"Just because a studio or pro uses something, that does not make it "good". "
A properly designed truly balanced preamp to a properly designed truly balanced power amp's sound is not affected by a properly built balanced cable. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on a balanced cable, if the preamp and amp are both designed to the balanced specifications, as is the cable. In fact, if everything is properly designed (this does not mean expensive), then you will hear no difference between the $200 balanced cable and the $20,000 balanced cable as the whole technical design of properly building truly balanced systems and cables totally negates any "sound" that a cable can impart on the sign. This is just the design of properly balanced system.
That being said, most amps and preamps that are reported as balanced do not follow the correct technical protocol and therefore can be affected by cables.
A properly designed truly balanced preamp to a properly designed truly balanced power amp's sound is not affected by a properly built balanced cable. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on a balanced cable, if the preamp and amp are both designed to the balanced specifications, as is the cable. In fact, if everything is properly designed (this does not mean expensive), then you will hear no difference between the $200 balanced cable and the $20,000 balanced cable as the whole technical design of properly building truly balanced systems and cables totally negates any "sound" that a cable can impart on the sign. This is just the design of properly balanced system.
That being said, most amps and preamps that are reported as balanced do not follow the correct technical protocol and therefore can be affected by cables.