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Showing 1 of 126 conversations about:
bioxity
3
Mar 18, 2018
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Will there be a tangible difference in sound quality if I switch to balanced on say, 6XX/50s? Would I need new equipment, such as a balance supporting amp?
ripsterarmy99
153
Mar 18, 2018
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bioxityNo and yes if your amp has no XLR sockets. It only makes them louder.
Scanspeakman
1
Mar 18, 2018
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ripsterarmy99That's a bit to short. Balanced does not make the headphones louder. But normally a balanced output has a higher output voltage. So with the volume knob in the same position, the sound is louder. The dynamic range improves a little when using a balanced setup because the voltage swing (difference between plus and minus) can be bigger with a balanced output.
One other important thing is that having a xlr output on your amp does not make it balances or differential; the amp itself can be single ended but uses a SE to balanced converter on the output. For a full differential design of an amp the component count of the amp roughly doubles; you need amplification of L-, L+, R-, R+ and a common ground instead of just L+, R+ and a common ground. That's why full differential designs are usually more expensive (and less common).
Oh...and of course this is the case for all components in your setup (player, pre-amp, amp, dac etc). If one of them is SE, you lose part of the benefits. From my personal experience; it is not a "night-and-day" difference between SE and balanced, but there is a difference. I would describe it as "more controlled"; bass is a bit tighter and some micro-details are not lost.
One other important thing is that having a xlr output on your amp does not make it balances or differential; the amp itself can be single ended but uses a SE to balanced converter on the output. For a full differential design of an amp the component count of the amp roughly doubles; you need amplification of L-, L+, R-, R+ and a common ground instead of just L+, R+ and a common ground. That's why full differential designs are usually more expensive (and less common).
Oh...and of course this is the case for all components in your setup (player, pre-amp, amp, dac etc). If one of them is SE, you lose part of the benefits. From my personal experience; it is not a "night-and-day" difference between SE and balanced, but there is a difference. I would describe it as "more controlled"; bass is a bit tighter and some micro-details are not lost.
ripsterarmy99
153
Mar 20, 2018
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ScanspeakmanDynamic range does not increase with a voltage increase, more voltage is able to drive the headphones louder. Has nothing to do with frequency response or quality of sound.
Also, could you explain to me how an amp can be balanced without being a monoblock? Isn't the IEC ground pin shared for both L/R amps inside a given device?
Also, could you explain to me how an amp can be balanced without being a monoblock? Isn't the IEC ground pin shared for both L/R amps inside a given device?
Scanspeakman
1
Mar 20, 2018
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ripsterarmy99You are right the dynamic range or quality has nothing to do with the voltage. In this case I was referring to the balanced design.
I don't get your question about balanced and monoblock. You seem to imply that it has to be a monoblock to balanced. But that's not the case. Of course you can build a stereo amp which shares the ground pin. That's what I did when I build me diy (balanced) power amp to drive my speakers. Its basically two monoblocks in one housing (sharing the ground pin and a soft start pcb). But you can also build everything on one pcb if you need to build for a small enclosure (like Cavalli's Liquid Carbon headphone amp).
I don't get your question about balanced and monoblock. You seem to imply that it has to be a monoblock to balanced. But that's not the case. Of course you can build a stereo amp which shares the ground pin. That's what I did when I build me diy (balanced) power amp to drive my speakers. Its basically two monoblocks in one housing (sharing the ground pin and a soft start pcb). But you can also build everything on one pcb if you need to build for a small enclosure (like Cavalli's Liquid Carbon headphone amp).
ripsterarmy99
153
Mar 22, 2018
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ScanspeakmanIf it is sharing the IEC's ground pin, is it then not balanced? Balanced means separate left right and ground for both channels, correct?
Scanspeakman
1
Mar 22, 2018
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ripsterarmy99No. In the end the ground is shared anyway; if not internally in the amp, then at the sockets in the wall. I think you mistake ground and minus. In a SE configuration just L+, R+ and ground are used. In balanced mode L+, L-, R+, R- and ground are used. Take a look at the design and schematics of the full differential power-amp I build a couple of years ago. This design uses separate amp stages for all four (L+, L-, R+, R-) and uses a shared ground. This might clarify a few thing.
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/image/11997/
Scanspeakman
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/image/11997/
Scanspeakman
ripsterarmy99
153
Mar 23, 2018
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ScanspeakmanYeah some dude on reddit was arguing about balanced amps and basically said if it isn't a monoblock it isn't balanced. Good to know, thanks.
Scanspeakman
1
Mar 23, 2018
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ripsterarmy99No problem! Most people don't know what they are talking about when discussing balanced/single ended. I found two image of the very basics schematics that show difference even better. And it is easier to understand why your component count almost doubles in a balanced amp; power stage, power supply etc.
Scanspeakman
Scanspeakman
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