What is the benefit of balanced xlr cables

There is no real benefit unless you require 10m long ICs or your components do not have RCA sockets, IMO...

... and the XLR ICs are usually much more expensive!

When the tool is really build ballanced inside there is a easily difference to be heard.

I would suggest that the same could be said for RCA electronics... whatever that tool/component is...

Perhaps Audioquest RCA ICs could be better, especially for the prices being suggested... whatever those prices may be...

When the tool is really build ballanced inside there is a easily difference to be heard.

For me it depends on the RCA or XLR electronics and the quality of the RCA or XLR ICs not whether it is RCA or XLR... that's how I hear it :)

Unfortunately, XLR electronics remove 2nd order harmonics as part of the XLR noise filtering/cancelling process, which our ears like, but leaves the 3rd order harmonics in place including the noise, which our ears do not like... :)

So, Audioquest's RCA ICs are actually designed to be XLR ICs?

Perhaps that is the reason their XLR ICs is better than their RCA ICs?

For me it depends on the RCA or XLR electronics and the quality of the RCA or XLR ICs not whether it is RCA or XLR... that's how I hear it :)

Unfortunately, XLR electronics remove 2nd order harmonics as part of the XLR noise filtering/cancelling process, which our ears like, but leaves the 3rd order harmonics in place including the noise, which our ears do not like... :)

If the Hot and Cold XLR electronics is not well matched then the noise filtering/cancelling process can be even stronger where even more 2nd, and even 3rd, order harmonics are removed. I guess that will provide a smoother, maybe warmer, sound :)