Balanced v. Unbalanced cables.... dumb question

jgrif08 · 27th May 2006, 10:49 PM

I understand what the difference is between balanced and unbalanced cables. Im just wondering if there are any situations in which an unbalanced cable is prefferable / necessary over a balanced one?

I think I remember someone saying that insert cables are unbalanced, with the ground acting as a return for the signal, is that correct? are both balanced and unbalanced cables capable of sending a signal back and forth?

Bob Olhsson · 28th May 2006, 01:27 AM

Some gear sounds better unbalanced because the balanced circuitry was just tacked on. Other gear performs much better balanced because it kills noise within the gear in addition to noise from the outside.

On the whole, I'd say balanced tends to be less trouble to get setup right.

...at least this week...

JazzYoda · 28th May 2006, 05:11 AM

it is possible that a power amp designed to accept an unbalanced input will create hum when fed with a balanced signal by possibly tying one signal side to ground.

dementedchord · 31st May 2006, 09:33 PM

the only thing thats always unbalanced is guitar input all others can benefit from balancing the line.... now having said that most prosumer stuff is still unbalanced primarily becaus eof added cost/engineering as for the idea of tying one side of a balanced to ground for unbalanced input amp....go ahead if you like the idea of possibly burning out that side of the last stage of your pre/mixer..... deffinately NOT good idea..... also ground on unbalanced is not return path.... unless we're quibbling over nomenclature...

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27th May 2006, 10:49 PM	#1
jgrif08 Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mar Vista, CA Posts: 741	Balanced v. Unbalanced cables.... dumb question I understand what the difference is between balanced and unbalanced cables. Im just wondering if there are any situations in which an unbalanced cable is prefferable / necessary over a balanced one? I think I remember someone saying that insert cables are unbalanced, with the ground acting as a return for the signal, is that correct? are both balanced and unbalanced cables capable of sending a signal back and forth? __________________ Composers shouldn't think too much - it interferes with their plagiarism. - Howard Dietz Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed. - Frank Lloyd Wright

28th May 2006, 01:27 AM	#2
Bob Olhsson Motown legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Songwriter Gulch, Nashville TN Posts: 5,271	Some gear sounds better unbalanced because the balanced circuitry was just tacked on. Other gear performs much better balanced because it kills noise within the gear in addition to noise from the outside. On the whole, I'd say balanced tends to be less trouble to get setup right. ...at least this week... __________________ Georgetown Masters 615 254-3233 Bob's room 615 385-8051 Music Industry 2.0

31st May 2006, 09:33 PM	#4
dementedchord Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 799	fwiw the only thing thats always unbalanced is guitar input all others can benefit from balancing the line.... now having said that most prosumer stuff is still unbalanced primarily becaus eof added cost/engineering as for the idea of tying one side of a balanced to ground for unbalanced input amp....go ahead if you like the idea of possibly burning out that side of the last stage of your pre/mixer..... deffinately NOT good idea..... also ground on unbalanced is not return path.... unless we're quibbling over nomenclature...

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28th May 2006, 05:11 AM	#3
JazzYoda Gear nut Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York Posts: 110	it is possible that a power amp designed to accept an unbalanced input will create hum when fed with a balanced signal by possibly tying one signal side to ground.