Phono Stage with XLR outs

The question I addressed is whether the balanced outputs really add 6db gain vs the SE outputs, not whether 65 is better or worse sounding than 60.

I did not compare rca to xlr outs - don’t want to use the adapters. My understanding is gain settings are the same for rca and xlr outs but xlr out is a hotter signal that adds about 6db. That’s my understanding. Again switching to 60db resulted in more natural sound. 

Did Whest tell you the XLRs on their unit are 6db hotter than the RCAs? 

“It’s super clean, low noise, low distortion, quiet and natural sounding but the cleanliness of it makes it sound like a good and refined digital front end”
@audphile1 

This is the point where you start exploring the different tube phono stages available. A tube phono stage with XLR outputs deserves a closer look—specifically, whether those balanced outputs are truly balanced or simply added for convenience. The implementation makes all the difference. 

I have always found Whest, the company, to be a bit vague in describing their circuitry, which is fine. But given the lack of information on their website and the fact that the stated specifications of the Two.2 do not stipulate that the balanced outputs offer any additional gain vs the SE outputs, I would guess there is no difference.  The Two.2 derives a balanced output from an SE circuit, at the output of the device.  This means it takes the amplified SE signal to start with and splits it into plus and minus phases. At that point, no gain can be added unless they were to use an added gain device at that output. So more likely the gain is the same from either output. Given that you do hear a difference, and I do not doubt that, it may be that the balanced output circuit per se adds a coloration.