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Author Topic: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC  (Read 7028 times)

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Aravind

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Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« on: August 15, 2012, 12:54:05 PM »
Please provide your insights about the differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC, both objective and subjective differences...perhaps this topic has been discussed to death in various forums but its difficult to form an opinion as to which is better or worse..
« Last Edit: August 15, 2012, 08:29:46 PM by ultrabike »
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Aravind

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2012, 11:26:11 AM »
no opinions yet
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Marvey

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2012, 11:02:18 PM »
will do... remind me in a few days. takes a while to explain it. it's a good question. as far as amps, there are two things to understand: bridged amps and balanced connections.
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Currawong

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2012, 01:34:48 PM »
Suggestions:

Searched for "balanced" in thread titles in HF's Sound Science forum. Someone wrote it up properly there a year or so ago.
Search for "Benchmark" in the AMB forums, as there was a lovely argument about it between Benchmark and AMB.
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Aravind

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2012, 06:16:59 PM »
Quote from: purrin on August 19, 2012, 11:02:18 PM
will do... remind me in a few days. takes a while to explain it. it's a good question. as far as amps, there are two things to understand: bridged amps and balanced connections.
sure..thanks

Quote from: Currawong on August 21, 2012, 01:34:48 PM
Suggestions:

Searched for "balanced" in thread titles in HF's Sound Science forum. Someone wrote it up properly there a year or so ago.
Search for "Benchmark" in the AMB forums, as there was a lovely argument about it between Benchmark and AMB.

will do..thanks for your suggestions
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Marvey

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2012, 07:03:04 PM »
Balanced connectors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_audio (Beware of this article, especially in the Differntial Signalling section 2nd paragraph. It has some nonsense regarding noise rejection paraphrased/mis-applied from a Harmon Kardon paper as the source.)

"Balanced" Bridged Amps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridged_and_paralleled_amplifiers

A few things to understand:
  • Not all amps that provide balanced connections are bridged. For example, Single-Ended transformer coupled tube amps often provide a balanced connection because the ground can be tapped in the center of the secondary winding with the +/- at the opposite ends.
  • A balanced "bridged" amp will have twice the voltage swing and up to four times the power. Many pro amps offer a mode where you can bridge the two stereo channels and make a more powerful "monoblock."
  • An argument against bridged is that it takes twice the components (x2 amps) which is more expensive than getting beefier components for a single amp.
  • Balanced connections have inherently better noise rejection. Some people feel that even balanced connections alone sound marginally better than SE.
  • The B22, GSX, etc. are "balanced bridged" amplifiers. The BA, S7, DNA, are singled-ended amplifiers that offer "balanced" connections.
Finally, I blame HeadRoom for all this confusion in terminology.
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Dyaems

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2012, 02:20:43 AM »
what about those "dual mono" diy amps? where do they go? still in SE?
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grev

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2012, 04:11:27 AM »
As it is on HF, subscribed!  I want to know more too.
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Marvey

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2012, 04:24:22 AM »
Quote from: Dyaems on August 22, 2012, 02:20:43 AM
what about those "dual mono" diy amps? where do they go? still in SE?


Unless they are bridged (2 amp sections inside sending differential signals), they are SE. Just the amp sections are separated for left and right channels. For example, those ridiculous Woo W234 monoblocks are SE. Although since its transformer coupled, the connectors are actually balanced.
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Dyaems

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Re: Differences between balanced vs single ended headphone/amp/DAC
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2012, 05:09:29 AM »
oh okay. i always thought they are balanced in terms of the design with 1/4" or 1/8" plugs
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