I too use a system that is balanced, from all of my primary sources, (phono and CD), through the preamp and then on to amps. I do like how quiet it is, but I think that has more to do with the design of the equipment than with the cables themselves.
And I agree with all the others that the connectors (terminations) of XLR cables are better, (because they lock, and almost more importantly, unlock), than the standard RCA terminations. (And I dislike locking RCA terminations, because they tend to lock up after time and getting them to unlock is a pain in the butt.)
However, as has been mentioned by others, only equipment truly designed to operate as balanced, (and not merely equipment that has a converter to take the signal from single ended to balanced), are worth using in balanced mode. Certain equipment manufacturers make sure that their equipment is truly designed from the ground up for balanced operation. (Ayre comes immediately to mind as one such manufacturer, and it has been noted by various reviewers that their equipment sounds noticeably better in balanced versus singled ended.)
My two cents worth.
And I agree with all the others that the connectors (terminations) of XLR cables are better, (because they lock, and almost more importantly, unlock), than the standard RCA terminations. (And I dislike locking RCA terminations, because they tend to lock up after time and getting them to unlock is a pain in the butt.)
However, as has been mentioned by others, only equipment truly designed to operate as balanced, (and not merely equipment that has a converter to take the signal from single ended to balanced), are worth using in balanced mode. Certain equipment manufacturers make sure that their equipment is truly designed from the ground up for balanced operation. (Ayre comes immediately to mind as one such manufacturer, and it has been noted by various reviewers that their equipment sounds noticeably better in balanced versus singled ended.)
My two cents worth.