A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have internal
amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the US, though.

--
*Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have internal
amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the US, though.

Can't say I've noticed balanced connections on domestic equipment. Are 5.1
speakers normally powered?, the only area where powered speakers seem to be
the norm are as computer speakers, and they never, IME, use balanced
interconnects.

David.

In article ,
David Looser wrote:
A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have
internal amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the
US, though.

Can't say I've noticed balanced connections on domestic equipment. Are
5.1 speakers normally powered?, the only area where powered speakers
seem to be the norm are as computer speakers, and they never, IME, use
balanced interconnects.

This poster was talking about an AV preamp where all the power amps are
external. Nothing wrong with balanced of course - it's the pro standard -
but a bit OTT for domestic use.
The thread was about earth loops and he is convinced balanced is the only
way round. Could be in the US all metal cased equipment has to have a
mains safety ground - nothing about their electrics would surprise me. ;-)

I've got an elderly AV amp - and if you replaced all the phonos with XLRs
it would fill the room. ;-)

--
*If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)"

This poster was talking about an AV preamp where all the power amps are
external. Nothing wrong with balanced of course - it's the pro standard -
but a bit OTT for domestic use.
The thread was about earth loops and he is convinced balanced is the only
way round. Could be in the US all metal cased equipment has to have a
mains safety ground - nothing about their electrics would surprise me. ;-)


**The USA is just like everywhere else - i8e flooded with Asian made audio
gear that is Class 2 or Double Insulated.

So no main earth conductor in the AC cord.

As usual - your anonymous Septic poster is an utter ****wit.



....... Phil

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:29:35 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have internal
amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the US, though.

It's quite common for half decent subs to have an XLR connection as
well as phono. Some of the Meridian processors use balanced
connections (although they'd rather you used SPDIF to their speakers!)
and a few other very expensive bits of kit do, but phonos are still
the norm.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
David Looser wrote:
A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have
internal amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the
US, though.

Can't say I've noticed balanced connections on domestic equipment. Are
5.1 speakers normally powered?, the only area where powered speakers
seem to be the norm are as computer speakers, and they never, IME, use
balanced interconnects.

This poster was talking about an AV preamp where all the power amps are
external. Nothing wrong with balanced of course - it's the pro standard -
but a bit OTT for domestic use.

I was looking at a Denon AV pre-amp a while back that had balanced outputs
to connect to external power amps. It was intended for the commercial
sector, but there's no reason why it couldn't be used domestically by those
with the space and the budget.

The thread was about earth loops and he is convinced balanced is the only
way round. Could be in the US all metal cased equipment has to have a
mains safety ground - nothing about their electrics would surprise me. ;-)

It's not necessary to go to full balanced to get over earth loop problems,
differential inputs connected to unbalanced outputs achieves the same thing.

I've got an elderly AV amp - and if you replaced all the phonos with XLRs
it would fill the room. ;-)

Indeed.

David.

"Bill Taylor" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:29:35 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have internal
amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the US, though.

It's quite common for half decent subs to have an XLR connection as
well as phono.

I'd have thought that "half-decent subs" would be passive, driven by an
external 19" rack-mounted power amp.

David.

In article ,
Phil Allison wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)"

This poster was talking about an AV preamp where all the power amps
are external. Nothing wrong with balanced of course - it's the pro
standard - but a bit OTT for domestic use. The thread was about earth
loops and he is convinced balanced is the only way round. Could be in
the US all metal cased equipment has to have a mains safety ground -
nothing about their electrics would surprise me. ;-)


**The USA is just like everywhere else - i8e flooded with Asian made
audio gear that is Class 2 or Double Insulated.

That's what I'd guessed. Can't see why they'd make things worse for the US.

So no main earth conductor in the AC cord.

Yup.

As usual - your anonymous Septic poster is an utter ****wit.

I'm beginning to think so. But what the hell - at least it's about audio.
;-)



...... Phil

--
*It was all so different before everything changed.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:34:57 +0100, "David Looser"
wrote:

"Bill Taylor" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:29:35 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today. Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have internal
amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the US, though.

It's quite common for half decent subs to have an XLR connection as
well as phono.

I'd have thought that "half-decent subs" would be passive, driven by an
external 19" rack-mounted power amp.

David.


They may be in the cinema sector, but in domestic audio the PA is
usually built into the speaker enclosure.

Bill

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...


A thread on another group suggested that these are the norm today.

no way!

Not
being one who avidly reads the Hi-Fi press, is this so? The poster was
adamant it was the *only* way to feed 5.1 speakers etc that have internal
amps, as unbalanced would cause hum etc. This was from the US, though.


RCA jacks are unfortunately still alive and well in the USA.