Have you listened to them? Have you listened to the difference running the same component and the same quality level interconnect to compare the difference between balanced and unbalanced? Because doing that was for me the last little bit I needed to confirm balanced is a lot more money for very little return. If any. In the most rigorous comparison I was able to do, everything identical right down to the same brand/model interconnect so only RCA/XLR was different, the XLR actually sounded worse.
Balanced in the pro world is pretty much essential. Balanced is great for really long runs. A pro setup could have easily 30 to 50 connections. XLR with its click-lock feature, great with so many connections, so many changes. Think of your system. How much of this applies?
Right. You pay a lot more for balanced. But you don't get a lot more.
Right. And you can't trust anyone to decide which sounds best. You just have to go and listen and decide for yourself.
This one's easy. Especially after what you saved avoiding XLR. Add that to what you had budgeted already and you should be able to afford the Herron.
Balanced in the pro world is pretty much essential. Balanced is great for really long runs. A pro setup could have easily 30 to 50 connections. XLR with its click-lock feature, great with so many connections, so many changes. Think of your system. How much of this applies?
Price is not always indicative of quality.
Right. You pay a lot more for balanced. But you don't get a lot more.
It’s a safe assumption all have their own sound signature.
Right. And you can't trust anyone to decide which sounds best. You just have to go and listen and decide for yourself.
Turntable preamp to be determined in the future.
This one's easy. Especially after what you saved avoiding XLR. Add that to what you had budgeted already and you should be able to afford the Herron.