[jemsound]

For a neophyte: Would someone explain the difference between balanced and unbalanced amplifiers, sources, and headphones (or point me to a thread where this has already been explained)? I gather it has something to do with amplifying the right and left channels separately, but how is this done and what are the implications for sound quality?

Thanks for any help understanding this.

 

[MaloS]

Well suppose you have a scale, one side is called + and other is -.
Normal (single-ended) operation is when + is signal and - is 0 (ground). So the operation is between no weight and a large weight, making the scale shift up and down depending as the signal (weight) changes.
Balanced operation has a weight on a + and the opposite of that weight on the -. Because the difference is now between the 2 replicas of the signal placed in opposition, the response of the drier is much faster, allowing for more headroom and accuracy. Also really solves the issue of noisy grounds, since ground is not present in the equation.

 

[mofonyx]

I found that reading these were particularly helpful in understanding

http://www.balanced.com/faq/index.html

http://www.headphone.com/products/fa...ed-headphones/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_audio

Cheers.

 

[Headphony]

^Just using the search button, see "Balanced 101":
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=183323

 

[jemsound]

Thanks all for these leads. My understanding of balanced signals has been greatly amplified.

 

[Duggeh]

^ Groan. ¬_¬

 

[TreAdidas]

It means mo' money