sorry man I really dont have any experience.and am soo confused about "Balanced" !
Wait...why would you want something that operates or has benefits you don't fully understand?
And I dont know do I really need Balanced.. Is the difference huge between Balanced and Unbalanced ?
A balanced drive circuit basically gives a separate - to each channel so you get L+, L-, R-, R+, instead of the usual single ended L+, GND, R+.
It typically allows for a relatively compact circuit to produce more power provided they get a beefy power supply design...except now you need more of the same circuits to operate L+,L- and R-,R+, or in the case of the most complex balanced amps, a separate one channel board that normally operates one channel's + and then a shared ground to run
each L+, L-, R-, R+. Look at the Beta 22 in balanced format - you'll need FOUR of the amp boards just to run it in balanced mode.
One way to think about it is like how an F15 has two engines to fly higher and prompt a response then win air superiority, then stick around or get a new squadron in to back up the attacking F16s plus the A10's providing close support to the ground troops; or how some single engine jets are lightweight with a low payload of just AA missiles designed for very fast climb rate being used as interceptors. Or how a Tesla has two engines (except here it's operating asymmetrically, ie, the rear engine has 100hp more than the front engine) instead of going for a single 4.2L twin turbocharged V8 with Quattro All Wheel Drive like Audi.
Bu then again, as much as it helps a relatively small circuit, you'd need several of them anyway. The Schiit Jotunheim is the same size as the Lyr, and the latter has even more power. Personally I'd get the Jotunheim more for sending a balanced preamp signal to active speakers like the KRK Rokit 6 (although one reason to get KRKs is that they come with single ended RCA inputs, so the risk of noise is virtually eliminated apart from the quality of the preamp circuit being used). The advantages to size and output is more prevalent on portable amps.
The primary design requirement then however was to just completely separate the left and right circuits so you get less crosstalk, which helps imaging on speakers. You can't have this if you don't have a fully balanced system, ie, the entire analogue signal from the DAC chips' output has to be separate already, otherwise you're just using an SE input balanced drive amp to boost the power. And just like with the size of the Class A/B Jotunheim and Lyr, in cheaper Class A amplifiers, why spend $250+balanced cables on the X7S when you can just buy a Schiit Asgard and no need for a balanced cable?
Oh and before you ask, no, you can't just use a female XLR to female TRS converter on the headphone amp output to headphone to use a balanced amp on a single-ended cable headphone. Unless you want to destroy the amp, in which case, that would be perfect short of just taking a hammer and smashing it, since it might give you smoke and if you're lucky, a lot more than smoke and take the rest of your house with it.
https://www.headphone.com/pages/balanced-headphones-guide
So, do I have to add the "Balanced DAC" option ?? its not like Jotunheim already have balanced source ?
Well do
you have a balanced source, like a balanced CDP, DAC, or even a TT preamp? If you already own a balanced source then no problem. Otherwise the DAC card option is the best option since for $100 you'll get something that outputs a balanced line output signal right into the balanced circuit of the Jotunheim.
And then you'll just need a balanced cable that separates the GND into L- and R-.
About Aune X7S.. I see that it has Balanced source infront and even the name is " Aune X7s Class A Balanced Headphone AMP " !!
Uhhhh...it seems like balanced vs unbalanced isn't the only thing that's unclear here. It does
NOT have
inputs in front, it has
inputs in the
rear, which are all single-ended RCA. Then it has an XLR balanced drive
output for headphones out the
front of the amp. As in
input goes
into the amplifier, then
output goes
out from the amplifier. Like if I'm your boss, I assign you something, that's
input; then you hand over your work, which is
output. If I presented something I will ask for your
input, and I revise my
output based on that.
In any case, it takes a single ended signal and then runs it through a circuit that splits the ground and mirrors the signal making it run balanced, but as with things of this complexity, in some cases it caps the max output of the amp vs starting with a balanced signal to begin with, and in this case you're not getting the increased channel separation of balanced drive you might as well spend $250 on an Asgard and not have to buy balanced cables.
