bagwell359
Headphoneus Supremus
I went through a lot of ABX testing in '99 and '00 over balanced vs SE. While there are outfits that sell boxes purportedly with both functions but only support SE to cash in, it doesn't obviate what I heard. Every piece except old tuners I own or owned since then are balanced.I’m not convinced about balanced being any different than SE. I’m not good at explaining the technical aspects of audio but I’ve read enough posts on the subject from knowledgeable members in the “Sound Science” section to realize that there really isn’t any difference. I can’t argue the point with you but you can peruse that Forum and you’ll find many posts from “professional” recording people who have debunked this myth about balanced being different or better than SE.
In two ways I was convinced. One is that I tested and owned a number of SE cables since the early 80's some very expensive ones that behaved in strange ways when lying on the ground or near room boundaries or near rubble or brick walls. Some of them were very well isolated, others not. Could not establish a hierarchy either.
With balanced I got more potent sound with much deeper def/instrument space in the mids and highs and more authority in the bass.
Now couple that with my experience with balanced cable. Interconnects - no change between interconnect cables.
Finally Schitt. Under lots of scrutiny right? Rag 1 SE headphones 3 wpc max. Balanced? 15. Think they would suppress SE for rep? Me neither. My HFMs sound is way better in balanced on that amp. So the cables? Or my expectations? Not a soul at my home or anyone at HF says different. Of course the objectavists usually play in the dollar bin so it's (fortunately for them) a non issue. I knew one of early leaders of that cult. Always a hoot comparing my ARC SP15 w/ I Krell KSA 100 vs his low shelf Yamaha (still not bad) - until time to drive my Duettas. He tried once and blew the protection circuit.