Good link to the Benchmark objective test. I suggest to try yourself with an inexpensive star-quad cable, or even to go to audiosensibility.com for a star-quad cable made with Ohno contiuous cast copper and Teflon insulation at a reasonable cost.
Balanced v unbalanced input to Ayre preamps
I've been using unbalanced connection between an Oppo 205 and Ayre K-5xeMP preamp, but wonder if the sound with balanced might be superior. According to Oppo Tech the sound with the balanced or unbalanced outputs from the 205 should be identical, presumably at reasonable cable lengths. But is the same true with Ayre preamp inputs?
I'm hoping to replace the K-5 with a KX-5 Twenty to match my VX-5 Twenty amp; the KX-5 has more balanced inputs. An Ayre C-5xeMP and Sony HAP-1ES use the two balanced inputs of the K-5.
I'm hoping to replace the K-5 with a KX-5 Twenty to match my VX-5 Twenty amp; the KX-5 has more balanced inputs. An Ayre C-5xeMP and Sony HAP-1ES use the two balanced inputs of the K-5.