Balanced turntable outputs - thoughts?

[yonder]

I mention them because their preamp has balanced output for tape, which is my favorite source. One of their inputs indicates it is for aux/phono,...so, another audio light turns on and here we go again. Connecting a tt directly to an rtr for recording seems like an idea. Mine has input gain which may be needed.

 

[Chip Chester]

The phono signal connection is certainly one that could benefit from a balanced setup. Minuscule voltage level, proximity to hum-generating magnetic fields from power cables, motors, and other transformers and electronics, partially unshielded wiring runs, and often dicey grounding are all good reasons to consider cancelling common-mode interference on the way into an equalizing amplifier circuit.

Chip

 

[afora377]

Afora377, the preamp I'm most interested in is the BAT vk52se because everything is balanced.

Wow, yonder, I was evidently quite lowballing your gear!

 

[afora377]

The phono signal connection is certainly one that could benefit from a balanced setup. Minuscule voltage level, proximity to hum-generating magnetic fields from power cables, motors, and other transformers and electronics, partially unshielded wiring runs, and often dicey grounding are all good reasons to consider cancelling common-mode interference on the way into an equalizing amplifier circuit.

Chip

And that's exactly my thinking too. I would expect the signal to noise ratio is so much lower, just because the signal is so low in voltage. Particularly if I compare it to any downstream point in the set up.
Thank you for validating my own musings...

 

[JP]

One of their inputs indicates it is for aux/phono

I don't believe that unit has a built-in phono stage.

 

[yonder]

I didn't see it as low balling and if it had the xlr tape out I'd be thanking you for saving me the extra cash layout.
JP, it may not have a phono board but they may want you to use that particular port for the option. I'll look more into it.

 

[ConradH]

Something a bit unexpected is that (AFAIK) a balanced system will always have a slightly worse noise level than the best single ended because you have two active signal paths. Probably not true if you stick to transformers, since a pure inductance generates no noise. I discovered this when working on a custom SOTA amplifier where differential inputs were required, along with a crazy s/n spec.

 

[rothwellaudio]

Something a bit unexpected is that (AFAIK) a balanced system will always have a slightly worse noise level than the best single ended because you have two active signal paths. Probably not true if you stick to transformers, since a pure inductance generates no noise. I discovered this when working on a custom SOTA amplifier where differential inputs were required, along with a crazy s/n spec.

Yes, it seems to be assumed that balanced connections are inherently lower noise than unbalanced, but that isn't necessarily true. Also, many people don't seem to appreciate that balanced cables are only noise cancelling for common-mode noise and don't offer any benefits as far as other noise sources are concerned. For example, a phono cartridge that picks up hum from a turntable motor won't be any quieter if it is wired balanced. Yes, noise picked up in the cable would be less with balanced wiring, but noise picked up in the cartridge wouldn't be.