Why do some portable digital players offer balanced 4mm outputs like the Shaning M3 Ultra for example? Would there be a noticeable difference? Thanks
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Why does so much High End audio not use balanced connections?
- Thread starter RickNRoll
- Start date
Frankly a lot of "high end" stuff has lackluster specifications, and single-ended connection is the least of their problems. If you want that last couple dB though, balanced has been the standard for quite some time in instrumentation applications. Here's a primer: https://www.edn.com/the-g-word-how-to-get-your-audio-off-the-ground/
Balanced output for headphones has become trendy. So far to my knowledge no one has demonstrated any advantage.
And if anyone out there actually wants to study this stuff, there are books: https://www.amazon.com/Grounding-Sh...p-111918374X/dp/111918374X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
I have this one; it's quite good: https://www.amazon.com/Grounding-Sh...ding+in+instrumentation,stripbooks,139&sr=1-1
I have this one; it's quite good: https://www.amazon.com/Grounding-Sh...ding+in+instrumentation,stripbooks,139&sr=1-1
somebodyelse
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In small portable devices with limited power supply rails the extra voltage swing can help power output into high impedance headphones. It's a pretty small niche use case though.
Ah, good point.
You usually see balanced with very low voltages to implement common mode noise rejection. Microphones, we should do it on phone cartridges, and differential instrumentation applications, especially for low output sensors. Many oscilloscopes have differential amplifier plug ins.
In pro audio, at one time, every in and out of a gain stage was a differential transformer. Before that they were needed in the tube days for voltage isolation. From equipment I have worked on, the tube condenser mics (and some FET and dynamic mics) have a transformer out to create a balanced line. The console has transformer in, followed by the preamp gain stage, and transformer out from that. Sometimes the EQ is transformer in and out, the summing amplifier is transformer out, all the sends and returns are transformer in and out. All the outboard equipment like dynamics, delay, and echo is all transformer in and out. That would be followed by the Dolby transformer in and out and the tape machine transformer in and out. Mixing would go through the line in transformer, back through and out through all the Dolby and tape machine transformers. The mastering and disc cutting chain would be similar. All balanced.
In pro audio, at one time, every in and out of a gain stage was a differential transformer. Before that they were needed in the tube days for voltage isolation. From equipment I have worked on, the tube condenser mics (and some FET and dynamic mics) have a transformer out to create a balanced line. The console has transformer in, followed by the preamp gain stage, and transformer out from that. Sometimes the EQ is transformer in and out, the summing amplifier is transformer out, all the sends and returns are transformer in and out. All the outboard equipment like dynamics, delay, and echo is all transformer in and out. That would be followed by the Dolby transformer in and out and the tape machine transformer in and out. Mixing would go through the line in transformer, back through and out through all the Dolby and tape machine transformers. The mastering and disc cutting chain would be similar. All balanced.
Oristo
Member
Even though ideally offering galvanic isolation, RJ45 connections are still liable to damage from surges induced in twisted pairs by nearby lightning (ask me how I know).
24/96 TOSLINK suffices for me.
Things have to go really wrong with your PSU and RCA for it to be putting out even remotely audible levels of interference that picked up on an interconnect.
jeffbook
Active Member
I would ask how you know, but I expect it is a horror story.......
I also find that TOSlink 24/88.2 or 24/96 also works just fine for me with my mini computer server running Foobar
Vacceo
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They are a lot, lot easier to handle than an XLR. On the other hand, with an RJ45, you'll be transferring digital only, thus eliminating interference even more than with an XLR.
