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In Reply to: Re: What are balanced outputs posted by Ted Smith on November 12, 2006 at 12:08:14:
I tried the balanced outputs on my Meridian 405 to the balanced inputs on my Pathos Classic I amp. There was so much more dynamics and life, compared to the unbalanced output/inputs, it was almost like raising the dead. If I ever buy another CD player it's got to have balanced outputs.
Follow Ups:
The implementation of balanced inputs/outputs varies considerably in success fron componenet to component. Not all are actually fully balanced in any caase, no matter what the manufacturer would have you believe (I'll keep this post short by not explaining the different strategies adopted). Whether a balanced input or output or combination thereof actually sounds better than single ended in practice can only be determined by listening. The low noise pickup of balanced connection is not often relevant in domestic circumstances anyway. BTW, I have one pre-amp that is best balanced in and out and another that sounds great balanced out but less good on its balanced inputs. Such things will determine whether or not you will want to use balanced ouputs on your CD player.
Agree. And sometimes the higher output (3dB increase?) of balanced connection may give you a false sense of more powerful and better sound.
I remember reading a Stereophile review regarding the differences in sound quality between using the balanced vs non-balanced inputs on the Ayre AX-7 integrated amp (balanced was supposed to be better). I later read another comment about this review stating that since different interconnect cables were used, a true unbiased comparison of balanced vs unbalanced could not be achieved. I can certainly see how one could arrive at conflicting opinions of the value of using balanced vs unbalanced, depending on what cables are used, let alone the components themselves.
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