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Showing 1 of 126 conversations about:
ZacV
0
Mar 16, 2018
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Hi. I've just only recently become aware of the benefits of balanced am still probing the possibilities/advantages it has. My main queries relating to balanced outputs are:
- Can they only be output by dedicated Amp/DACs ?
- I suppose they are best when using sources that may have static (like for instance using a phone like the LG V30 or music player like Sony Walkman) while charging.
- What are the different types of balanced cables ?
- Is there an option to used a balanced component as an intermediary device to get the benefits of both by still using my non-balanced AKG K7xx or other headphones ?
Berserkker
1
Mar 17, 2018
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ZacVCan they be...? Well technically dedicated amp/dacs are just better quality than what you have, so no but good look finding something with a balanced out besides DAP's.
I suppose ...? not necessarily, a dedicated dac/amp is alwys best with such a source no matter if balanced or not, balanced is more about eliminating EMI and L/R crosstalk and therefore better seperation and soundstage. However the V30 has one of the best if not the best dac/amp in a smartphone so they shouldn't be that affected by charging etc..
What are the..? Way to many to list, there is 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm , 2 6.3mm ... just one side. Sadly there is no standard (2.5mm and two TRS 6.3mm are more common). Each of them have their pro/cons, 2.5mm is flimsy and can break easily, 6.3 is very sturdy but two of them is bulky, 3.5 is basically just like your headset cable with the mic hot replaced with the second ground, 4.4 is ususal on sony devices.
Is there ..? Not really only in the way that balanced dac/amps are usually better. You can get rid of some of the EMI which you probably dont hear on k7xx in a normal enviroment as everything else comes by seperating the ground (-> balanced) and with the mini xlr connector of the k7xx they need to get conencted again in some way. You COULD mod the k7xx's to be balanced but I dont think its worth the effort.
Bob-B
3
Mar 17, 2018
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ZacVHere's what I've learned over the past year:
- balanced outputs are electronically different, so NO, there is no intermingling of balanced vs. non-balanced outputs. if you try, you're likely to burn out the balanced amp.
- the whole idea of balanced is to have two channels that are electronically identical, but electronically isolated. a typical non-balanced output requires only three conductors: a common ground plus one conductor for each channel. a balanced output has two dedicated but isolated amplifiers each of which has two identical conductors going to the headphone. benefits: no cross-talk is physically possible; the resistance to each earpiece is identical; and since the amplifiers are totally separate, you are potentially doubling the output power of the amp depending on the instantaneous music.
- what varies from one balanced cable to another: the quality of the wire used; how it is braided/wound, the number and thickness of the conductors, and the insulation used. but most important is the connector on each end. two common amp connectors are 2.5mm TRRS and 4-pin XLR. A common headphone connector is MMCX.
- for headphones that have a removable cable with a separate wire going to each side, you have a very good chance of finding a balanced cable with the right connector for the headphones on one end and the right connector for your amp or DAP on the other. If your headphones have only one cable, or are not removable, mods can often be made to replace the original cable with a balanced, but this involved disassembling and modifying the headphone.
- YES - it's worth going balanced. I have an iBasso DX200 with balanced 2.5mm output. Just got the Massdrop Universal IEMs and opted to include the balanced cable. The difference in sound is dramatic - the bass is much tighter and well defined, and the sound-space is much wider.
- I've also ordered a balanced cable for my HD-6XX and it should be here today. I expect a similar experience :-)
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