Going fully balanced DAC to amp

[olds1959special]

I use Vandersteen 2Ce Sig II speakers and,

My experience has shown balanced from DAC to amp provides a big boost in sound quality. I've noticed the only readily accessible amps that are balanced these days are Class D, such as the Topping B100. I have an idea to get four of these to replace my Kenwood L-05M's, or at least try it out if I can. I can keep my tube pre amp and run this into the single ended inputs which can be an alternative way to listen (or maybe sell it later.) Then I would get the Topping PRE90 + EXT90 and run everything with balanced XLR or XLR/TRS cables.

Would this sound better? What's your opinion?

 

[Roland68]

I use Vandersteen 2Ce Sig II speakers and,

My experience has shown balanced from DAC to amp provides a big boost in sound quality. I've noticed the only readily accessible amps that are balanced these days are Class D, such as the Topping B100. I have an idea to get four of these to replace my Kenwood L-05M's, or at least try it out if I can. I can keep my tube pre amp and run this into the single ended inputs which can be an alternative way to listen (or maybe sell it later.) Then I would get the Topping PRE90 + EXT90 and run everything with balanced XLR cables.

Would this sound better? What's your opinion?

The Topping B100 is a Class B amplifier. It has nothing to do with Class D.

 

[olds1959special]

The Topping B100 is a Class B amplifier. It has nothing to do with Class D.

thanks for clarifying

 

[unpluggged]

My experience has shown balanced from DAC to amp provides a big boost in sound quality

This claim begs for elaboration on the said experience.

 

[olds1959special]

This claim begs for elaboration on the said experience.

See my signature. I was testing my SMSL D0100 Pro going into a Fosi ZA3 with Elac speakers. Balanced even with volume attenuation from the DAC sounds so much better than single ended.

Same with my HD650's and THX AAA 789 amp. When I go balanced from DAC the sound is better.

 

[voodooless]

Balanced even with volume attenuation from the DAC sounds so much better than single ended.

As long as you didn’t volume match them with a DMM at the amp output to within at least .1V, all betts are off. Likely it’s all in your head.

 

[DVDdoug]

My experience has shown balanced from DAC to amp provides a big boost in sound quality.

I very skeptical with something as vague as "sound quality". ...I'm also skeptical if the change isn't described using meaningful terminology, although the person may not know the proper terminology or the real characteristics of sound quality.

There are two likely differences. Balanced connections are more immune to noise pick-up. But you would have said, "the hum went away" or something like that. And pro line level is higher than consumer line level so balanced outputs tend to be "hotter" (louder) and line-inputs sometimes have less gain. When something is bit louder, people often perceive/imagine other "improvements".

Something would have to be really fouled-up to make a difference in frequency response or distortion.

I've noticed the only readily accessible amps that are balanced these days are Class D, such as the Topping B100.

It's simply not the "consumer standard", but they are sometimes available on higher-end or "audiophile" equipment. Unbalanced RCA connections are universal in home audio, and balanced XLR connections are universal in pro audio.