Balanced phono chain
- Thread starter nc42acc
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Yes, some people do. Because many phono cartridges have a balanced output it's not hard to do. I have seen a few posts in that 77,000 post long John Curl thread. And a few short threads other places (that I can't find at the moment).
Thanks Kevin, are you by chance balanced from cartridge to preamp? Cartridges by nature are balanced unless they have a common ground strap at the pins.
I used to do this awhile back. Had a Lyra Helicon then Lyra Skala at the time. Purist Audio cabling. BAT VKP10SE w/superpak phono stage. It was very good. I had singled ended cabling at first from the tonearm din to BAT phono. A balanced cable certainly helped (lower noise - more resolution). Phono to pre (BAT VK51SE) was balanced.
I've since moved on a Nagra VPS and back to single ended cabling. I think both topologies work. In my experience it depends on your phono stage...if it can do balanced...should likely do it. But single ended phono stages can sound very fine too...in the end...I wouldn't pick balanced just b/c it's balanced...
I've since moved on a Nagra VPS and back to single ended cabling. I think both topologies work. In my experience it depends on your phono stage...if it can do balanced...should likely do it. But single ended phono stages can sound very fine too...in the end...I wouldn't pick balanced just b/c it's balanced...
Hi JFrech,
I am running balanced direct from the tip of my cartridge all the way through the chain. I am running Lyra Kleos > triplanar ultimate > BMC mcci phono > ARC ref 3 > Krell 750 mcx > speakers.
I am running balanced direct from the tip of my cartridge all the way through the chain. I am running Lyra Kleos > triplanar ultimate > BMC mcci phono > ARC ref 3 > Krell 750 mcx > speakers.
I used to run balanced with the Trinity phono, it is a good idea as the cartridge is inherently balanced.
Everything else is balanced ,Bruno recommends it.
Keith.
Everything else is balanced ,Bruno recommends it.
Keith.
Jfrech thanks for the input. Basically it can be great either way with the biggest factor the phono preamp.
Hi Keith,
Yeah - it makes a lot of sense going this route for a super delicate signal like this. Do you run your cartridge single ended into the Illusonic or via a phono?
That's my experience. I've had great fully balanced and great single ended phono set ups. I think the correct answer for each of us is what sounds best/matched in our systems. Lot's of permutations.
Also the selection of phono preamps that do both balanced input and output are not as prevalent in the market.
Especially with tube circuits too. The Thrax Orpheus looks an interesting one I thought.
Everything just plugs into the Illusonic, the phono input is single ended, but I am sure Christof would make a balanced input if a customer particularly requested it, noise from the Phono is zero.
In fact noise from the Illusonic /Molas is zero.
Keith..
Surely. I own the Audio Research phono REF2 (SE input) and the the Atmasphere MP-1 (balanced input). I enjoy both!
I do balanced from start to finish: Kleos -> VPI XLR output box -> Channel D Seta L -> Schiit Ragnarok (preamp/volume control) -> Event Opal monitors
I strongly agree with others; balanced transmission really makes sense in a phono application due to noise rejection, grounding etc...
I strongly agree with others; balanced transmission really makes sense in a phono application due to noise rejection, grounding etc...
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