Need help with priorities


I want to buy an intergraded but I don't understand some basics.I'm using Nola Viper Sig speaker's and a Wadia 860.
*Should I be concerned if the intergraded is fully balanced?
I've read that the Wadia may be better using the XLR's with a fully balanced unit.Also,some unit's have XLR input's but are not fully balanced.Any advantage there?
*Is it a good idea to get an intergraded that include's a phono stage.I want a simple system and a built in phono stage is one less piece.How important is the interaction between the phono stage and TT/cartridge?I plan on adding a TT later.

I've read that the Nola's like tube's and I would like to try tube's with them(I'm a little tube shy but I'm working through it).Most of the tube intergraded's in my price range (6k)do not have balanced input's.Big deal?Not a big deal?

I don't post much but I read along when I can.Thank's in advance for any help you guy's and gal's can give.

arbuk

Showing 2 responses by matrix

No, no advantage really, the XLR is good if you have to go with very long runs of interconnects, but the wadia puts out 4 volt at the RCA jacks, and the same at the XLR, most CD players only do the 4 volts(pro audio output) at the XLR and the standard 2 volts(consumer audio) at the RCA's.... The misconception of many is with Balanced XLR connection is that they Get better bass and definition, blah, blah, blah, And of course they are right, because they get DOUBLE the output voltage on most units from the XLR in most cases vs. the rca' jacks, which yes gives bigger sound, powerfull bass and all that, but little do they know most of the units they compare their balanced and RCA connections with are not truly balanced anyway they are just simply getting double the line voltage causing a smoother and more powerfull sound and they attribute this to the XLR just simply being a better connection, lower noise and because its "Balanced".... Now I am sure this thread may get hammered but whatever, try it with the Wadia, they will be near identicle, I do believe some of the Wadia units are also truly balanced, but I would not be so concerned with this as like I stated they have the PRo audio industry standard output of 4 volt regardless the connection, I do not know of many other manufactures that do this from the RCA's.. Some of it is marketing hype, but if you HAVE truly balanced amplifiers it could be more effective, lower noise and again you could run very long interconnects without loss. But be skepticle and listen for yourself, everyone is an expert on this I;m sure and will swear by balanced connections and of course on units that are using the 4 volt output again Double what the standard jack normally feeds they would be right and many of the preamps will also have a total input at the xlr of 4 volts and UP to 4 volts out, now daisy chain that thought ,, you are using a standard dvd or cd player that is outing 2 volts and run into a preamp that is capable of outing 4 volts, it will not, it will simply feed 2 volts out to your amps... but again if you are using the wadia 4 volt rca's which I am almost 100% sure they are you will be feeding 4 volts max out of the pre to the amps, and again normally this is only heard from XLR units in general and again will lead people to believe they are getting something more from Xlr.... I have a pre amp that will peak at 8 Volts out to my; amps but very few sources would output that much to use it that I know of, mainly these units are built simply to be overbuilt and not overload if they did get feed a high line signal like from a CD player running into a PRO equalizer or something and totally kicking up the line voltage ..... ;)

Hope this made some sense, but I have found no the fancy XLR cable is not necessarily the actual reason for better sound its just simply that XLR is outputing double the voltage in most cases, but True balanced units could help, but not always that much better, but true balanced amps get fairly expensive and you really have to dig to see if they are, like rowland, BAT, some Classe, etc...
Hmm, how long, well I would say keep it to 7ft or under if possible, could go 10, not really that you would get much loss but could get more background noise or something as it is a longer length and it depends on how well it is shielded in the design... but in general I like to keep them at the standard 2 meter 6.6 foot.