What are "true" balanced connectors


Hello All,

I am considering buying an Odyssey Stratos amplifier. I noticed it is described as having XLR (bridged) inputs

My very limited knowledge of balanced circuits is telling me this is not a "true" balanced configuration...

Am I right on this?

Any help will be much appreciated

Jim
luynes
PM Ralph Karsten (atmasphere).
He will set you straight. His products are truly balanced according to the specifications.

Bob
Well Bob, I wasn't looking for a "commercial"...

All I need to know is what an XLR bridged input means

Jim
XLR bridged : Same electrical properties as an RCA connector. The XLR connector is there for convenience only.

It will work, but you loose the fantastic noise cancellation possible by a true XLR cable.

This "bridge" is done by shorting the (-) and ground pins together.


By comparison, a true balanced situation is when the (+) and (-) and ground are separate, and the (-) carries the opposite of the (+) signal.

By reading both the (+) and (-) and summing them electronically you can cancel out noise picked up along the way.


This is not the same as having a truly balanced preamp or amplifier, that's a whole other story. :)