Balanced vs. unbalanced audio - Blu-ray Forum

JTK · 02-25-2007, 03:12 PM

^^ Please educate me on this.

I have the basic concepts down and I understand that you get into certain higher end audio gear where you see the XLR connections that are used for "balanced" audio.

Is "balanced" audio really all that? Is it worth considering down the road some day?

EDIT: Here's probably the best, succinct answer I've ever seen on the subject that just showed up in my PM box over at AVS.

Quote:

Simply put, balanced audio connections send an analog audio signal kind of "two ways" -- balanced on either side of Ground. By combining the two sides at the receiving end (subtracting one side from the other) you get back to the original signal. The point is, any interference induced while the signal is passing through the cable is going to equally affect both sides, and so when you combine the signals at the receiving end it is automagically cancelled!

So balanced cables are all about reducing interference.

As such, they are primarily for low voltage (line level) connections. And they really shine for very long connections in an environment with lots or electrical interference. This is why they are used in pro studios.

Pro XLR connectors are also usually "locking" connectors which help them stay in place as the studio yahoos drag stuff around. XLR connectors on home theater equipment usually are NOT locking connectors. Again, this stuff really is targeted at pro use.

For typical home theater line level connections -- 3 feet of connection between devices in a typical cabinet say -- balanced connections aren't going to have any advantage over reasonable quality, shielded RCA interconnects. There's just not enough interference to worry about.

But there's no reason not to use them if you've got them. They look cool as well.

Many devices run balanced connections 6dB different from RCA connections due to different standards used in the pro world. If you have a mix of balanced and RCA connections you may need to adjust volume levels differently for the two. But other than that, there's no reason why you couldnt' mix RCA pairs and balanced connection pairs as suits you best.

Damon Payne · 02-25-2007, 04:10 PM

In HT situations its really not needed. I've heard people rave about changing to balanced and hearing a lot of difference but this is often due to different quality components in the XLR path of the pre-amp and not because of the XLR itself.
A more important stat for me is S/N ratio of the pre-outs.

JTK · 02-25-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon Payne

In HT situations its really not needed. I've heard people rave about changing to balanced and hearing a lot of difference but this is often due to different quality components in the XLR path of the pre-amp and not because of the XLR itself.
A more important stat for me is S/N ratio of the pre-outs.

Even I know just enough to agree with you on that.

Ralph P. · 02-25-2007, 05:14 PM

Greetings,

The real benefit to using balanced connections in a home environment is because of their inherent noise rejection (EMI/RFI) capabilities. This is really more important when longer cable runs (say in excess of 12 feet) are used and there are potentially issues where cable seperation over the run is not feasible. I use them in my setup because I routinely have to swap gear in and out of my sytem and sometimes move gear to other locations within the room. Having longer interconnects makes this process simpler sometimes.

Regarding the quoted post from AVS I would like to point out that XLR's connectors are of the locking type period. There is no difference with regard to this for HT gear. I have owned/used/tested many HT products that utilize XLR connections and have yet to see one that did not have locking connectors at both ends.

JTK · 02-25-2007, 05:28 PM

^^ Thanks!

Blue · 02-26-2007, 01:11 AM

The "high End" people don't like balanced as there is more electronics in the signal path. For long runs especially in electrically noisy environments it can't be beaten though. Most of the noise in a domestic setting is 50 or 60 Hz (mains frequency) so is useful for Subs on a long run. Although you can cheat to get the benifit of balanced you need a "black box" (it maybe in the sub) to convert back to "normal" unbalanced.

Damon Payne · 02-26-2007, 04:45 AM

The main benefit of balanced is a dedicated ground vs. the ground being carried on the wire jacket in a typical RCA wire.
I'd consider myself a "high end" person, and I don't dislike balanced, I just don't see the point in most cases. If I can't hear the difference on my equipment in my room, I don't bother.

Define "electrically noisy environment" ?

Blue · 02-26-2007, 08:17 AM

Electrical noise can in many forms. Lightning is the most well known, but although a similar principle, conatctors on large air con unit's lift motors, big transformers etc. even dirty / leaky insulators on power poles. As I said in a domestic environment it's just normal mains that is not that big a problem in most cases.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
receiver audio are HDMI audio, optical, and digital coaxial inputs the same?	Receivers	mustang-gt-2002	9	07-09-2014 03:51 PM
Windows Media Audio Lossless vs Free Lossles Audio Codec?	Blu-ray PCs, Laptops, Drives, Media and Software	Sammy	7	07-25-2011 03:30 AM
Balanced Connections	Audio Theory and Discussion	Intamin	31	03-17-2009 04:56 AM
blu ray player with balanced audio outputs ?	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	zoraduntov	5	11-08-2008 08:42 PM
Balanced Pre-outs?	Receivers	Josh	28	04-11-2008 07:14 AM

02-25-2007, 04:10 PM	#2
Damon Payne Active Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Wisconsin	In HT situations its really not needed. I've heard people rave about changing to balanced and hearing a lot of difference but this is often due to different quality components in the XLR path of the pre-amp and not because of the XLR itself. A more important stat for me is S/N ratio of the pre-outs.

02-25-2007, 05:14 PM	#4
Ralph P. Active Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Middletown NY Trading Score:3	Greetings, The real benefit to using balanced connections in a home environment is because of their inherent noise rejection (EMI/RFI) capabilities. This is really more important when longer cable runs (say in excess of 12 feet) are used and there are potentially issues where cable seperation over the run is not feasible. I use them in my setup because I routinely have to swap gear in and out of my sytem and sometimes move gear to other locations within the room. Having longer interconnects makes this process simpler sometimes. Regarding the quoted post from AVS I would like to point out that XLR's connectors are of the locking type period. There is no difference with regard to this for HT gear. I have owned/used/tested many HT products that utilize XLR connections and have yet to see one that did not have locking connectors at both ends.

02-25-2007, 05:28 PM	#5
JTK Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2006 Location:www.blurayoasis.com	^^ Thanks!

02-26-2007, 01:11 AM	#6
Blue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2005 Location:Melbourne Australia Blu-ray collection:206	The "high End" people don't like balanced as there is more electronics in the signal path. For long runs especially in electrically noisy environments it can't be beaten though. Most of the noise in a domestic setting is 50 or 60 Hz (mains frequency) so is useful for Subs on a long run. Although you can cheat to get the benifit of balanced you need a "black box" (it maybe in the sub) to convert back to "normal" unbalanced.

02-26-2007, 04:45 AM	#7
Damon Payne Active Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Wisconsin	The main benefit of balanced is a dedicated ground vs. the ground being carried on the wire jacket in a typical RCA wire. I'd consider myself a "high end" person, and I don't dislike balanced, I just don't see the point in most cases. If I can't hear the difference on my equipment in my room, I don't bother. Define "electrically noisy environment" ?

02-26-2007, 08:17 AM	#8
Blue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2005 Location:Melbourne Australia Blu-ray collection:206	Electrical noise can in many forms. Lightning is the most well known, but although a similar principle, conatctors on large air con unit's lift motors, big transformers etc. even dirty / leaky insulators on power poles. As I said in a domestic environment it's just normal mains that is not that big a problem in most cases.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals