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It finally happened!

It's been quite awhile since I've contributed a post but I think it's about time. Since my last post I have changed several components of my system. I went from Von Schweikert vr4 MKIII Sr to Vandersteen 5A. I got an Aurender N10 streamer. I changed out my Belles Power Modules 350A amp for an Ayre V-5xe. I went to balanced cables from pre to amp. I thought it sounded pretty decent when I put in the Ayre. A couple of months after I visited another member of this site and heard his system. I left frustrated with mine. His was so spacious and airy and just right. I thought mine sounded good until I heard his. I wondered what else I was going to have to do to get there.  Maybe a different DAC? I have an Aqua La Voce S2. Maybe treatments? I just didn't know. Well... I had a 'Duh and a 'Aha' moment. My Belles A28 Reference preamp has selector switches of course on both input and output. When I put in my balanced cables it played and sounded better so I didn't do anything further. Something in my pea brain finally clicked! I needed to set my output switch to Balanced! Automatically better! Then I realized I had another pair of balanced cables and by golly! My DAC has balanced outputs! I hooked them up and set my input to balanced and was blown away! I know someone will think it should have been obvious. It's like I bought a whole new system! 

dadork
richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,362 posts
 

@dadork 

Thanks - Audioquest I know, but Heaven's Gate is new to me.  The brand that is.  No chance of me getting close to St Peter ...

kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
300 posts
 

I only noticed a higher signal level when I went from unbalanced to balanced connection. I'm sure the EMI background noise levels improved, but I heard no difference (apparently well under the noise floor).

Since then I have upgraded my amp, pre-amp, and DAC. All have single-ended connections. On the radar is a Chord Qutest DAC (also single ended).

I'm convinced properly deployed balanced connections can make a subtle difference in some systems. I have no discernible reason to upgrade my components to balanced connections (in my system: Schitt Bifrost, Odyssey Candela, upgraded Odyssey Khatego, and Harbeth P3 ESR). Others with more revealing systems will likely have different results.

retiredaudioguy
284 posts
 

I run Balanced from DAC to pre and from pre to main amp.  The main amp is a home brew that is ONLY balanced, no phase splitter. TT to phono to pre are single.  The TT to phono VERY carefully routed in free air away from everything else.

I have wondered why SS phono stages are not typically balanced as the amplification is usually an op-amp, which by its nature is a differential amplifier. 

The TT to phono is Transparent Super, all the others are Cardas Clear Reflection. The Cardas cables are slightly forgiving but don't seem to affect the air and space.  The sound is fuller than when I was using the Benchmark balanced cables.

cooperdude6
80 posts
 

Frankly I am not surprised that you had problems tuning in your system. You effectively abandoned all of your old system and then added all new variables. Unless you had heard all of that equipment linked together in a dealership or friend's system, it was unlikely to achieve full synergy out of the box. Despite being fine quality electronics, they interact uniquely, and you don't mention whether you bought all of them as new equipment. If all were new, then you had to deal with multiple break ins of gear. I'm happy for you that you are closing in on the sound quality that you hoped to achieve and wish you continued luck on the journey!

jji666
656 posts
 

Increase in gain can often be perceived as higher quality.  But balanced also has better SNR and if any of your interconnects were somewhat long, true balanced would have noise rejection. 

Congrats on enjoying the music! 

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