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Showing 1 of 30 conversations about:
ElectronicVices
2937
Jan 20, 2018
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eliraYes and no.... if you have a situation with a lot of EMI the balanced topology (assuming source to cans) will reject said noise inherently. If you don't have a lot of EMI than yeah it really has to do with one's particular situation. A lot of balanced amplifiers have a rather noticeable drop in performance from their SE output so if one were to own say just about anything from Audio-GD or Schiit with a balanced out AND SE out (Jot is a slight exception) they would find benefit in using this cable over an SE cable with that gear.
lugnut
103
Jan 20, 2018
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PatpaThe only way you will ever know is to try one and see. Cables is a love /hate thing so depending who answers your question depends on yes or no. I am not trying to be a smart ass ! It just cables are like trump, love or hate. So the only true answer is to try one in your system.
Uzuzu
1431
Jan 21, 2018
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eliraimprovement from going to balanced is that balanced amps have higher outputs, generally speaking. And if an amp has a SE and a balanced out the balanced is going to have more power. Only reason it "sounds" better as a SE or Balanced connection with the same power output will sound the same. Balanced is a meme.
Bheer
23
Jan 21, 2018
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UzuzuNot necessarily. For example, I have a Schiit Mjolnir 2 amp on the way. It's inherently balanced (balanced in, balanced out), meaning the single-ended output has a summing circuit which reduces quality (as I understand it). Same thing with some other amplifiers, as ElectronicVices mentioned. I'm fairly new to the hobby, so if you have information otherwise, please let me know.
Uzuzu
1431
Jan 23, 2018
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eliraBut we're not talking about what amp, we're talking about if there is any benefit.
I said that if a SE and Balanced Amp both had the same power outputs you cannot hear the difference. Unfortunately this is hard to test because there are little if any amps that do that. Almost all balanced amps have way more power out of their balanced ends and that leads most listeners into the "balanced sounds better" fallacy.
Bheer
23
Jan 23, 2018
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UzuzuYou're being obtuse. Whether there is any benefit DEPENDS ON THE AMP. There has already been several amps mentioned (Schiit ones such the Mjolnir 2 or Ragnarok for example) that has other factors than simple power output differentiating the balanced and SE outputs.
Uzuzu
1431
Jan 23, 2018
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BheerOn the contrary are you not the one being obtuse? We can talk about amp implementation all day. Every amp sounds different, we all know that. But there are larger sound differences between amps based on the grounds their amplification is done differently rather than their outputs being SE or balanced. And don't even argue about balanced implementation, I know. I'm just saying that balanced meaning better quality sound is a total myth, which it is. You don't need to bust your bank to afford an amp you don't need to upgrade from. Thankfully we are finally seeing some companies begin to sell better amps for cheaper either way and I hope more snake oil goes with it. ;-) I appreciate your love for audio.
Bheer
23
Jan 23, 2018
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UzuzuWe seem to have a misunderstanding. I am not saying that a balanced amp will be better than a single-ended amp. I am however saying, that with some manufacturers and their particular implementations, you will see a benefit using the balanced output of your amp rather than the SE one, when it has both. Regardless of relative power output. Schiit (exluding Jotunheim), in particular. But I suspect this conversation will keep going around in circles, similar to the "all DACs are the same" crowd on Reddit. We can agree to disagree.
ElectronicVices
2937
Jan 24, 2018
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UzuzuThis is really one of the more civilized discussions on this topic I've ever seen, thank you all for reaffirming some of my faith in humanity :)
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