Is there a benefit in using balanced output to headphones?

[momo7G]

To my knowledge, balanced output is used to reduce ground and hum in professional audio.
Which is a great deal as the cables need to run for a longer distant and signaling high power PA system.
However, is the balanced out will do good in home audio? As we usually just sit in front of the speakers or using headphones.
Can someone shed some knowledge to me please?

 

[derp1n]

Headphone balanaced out is an audiophile meme for gullible idiots, it does nothing.

 

[amirm]

Headphones have no connection to ground so by definition are always balanced no matter how you drive them.

The only benefit comes from higher output from some headphone amps when used in "balanced" mode. As you correctly state, this has nothing to do with the signal being balanced.

 

[JJB70]

Indeed, there is a benefit if you want a higher output than is available using the regular output. That is the only advantage.

 

[solderdude]

I believe the OP is looking for line level balanced outputs although the title has headphones in it.
In case it is about headphones the above replies are correct.
I can see benefits for low power supply voltage rails portable applications.
For these devices double the output voltage is available so can play 6dB louder from the same power supply voltage.
This could be handy when you want to drive 300 Ohm headphones from a 3.3V or 5V power supply rails (portable equipment)
Inherently all drivers are 'balanced' (as Amir already mentioned) it's the cable that makes the headphone have a common return wire connection.

More talk on this here

When it is about line level outputs:
Say you have active monitors that only have balanced inputs then it makes (kind-of) sense to drive it balanced as it is there already.
Although even an amp that only has balanced inputs can work well on a 'single ended' RCA output as well.
You just need to short one of the balanced input pins to ground pin in that case. (NEVER use that trick on balanced outputs !!!)

I don't think hum is a problem in domestic situations but in rare occasions (ground loops) it could possibly be a problem. When the audio signal has transformers in it this could solve such a problem. Most of the 'balanced' inputs (and outputs), however, are simply direct inputs and outputs of opamps.

Otherwise I see no benefits in home applications.

 

[garbulky]

Well you get twice or close to twice the power

 

[solderdude]

2x the voltage = 4x the power... (P = U2/R) and R stays the same.
Only valid for high impedance headphones

 

[garbulky]

2x the voltage = 4x the power... (P = U2/R) and R stays the same.
Only valid for high impedance headphones

My bad! 2X Voltage then.

 

[solderdude]

Yep.. 6dB !
can't go wrong there, both in power as well as voltage.

 

[Sir Sanders Zingmore]

Headphones have no connection to ground so by definition are always balanced no matter how you drive them.

I wonder why there are no balanced (passive) speakers ?

 

[RayDunzl]

I wonder why there are no balanced (passive) speakers ?

Mine are.