Balanced vs. Unbalanced Inputs

[DWKelley]

OK...I am an audiophile returning from a lengthy hiatus self-imposed due to financial conditions. In short, I surrender my decent-paying profession to pursue becoming a physician. This path has taken me 12 long & very poor years. However, I am almost done!!!! So, now I want to return to the world of high-end audio equipment...and learn much more about video, which was not a big interest for me "back then".

My first topic of intrigue: Balanced vs. Unbalanced Pre-amp to Amp connectivity.

1) Please explain the similarities & differences? I only 'see' balanced connectors on the high-end/high-dollar pieces, but I used to sell audio equip & know that some of the bells & whistles on the high-end pieces really amounted primarily to fluff - meaning theoretically detectable by an engineer but not really audible to a human being.

2) Can you compare the benefits of the two? Is the difference appreciable to someone with high-quality components, speakers & pretty discerning ears?

Thanks in advance for whomever takes a moment to answer my queries. I am excited to be returning to the world of beautiful sound & learning to intergrate it with HD imaging.

 

[WmAx]

OK...I am an audiophile returning from a lengthy hiatus self-imposed due to financial conditions. In short, I surrender my decent-paying profession to pursue becoming a physician. This path has taken me 12 long & very poor years. However, I am almost done!!!! So, now I want to return to the world of high-end audio equipment...and learn much more about video, which was not a big interest for me "back then".

My first topic of intrigue: Balanced vs. Unbalanced Pre-amp to Amp connectivity.

1) Please explain the similarities & differences? I only 'see' balanced connectors on the high-end/high-dollar pieces, but I used to sell audio equip & know that some of the bells & whistles on the high-end pieces really amounted primarily to fluff - meaning theoretically detectable by an engineer but not really audible to a human being.

2) Can you compare the benefits of the two? Is the difference appreciable to someone with high-quality components, speakers & pretty discerning ears?

Thanks in advance for whomever takes a moment to answer my queries. I am excited to be returning to the world of beautiful sound & learning to intergrate it with HD imaging.

There is no audible difference in proper operation. The advantage that balanced lines have is to prevent external noise injection(only a practical issue on very long lines) and to prevent ground loops hum(sometimes a problem on unbalanced equipment connections). You don't need to spend huge amounts for balanced gear today; Emotiva(for example) has several pre-amps and amplifiers at reasonable cost that provide full balanced connectivity options. This ability is very useful for easy integration to pro audio processing equipment. For example, using a Behringer DCX2496 loudspeaker management system in home applications can provide for extremely flexible and precision integration of speakers as well as precision room correction filters.

-Chris

 

[davidtwotrees]

I have no use for balanced inputs. Especially on a prepro. They take up a hellacious amount of space in a multi channel environment. Sure, if you were doing a dedicated two channel audiophile setup go for it. But the new units are cramming so much stuff on the back panel that to put inputs that may or may not be used is realy a waste of space.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Based on my personal experience and other people's thoughts/comments, I would have to say that you won't get any significant improvement in sound quality. Having said that, since the additional cost of amps, pre-amps, & pre-pros with Balanced Connectors are relatively now these days, you might as well get them if you are starting from scratch. If you are just building on what you already own, then there is absolutely no need to scrap them just for Balanced Inputs.
Congrats on your almost finishing Med School! The thoughts of waking up at 4 a.m. just to take care of sick patients makes me glad I did not follow down that path. Better you than me.