2. amps-preamps
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balanced connection, better than single ended?

If you have gear that can do balanced & unbalanced connections which is preferable and why? I have read that balanced connections are better for long runs of cable otherwise a single ended connections are fine but not sure of this since I have yet to use this sort of connection. Also I read that some gear is not truly balanced in their circuitry thus this gear may not benefit from a balanced connection. I ask only because I'm recently buying an amp that has true balanced circuitry but now must find a preamp of the same.
phd
onemug
784 posts
 
>>> I ask only because I'm recently buying an amp that has true balanced circuitry but now must find a preamp of the same.

If you can find a "fully" balanced pre that you're happy with, that's great but I wouldn't limit myself to that only. I have a balanced amp and drove it with a balance preamp. Life was good. One day I demoed a preamp that only had rca's and it was much better than the balanced one.

Find the best preamp for your budget and don't worry if it's balanced or not. Go by the sound.
rwwear
2,692 posts
 
I don't necessarily think balanced sounds better except for the lower noise floor which constitutes to better audio to me. I also prefer the better connections XLR's offer.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
10-03-10: Rwwear
I don't necessarily think balanced sounds better except for the lower noise floor...

To me lower noise floor equals better sound. Whatever the noise reducing element: circuit design, power supply, power conditioning, cabling, etc.

No equivocation.
rwwear
2,692 posts
 
I guess I wasn't clear to all in my statement.
rwwear
2,692 posts
 
I guess I wasn't clear to all in my statement Tvad.
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