The best way I can describe it, especially in instrumental and classical music, with balanced during quiet parts, the quiet is more void. When the instruments start again, it's more lively coming out of that dark quiet.
Unless you are dealing with hum problems.
Some amps perform better from balanced inputs.
I don't think I've had issues with humming, even when using amps from 50 years ago, on an electrical circuit from nearly 60 years ago...
Perhaps we have been lucky. I have a preamp and a power amp with about 5m of unbalanced cable in between and no noise
Doubtful only if it’s fully symmetrical even then. What amps are you talking about? Can you list some models?
Yes, most do including mine ... on paper
I think in both case the SINAD is above 100dB though, I might take louder volume and younger ears than line to differentiate.
Have you had humming problems? Recording studios have hundreds and hundreds of feet of wire running over power, cables, ethernet cables, AC line, cables, etc.They also convert back from single ended back to XLR. Balanced in the home if said equipment is truly balanced/redundant is completely unnecessary and at 399 it’s not going to be truly symmetrical. It may have an XLR connector, but that doesn’t mean it’s balanced and then it’ll probably have a cheap op amp to boost the voltage. In many entices, it probably won’t sound as good as single ended
What equipment are you using that’s fully symmetrical. So you’ve tried your equipment which we don’t know what it is and it’s sounds better and quieter on balance than single-ended. And you know it’s fully balanced and they’re not just taking the single ended and converting it to XLR at the output and giving you two XLR connections, not trying to be rude, not trying to bash your equipment, but I highly doubt that.
Again, I find this hard to believe. Can you show us some numbers and what dac and preamp are you talking about? i’ve got my VPI turntable in the back of my room running 30 feet of cable single ended without a problem if anything is going to pick up noise it’s going to be a turntable.
My point is that even equipment is fully balanced like balanced audio technologyBAT is not necessary, does it sell more equipment probably yes it also takes more parts/ money to do it right. And if you’re basing the sales of this streamer being truly balanced, I would have to disagree. Its not going to make it sound better as a matter fact, some designers don’t believe in making balance equipment. My convergent audio technology preamp is fully single ended. And so are the monoblock that Ken Stevens makes are single ended. The SL one was considered by many then and now to be the best tube preamp available, especially the phono stage. I could not afford his equipment now when I bought mine 25 years ago, it was just a measly 8k for the preamp with outboard power. I also had the advantage of working at Audio store and getting it at an incredible price.https://www.catamps.com/
Again, are these dac’s truly symmetrical at their price points, you can have an XLR output and not be a redundant circuit. Can you show us said dac’s
I would have to whole hardly disagree with that! Absolutely not true. So you just basically said you can’t have a high-end stereo if it’s not balanced. And what does being balanced have anything to do with soundstage
Same. My unbalanced connection is dead quiet. I also have plenty gain so for me balanced is not a need. To each their own.
So this would not be considered high-end to you. It’s only single ended so I guess not https://www.catamps.com/
I agree it’s pointless. To much coffee and scotch this evening
