How so? The V281 outputs 4X as much in BL mode as it does in SE mode and it is effectively 2x V200 (or V100) in one Box. So how's that not truly Balanced?
I just explained in the post you quoted why it isn't truly balanced, all input signals are converted through the single ended volume pot and converted back to balanced, it is not a straight through balanced amp from input to output, the signal in converted, this quote is from Fried from Violectric,
"What does
"TRUE BALANCED" mean concerning the Violectric amps.
Although written many times, here again some explanations:
There are more and more amps in the market, featuring a balanced headphone connector (4-pin XLR / Pentaconn) but only SE amps inside.
So, these sockets are more a "convenience" feature but have nothing to do with the benefits of a real balanced (or push-pull) amplifier design where 4 power stages are engaged.
This in mind we like to express our four
amplifier circuitry to be
TRUE BALANCED.
But I have to admit that there is also the 2-amplifier Violectric V202 having the Pentaconn socket as an unbalanced "convenience" feature.
To deal with unbalanced and balanced inputs as well as balanced and unbalanced outputs and to convert signals between them it is necessary to have a unbalanced signal chain inside our amps.
Balanced signals are fed to a differential amplifier which makes an unbalanced signal out of a balanced signal.
The buffering and signal treating afterwards is the same for the former balanced and the unbalanced signals.
After the volume control - which is performed at least with an Alps RK 27 attenuator or a 256-steps relay attenuator - the signals are converted to be balanced again.
Please note at this point that balancing or unbalancing signals at any position in a signal chain is far from being rocket science.
These signals are input to 4 amplifiers carrying the signals: Left in-phase, Left out-of-phase, Right in-phase, Right out-of-phase.
Balanced headphones with a matching plug and wiring will use the signals from all 4 amps with all the benefits, while unbalanced headphones with a TRS phone jack will only use 2 of the amps."