Balanced or Unbalanced? Does it matter?

[tommytime555]

I'm probably way over thinking things here but -- when connecting a preamp to my 002, should I be using a balanced cable?

XLR to 1/4" is what I'm about to purchase but I'm not totally understanding the balanced vs. unbalanced importance.

Thanks!

T

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by tommytime555

I'm probably way over thinking things here but -- when connecting a preamp to my 002, should I be using a balanced cable?

XLR to 1/4" is what I'm about to purchase but I'm not totally understanding the balanced vs. unbalanced importance.

Thanks!

T

Absolutely use balanced cable.

[nst7]

You want XLR to 1/4 TRS, specifically.

The 1/4 TRS has an extra ring on the shaft, vs. an unbalanced guitar cable.

[tommytime555]

Wow -- So I've been going out of the "SEND" 1/4" to the 002.... Am I gonna notice a massive difference by going XLR to TRS (I/O Out)?

Back of the ISA-ONE: http://www.music2home.com/images/pro...a_one_back.jpg

T

[albee1952]

You likely won't notice any difference, UNLESS you WERE using unbalanced hookups and you were hearing noise in the signal. Balanced lines are much better at rejecting noise(hum, EMI, RF interference). Anytime you CAN use balanced connections, I would

[tommytime555]

So you're thinking it will sound different because I'll be using a balanced cable or because I'll no longer be going out of the "SEND" output on the preamp? I realize now that I should have been going out of the MAIN O/P and not the "SEND".

Thanks again! So appreciated.

T

[groundcontrol]

It depends in parts on the circuit topology of the particular units you're trying to interconnect.

For exemple, is the main out passing thru a somewhat slow output driver & balancing transformer that is heavily coloured or is it a very clean, fast & accurate transformerless design.

Also, are you running 3 feet of cable or 30... Or 300!

[EGS]

Originally Posted by sunburst79

Absolutely use balanced cable.

+1 if at all possible. Balanced = pro = best. Google as to why.

[nst7]

You want to go from the output that says MAIN O/P. So you will need a female XLR to TRS cable.

This page should help:

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/cables/finder.php

[groundcontrol]

Originally Posted by EGS

+1 if at all possible. Balanced = pro = best. Google as to why.

Not necessarily. In a mastering situation for exemple, one could sometimes prefer to use unbalanced connections to bypass uneeded electronic stages as to preserve as much signal purity/integrity as possible.