Differential from source to pre but not amp?


I am researching preamps and wondering if should go with differential connections. I know there are sonic benefits from going fully differential from source to pre to amp, but my amp, an Odyssey Khartago, only has RCA inputs. I have a cd transport and dac that have differential xlr outs, so would there be any benefit to spending the extra money for a preamp with xlr connections even though my amp doesn't have them? One benefit is that it allows me the flexibility to upgrade to an amp with xlr inputs in the future, but this is null since my next upgrade will be to a tube pre and amp, which will definitely be fully differential. The tube system is part of a long term plan, so this SS system will be with me for a while and I'd like to squeeze the best sound out of it I can.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
rischa

Showing 1 response by spinaker01

An added bonus of fully balanced differential operation, is that the interconnect cables variations are less noticeable than running SE. Meaning that many of the high $$ RCA style cables sound differences are negated when running balanced (probably due to the lower impedance interactions)This allows the use of more garden variety cables -like Mogami and Canare which sound wonderful in true balanced but much less so when used single ended.