No a balanced differential connection double the voltage, double the power and double the current capacity of an fully balanced amp.
For a given Impedance (Ohm) doubling the Voltage (Volt) doubles the Current (Ampere), which equals 4-times the Power (Watt).
This IS true for a theoretical balanced amp with unlimited Current capability – or if the load is not taxing the amp’s Current capability, like is the case with the 200 Ohm AUDEZE LCD-4.
I don’t know of any amp that runs into Current problems with LCD-4.
LCD-4 balanced = 6 dB more sound pressure level, because of the doubled Voltage (and therefore doubled, but still minimal Current).
Looking at the topic in general, it‘s not that simple:
Every amp uses some kind of
current limiter to protect it from breaking.
This limit doesn’t change when running balanced, as the same current has to run through both the non-inverting and inverting branch of a balanced amp, with the headphone clamped in between.
So the resulting balanced advantage depends on the connected headphones‘ impedance and the amp’s Current CAPABILITY.
For a majority of amps driving e.g. a low impedance of 16 Ohm the Current is the limiting factor, using those amps balanced doesn’t increase the resulting Power - see each amp’s factory specs.
Practically all this doesn’t make too much of a difference - 6 dB more or less volume isn’t night and day.
For really more volume a stronger amp is needed, in case of LCD-4 with significantly more Voltage capability.
