Balanced vs. Single Ended Interconnects

All 3 of my upper end DACs are fully balanced designs.  All three sound better with XLR cables than RCA, from the same manufacturer.  Not Mogami but Grover Huffman cables (lower cost boutique).  

A balanced vs single ended cable, both being of similar CONFIGURATION, will transmit the waveform with identical defeciencies, therefore sound the same.  The balanced cable however will show a +6 dB gain over the other.  There is also some immunity to common mode noise, usually a minor consideration. 

A balanced vs single ended cable, both being of similar CONFIGURATION,

They are not the same configuration. For starters on have 3 wires and the other has 2,

will transmit the waveform with identical defeciencies, therefore sound the same.  The balanced cable however will show a +6 dB gain over the other.

Maybe SNR not gain?

  There is also some immunity to common mode noise, usually a minor consideration. 

When did CMRR become a minor consideration?

This at $25 each plus shipping?  If you get someone to order for you with an Amazon Prime account then shipping is free

My experience has been that I've noticed only a modicum of difference between XLR and RCA, though the bulk of my system is unbalanced, thus RCAs have always been the most prevalent. The most significant differences between interconnects that I've heard is in the quality level and architectural differences in the cables between brands, type of copper or copper vs. silver, gauge, connectors, and dielectrics. I'd place the connection type as a lower priority and give higher priority to the quality of cable that is a good match in your system.