Im not normally a balanced purist (I once heard someone say there is only 1 phase in the recroding, so its not balanced, thanks.) but at the same time am not a single ended (unbalanced, unadequate) purist either. both designs have their advantages and can be combined to a certain extent with great success if care is taken.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WindowsX  You don't need to re-terminate your headphone cable with separated xlr jack to get fully balanced.
|
how do you get the "opposite" phase of 2 channels through 1 connector?
Quote:
| Because the benefit for balanced headphone (or maybe head-fier who tends to use headphone directly from preamp's rca jack) is sepearated ground channel, meaning left and right channel will have its own ground. |
my headphones are not grounded when running balanced. They are at ground potential, but both ends of the driver are driven out of phase. same as everyone else running balanced.
Quote:
| I did some experiments with my balanced system having stereo to xlr adaptor and balanced headphone set. Sound quality from stereo headphone with adaptor is almost insignificant to balanced ones using same kinds of cable. Why? |
I dont doubt your impressions, but stating that a 2 channel balanced signal (actually 4 signals) can get through a single 3-connector plug is irresponsibly inaccurate. you can get very good sound from well designed and built single ended (unbalanced) amplifiers, but you can not get a balanced stereo signal through a single TRS plug.
Quote:
| Because that little crosstalk is really minor issue. |
who cares?
single ended amps have been posting crosstalk numbers in the -100 db and better ranges since the first scientific measurements were made on cmoys.
Quote:
| Could you notice the difference in k701 that has extended length for right channel and its ground? No...right? |
I agree, the last foot of cable makes little diffference. Its actually the steel wires in the headband and a few inches of cable BTW.
Quote:
| So how could such little ground that is combined for just from one jack to another jack make so big differance, no way! What matters for balanced are beginning and end part (and separated ground as much as possible but 99% and 100% seperation wont make day and night) |
I think you are very confused in what balanced operation entails.
Balanced operation means that both ends of the headphone are driven by an equally opposite signal (180* out of phase, equal amplitude)
Balanced operation has some measurable benefits compared to single ended (without active ground channel)
better slew rate,
more voltage swing
more current output
even order harmonic distortions cancel across the load.
the first 3 dont really apply to headphones, but here they are for completeness.
The last one can be a substantial benefit when you look at the harmonic spectrum from most triodes... LOTS of 2nd, a little third, a chunk of 4'th...
now, i mentioned "without active ground channel" above. With an active ground channel a single ended amp can "pick up" the advantages to reducing distortions. Check that out.
Quote:
| Even if you have ground channel combined for very short distance, transfer speed wont be reduced at significant level. In short, it has very little effects to sound since speed is barely noticable (or maybe my placebo trying to make difference) |
strawman?
Transmission speeds in wire are insignificant. You however have not mentioned the impedance of a wire, which is important (theoretically)
