gain I probably would have gone for the Xlr's.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it
edorr OP
714 posts
 
Thanks guys. I will expiriment a little more. I don't have exactly identical cables, but I have a pair of Transparent Ultra RCA and Transparent Reference XLR's which should be close enough.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,475 posts
 
Many components sport XLR (balanced) inputs and outputs without really being a balanced circuit to impress their buyers. True balanced, from input from a cartridge to the output of the amp will reveal a much better signal to noise ration, and better sound. True balanced requires a separate circuit for the + and - portions of the signal...therefore they are about twice as expensive to produce.
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