Balanced vs. Unbalanced Interconnects

[gene]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/Balancedvsunbalanced.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 101px" alt=[balm11] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/balm11_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>There seems to be much confusion among consumers over the differences between balanced and unbalanced interconnects.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Thus we have asked EMC expert Henry Ott to author an article on this topic as well as discuss issues on Ground Loops and how to avoid / minimize their occurrences.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>As you will see in this article, good low resistance shielding on interconnects is paramount. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o></o></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o>&nbsp;</o></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">[Balanced vs Unbalanced Interconnects]</SPAN></P>
<P><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/Balancedvsunbalanced.php"></A>&nbsp;</P>

 

[Mudcat]

Wrong Phone Plug!

The plug shown on page two is not for balanced connections. The plug shown is a TS (Tip Sleeve) plug. What should be shown is a TRS (Tip Ring Sleeve), in other words, a stereo phone plug.

Other than that - good stuff.

 

[gene]

The plug shown on page two is not for balanced connections.

Its my bad since I added in those pics. Can anyone find me the appropriate pic to update? Else I will just remove it. Thanks.

 

[Mudcat]

See if John A will let you use this?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=090-307

 

[gene]

Ok I updated the pic. Let me know if this one works. I never mess with these kind of connectors

 

[hopjohn]

I enjoyed the article. I've read elsewhere that an unbalanced connection is also succeptable to phase problems below 450mhz. There was never any metion of this in the artcicle. Is there any truth to this?

I was also curious as to why a digital connection would not be considered a possible solution if one exists. Wouldn't it have a higher S/N ratio than an unbalanced connection? Do digital connections also suffer from common mode voltage?

 

[MDS]

I don't know if it's true or not, but surely that was a typo and you meant 450 Hz? 450 MHz is radio frequency and would have no effect on audio.

 

[hopjohn]

Yes a typo shoulda been 450 Hz.

 

[jaxvon]

This is a little late, but....

It is it kinda pointless then to use a twisted pair + shield geometry configuration in an unbalanced cable, e.g. one with RCA terminations?