XLR and RCA interconnects in the same system?

Hi Mxb, you are a brand new member here,... I researched, and your CD has balanced and unbalanced out. Your Pre has balanced and unbalanced in, also balanced and unbalanced out. Your choice. My PRE (which I like) has only balanced out. My AMPS (which I like) have only unbalanced in. My IC (which I like) (so), I had made up xlr-rca. end of equation. find what works for you.

Hi Liz...you're very wrong. If (and only if) your system is completely balanced from beginning to end, there is a definite advantage.. providing the components are truely differentially balanced. Most components that sport XLR connections are Not balanced and therefore provide no benefit in using balanced interconnects..they are there to impress the purchaser that the circuit is of a higher quality. I am using an all Ayre system which is indeed diferentially balanced...a more expensive circuit having a seperate plus circuit, and a duplicate but phase reversed minus circuit. You can clearly hear that balanced cables sound better than any RCA terminated cable. The sound is quieter, more open, with greater ease.

Fully balanced is always best , ( balanced in and out ) but as Kal mentioned there is still noise reduction with each balanced cable used . I have A/B/A tested this many times over the years and in many , many systems and the results are always the same .

"05-03-11: Stringreen
Hi Liz...you're very wrong. If (and only if) your system is completely balanced from beginning to end, there is a definite advantage.. providing the components are truely differentially balanced."

Offered as a blanket statement, this is simply untrue. Almost (note the qualification) all devices with XLR connections have fully balanced connections and, therefore, offer the benefit of reduced RF/EMI noise pickup, regardless of whether they are "fully balanced" throughout their circuitry. The latter is much rarer and has the potential for better performance but is not necessary for the establishment fully balanced connections.

Kal

The arguement for balanced is so full of the theory, and then 'of course there is the fact that fully balanced EQUIPMENT (which naturally costs at LEAST twice as much or more) sounds better. yeah, ANY equipment that costs more than twice as much, single ended or balanced (and we will have the arguing over 'just because it costs twice as much yadda yada..)
This is one of those endless arguments with no answer for the midfi user. For the top hi end systems fully balanced electronics of COURSE balanced is better. For everybody else, it all is a crapshoot, depending on the PARTICULAR items and how they are made. ANY discussion of "are balanced connectors better.. is useless IMO. Except for those golden spooned with the highest end balanced construction.
And i await the counter arguments based on theory, opinion, and just wanting to get the two cent in.
Actually balanced is just a buzzword used to sell stuff. it has NO value over RCA at all for any system except the fully balanced from beginning to end electronics.
It is just another buzzword. like the distortion specs of amps used to be back in the 70's
Thanks.