[HariBhushan]

I'm not too experienced with this area, so i thought I'd get some help.
 
Say.. if your amp isn't balanced, but you have a dac that has 2 XLR balanced outputs. Can you still have a balanced set-up? Or is having both the amp and the dac with XLR outputs required for going fully balanced?
 

 

[PFKMan23]

The amp and the dac both need to be balanced.

 

[HariBhushan]

Quote:

The amp and the dac both need to be balanced.

but i read somewhere only the dac is needed !

 

[KingStyles]

To go true balanced you need an balanced amp and a balanced dac. You can get most of the benefits of balanced by  just getting an amp that uses a phase splitter to turn an unbalanced input into a balanced output.

 

[TheWuss]

just playing devil's advocate.
from donald north audio, maker of the lovely sonett amp:
 
[size=x-small]Some comments about balanced headphone drive[/size]
[size=x-small]I am frequently asked why the balanced output version does not include balanced inputs. This is because balanced inputs are not necessary to provide balanced headphone drive. Being a single ended amplifier, all it needs for input is a single ended (unbalanced) signal. The Sonett operates single ended triode with transformer loading the plate of the 6H30 amplification tube. The secondary windings on the output transformers are center tapped (and grounded for safety), thereby providing a true, differential, balanced output. Thus, you get balanced drive without the complexity from additional balanced input circuitry or input transformers. Again, the simpler - the better. [/size]
 
 
 
but, i will say that it's the only high end amp i can think of that's balanced, but doesn't have balanced inputs...
 

 

[krmathis]

You definitely need a balanced amplifier as well.

 

[Ypoknons]

From what I understand, balanced interconnects reduce noise, especially over long distances, hence their popularity in pro applications. Going balanced with headphones is a different story, it's basically having two amplifiers drive one headphone, so you need a balanced amplifier... Going balanced to me seems to be prima facie a misnomer, balanced headphone drive and balanced interconnects seem to have different purposes... 

 

[jcx]

Bridged drive of headphones - one amp per wire - has "balanced" inverse V on each output and requires what is locally called "balanced headphone cable" - usually a custom modification
 
 
Balanced signal interconnect has balanced impedance at each +/- signal line and requires both ends to be designed for balanced operation
 
a line level signal output xfmr allows some balanced impedance sources to drive single ended inputs too - uncommon in consumer audio
 
some balanced output devices may be connected to single ended inputs by connecting + and the XLR gnd/shield

 

[Amarphael]

Quote:

You can get most of the benefits of balanced by  just getting an amp that uses a phase splitter to turn an unbalanced input into a balanced output.

Does a push-pull amp falls in that category? i've been wondering if i can manage to output a balanced signal from my Stello HP100, which is a push-pull class A amp.