Balanced vs Unbalanced Connection

[fabofrank]

Hi Guys,

A real no-brainer but just needed confirmation from the experts! What's the diff btw Balanced and Unbalanced connection?

One should always go for Balanced connection via 1/4 or XLR jacks as opposed to Unbalanced RCA jacks, even if the distance is about 4ft. right?

Does it really make a diff in sound quality?

Thanks again for your inputs!

[brandondrury]

Standard 1/4" cables (like guitar cables) are not balanced. You need TRS cables (tip, ring, sleeve) for that. All XLR cables are balanced if they are wired correctly.

Basically, there are 3 wires in XLR or TRS. 2 of the wires are carrying the exact same signal but wired in a way that any difference in the two signals (like noise) is cancelled out.

One should always go for Balanced connection via 1/4 or XLR jacks as opposed to Unbalanced RCA jacks, even if the distance is about 4ft. right?

Does it really make a diff in sound quality?

I say that if noise isn't a problem, you are fine using whatever you've got. If noise is a problem, balanced connections can help fix it.

I wouldn't say there is a sound quality difference simply based on being balanced or unbalanced. I'm not a huge proponent of high end cables. You'll be able to tell the difference between cables the most in between guitars and amps because of impedance issues magnify the effect of the cable. You'll also hear (a dramatically less) difference by upgrading cables in between a mic and preamp.

I'm of the opinion that in any other applicatio there is almost always better ways to spend money than on super high end cables. I have a buddy who spent a couple grand on cables for his home stereo and $1000 on the cables in his car. Both are acoustical nitemares and don't sound nearly as good as the added expense would suggest.

Brandon

[richiebee]

I'm not sure how true this is, but I've heard it said that if one connection in your chain is unbalanced, everythign should be.

Personally, I've not had any more success with balanced connections than I have with unbalanced. I've been dealing with noise issues which were solved by an unbalanced solution.

[brandondrury]

I too have never found this to be that big of deal. "Balanced" sure does sound good when you read it on a box or in an ad, but I can't think of a time that it mattered.

Brandon

[Gitarted]

I still have and use a console (if the track count is under 24)

quality cables is a biggie when you have 48 cables just to hook up the console to the recorder,..not including all the cables you need to hook up all of your outboard gear.

and all of it has to be balanced.

with that much cable you end up with a super antenna (like pick up radio stations, cell phones, cop scanners, signals from mars....) so balanced is pretty much a must. (besides it's all +4/balanced on my board...but it's quiet!)


But for sure....it totally sucks how much costs.
I have a small fortune invested in cables, I can think of a lot of other pieces of gear I would have rather had.

Thats where mixing ITB can save you a bundle.

D

[walla993]

I just bought an amp for the electric guitar I received for Christmas. It is a Blackheart Class A tube amp with on/off and volume only. So, picking out a nice reverb (MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay Guitar Effects Pedal) I need a patch cable. The site (guitarcenter.com) has a $39 1.5' Monster Cable Studio Pro 1000 Instrument Cable (balanced) and a $32 3' Mogami Gold Studio (Unbalanced) 1/4" to 1/4" Patch Cable with Neutrik Plugs.

Curiously, Mogami claims to be the most common cable found in recording studios. "Virtually every major recording facility in the world is wired with Mogami cable." If this is true, then most recording studios are wired with unbalance cable. Do you think it is just the cost? The Mogami are very expensive for unbalanced...

[garageband]

Mogami makes all different kinds of cable like Firestone makes more than one kind of tire. And, "Holy Crap!" - don't spend that kind of money on a patch cable. Go to the little clearance bins and pay $4 for a no-name one. Read below:

[garageband]

"Virtually every major recording facility in the world is wired with Mogami cable."

Also this probably true. It's great sounding cable. I have about an eighth of a mile of the stuff. Bought in bulk and soldered ends on it. Works out to about a dollar a foot, not ten.

[walla993]

Well, I guess when it gets here we are going to have a party with some great sound anyway. I ordered the $32 3' patch Mogami.
Thanks for the responses...