I have an Anthem D2v processor. My current amplifier is the Rotel RMB-1095. All my HT devices are connected with RCA cables. I'm considering replacing the Rotel within the next six months with either a Bryston or Classe amp. For now, I'm exploring whether to replace the D2v to amplifier RCA cables with XLR cables.
1) Has anyone done comparative listening to the D2v with both RCA and XLR cables? I'm trying to figure out this one: "A system connected by balanced interconnects can, however, often sound less good than one connected with unbalanced lines."
2) Are the D2v lines considered to be fully balanced?
The following is an excerpt from Robert Harley's. The full article is available on monstercable's website:
"Quite apart from the advantage of noise cancellation in a balanced line, a balanced connection often sounds better than an unbalanced line. A system connected by balanced interconnects can, however, often sound less good than one connected with unbalanced lines. Say you have a digital processor that takes an unbalanced signal from the digital-to-analog converter chip and converts it to a balanced signal so that the processor manufacturer can tout the product as having "balanced outputs" (see the section on balanced digital processors in Chapter 8). Inside the digital processor, the unbalanced signal is converted to a balanced signal by a phase splitter, a circuit that takes a signal of one polarity and turns it into two signals of opposite polarity. Phase splitting subjects the unbalanced signal to an additional active (transistor- or op-amp- based) stage and puts more circuitry in the signal path.
The balanced digital processor output is then input to a balanced-input preamplifier. Because all but the very best balanced preamplifiers convert a balanced input signal to an unbalanced signal for the preamplifier's internal gain stages, the preamplifier's input converts this balanced signal to an unbalanced signal-adding yet another active stage to the signal path. After the unbalanced signal is amplified within the preamplifier, it is converted back to balanced with another phase splitter.
The preamplifier's balanced output is then sent from the preamplifier output to the power amplifier's balanced input where it's-that's right-converted to unbalanced with yet another active stage. The result of these unbalanced/balanced/unbalanced/balanced/unbalanced conversions is additional electronics in the signal path-just what we don't want. This is why you can't assume that balanced components sound inherently better than unbalanced ones. Magazine reviews of audio components should include musical and technical comparisons of the product's balanced and unbalanced modes.
Some products, however, are truly balanced and don't rely on phase splitters and unbalancing amplifiers. For example, a digital processor may create a balanced signal in the digital domain (at no sonic penalty but, indeed, a sonic gain) and convert that balanced signal to analog with four digital-to-analog converters and analog output stages (left channel + and -, right channel + and -). Similarly, some preamplifiers are truly balanced and have double the circuitry to operate on the non-inverting and inverting signals separately. You can tell a truly balanced preamplifier by the number of elements in the volume control. A preamplifier that operates on an unbalanced signal internally will have two volume-control elements: one for the left channel, one for the right. A fully balanced preamplifier will have four elements: ± left channel and ± right channel. The signal thus stays balanced from before the DACs inside the digital processor all the way to the final stages in the power amplifier.
As in all things audio, the proof is in the listening. When shopping for a component, listen to it in both balanced and unbalanced modes. Let your ears decide if the component works best in your system when connected via the balanced or unbalanced lines.
1) Has anyone done comparative listening to the D2v with both RCA and XLR cables? I'm trying to figure out this one: "A system connected by balanced interconnects can, however, often sound less good than one connected with unbalanced lines."
2) Are the D2v lines considered to be fully balanced?
The following is an excerpt from Robert Harley's. The full article is available on monstercable's website:
"Quite apart from the advantage of noise cancellation in a balanced line, a balanced connection often sounds better than an unbalanced line. A system connected by balanced interconnects can, however, often sound less good than one connected with unbalanced lines. Say you have a digital processor that takes an unbalanced signal from the digital-to-analog converter chip and converts it to a balanced signal so that the processor manufacturer can tout the product as having "balanced outputs" (see the section on balanced digital processors in Chapter 8). Inside the digital processor, the unbalanced signal is converted to a balanced signal by a phase splitter, a circuit that takes a signal of one polarity and turns it into two signals of opposite polarity. Phase splitting subjects the unbalanced signal to an additional active (transistor- or op-amp- based) stage and puts more circuitry in the signal path.
The balanced digital processor output is then input to a balanced-input preamplifier. Because all but the very best balanced preamplifiers convert a balanced input signal to an unbalanced signal for the preamplifier's internal gain stages, the preamplifier's input converts this balanced signal to an unbalanced signal-adding yet another active stage to the signal path. After the unbalanced signal is amplified within the preamplifier, it is converted back to balanced with another phase splitter.
The preamplifier's balanced output is then sent from the preamplifier output to the power amplifier's balanced input where it's-that's right-converted to unbalanced with yet another active stage. The result of these unbalanced/balanced/unbalanced/balanced/unbalanced conversions is additional electronics in the signal path-just what we don't want. This is why you can't assume that balanced components sound inherently better than unbalanced ones. Magazine reviews of audio components should include musical and technical comparisons of the product's balanced and unbalanced modes.
Some products, however, are truly balanced and don't rely on phase splitters and unbalancing amplifiers. For example, a digital processor may create a balanced signal in the digital domain (at no sonic penalty but, indeed, a sonic gain) and convert that balanced signal to analog with four digital-to-analog converters and analog output stages (left channel + and -, right channel + and -). Similarly, some preamplifiers are truly balanced and have double the circuitry to operate on the non-inverting and inverting signals separately. You can tell a truly balanced preamplifier by the number of elements in the volume control. A preamplifier that operates on an unbalanced signal internally will have two volume-control elements: one for the left channel, one for the right. A fully balanced preamplifier will have four elements: ± left channel and ± right channel. The signal thus stays balanced from before the DACs inside the digital processor all the way to the final stages in the power amplifier.
As in all things audio, the proof is in the listening. When shopping for a component, listen to it in both balanced and unbalanced modes. Let your ears decide if the component works best in your system when connected via the balanced or unbalanced lines.
No difference in sound 
I am starting to smell that, the more I pay, the better the sound 
To bad the third prong can't cancel out Dogma and Superstition
That's what it should say in the Anthem description. But they won't, and you know why. 
