balanced/xlr vs. unbalanced/ single ended

Tonyptony
Balanced has about a 6 db higher gain than single ended in most cases.
It can limit both your upper and lower volume ranges. I had a Pass Alpha P in balanced mode to 2 Moon W-6 mono amps. With gain dials set to minimum and the volume just off 0, it was just a little too high of a minimum volume for my taste and the maximum volume was around 4 O’clock.
I do not have any problems with my ARC Ref3, it handles all volumes ranges, my usual volume setting is 40 and that on the Pass was about 1.5

Jwt
I also have a problem now with my Meridian G68AXV. When in calibrate I must setup the system at 85db cause I cannot get the test tone lower than 80 DB for the front speakers. So I just do 85 db all around instead of 75 db.
I do think that the efficiency of your speaker, wattage and input sensitivity of your amps also come in to play.
I do agree with most here and that balanced is the way to go, it just sounds cleaner and more open to me.

IMHO

Extremely long interconnect lengths (to the preamp or mixing console, for example) is what balanced connections are for.
Unbalanced connections over long distances will pick up hum and noise.

Balanced connections are generally for large venues such as concerts or PA systems. Home systems rarely require it.
There's no sonic advantage, per se, to balanced connections.

hey there Johnsonwu, interesting answer and I'd agree with you too, but I'd also add that I have two systems hooked up presently one being single ended and one being balanced and somehow the balanced system sounds a fair bit better. Again it's not apples to apples so a hard comparison. I think they both have their virtues overall but from what I've heard balanced seems to win the overall coherency, musicality, extension and your right power and slam to the sound but in a room that has pretty nice acoustics and room treatment along with room correction, I've found balanced superior. Mostly amp to preamp balanced, and Blu ray to preamp balanced.