RB, We were, or at least I was, comparing the optical cartridge to an electromagnetic cartridge, where the output is inherently balanced when you take the positive and negative phases of the signal from opposite ends of the coil, OR you choose to ground one side and run it single-ended. Since there is no coil in an optical cartridge and since diodes are one way conductors, I suspect you would need two diodes per channel or a total of four for stereo output of an optical cartridge that would work in balanced mode. That would add weight to the cartridge body as well as complication in aligning two diodes to generate a balanced signal. But I could be entirely wrong. It's an interesting question.
In electronic components, you can use bipolar transistors or dual section triodes as active devices to implement a balanced circuit, so in a sense you don't need twice as many parts as in SE operation.
What's that hyperexpensive single malt scotch that comes from Oz or NZ? Is it "Smuggler's Gold"? I have a dear friend in Melbourne who is a connoisseur.
