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Balanced Phono question - forgive my ignorance

So if you have a balanced phono stage (and I'm not re-hashing the argument whether it matters, is better etc. - I think that's been done), does the wiring from the arm to the phono then have a balanced connector, or is the balance achieved through attaching the ground wire to the phono, and then a balanced cable out to the pre-amp?

Sorry if this shows a complete lack of understanding of what balanced is, I was just curious from a wiring perspective. My system is completely using balanced connectors, and I'd like to not change anything, so a balanced pre may be in the cards.

Best wishes & thanks.
hatari

Showing 1 response by tdaudio

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tdaudio
201 posts
 
I am using the Ayre P-5x phono pre which has balanced and single ended inputs. I use the balanced inputs with a custom made Audioquest Cheeta cables that have RCA connectors on the side that plugs into the VPI Aries (VPI did not have a xlr connection block option at the that time, they do now) and xlr on the other side for the P-5x. This option was described in the P-5x manual as the second best option for connectivity and works well for me.

If you think about it the phono pre end of the cable is like any xlr while the other end the cable the two balanced wires are connected to the rca center hot and the shield. AQ cable are a "balanced" design so it is a slight disadvantage to have the RCAs on the one end.

If I was starting now I would get the VPI xlr connection block, but at this point the things are electrically correct and it works.

TD
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