Why Balanced Connections Don’t Guarantee Better Sound at Home
Balanced XLR cables have long been marketed as the gold standard for cleaner sound, drawing on their widespread use in professional studios. But according to high-end audio engineer Michael Børresen, co-founder of Audio Group Denmark, the supposed advantages of balanced cables often don’t translate to home environments. In many cases, he says, these “pro” cables can actually complicate setups and fail to reduce noise.
Why Balanced Cables Became a “Pro” Default
Balanced connections were designed for recording studios and live sound systems, where engineers deal with long cable runs, multiple electronic devices, and potential interference from lighting and power equipment. The system works by sending two identical signals on separate wires—one inverted—and then comparing them at the receiving end to cancel any shared noise.
This configuration makes sense in complex studio setups. As Børresen notes, “In those environments, you’re running cables over long distances and have multiple components on different circuits. That’s where balanced connections shine.”
However, in most home audio systems, the environment is far simpler. Listeners typically connect one or two components—such as a DAC and amplifier—over short cables. The amount of external interference is far lower.
As a result, balanced cables don’t necessarily provide cleaner playback. Instead, proper grounding, shielding, and power management tend to have a greater impact on sound quality.
Where Noise Really Comes From at Home
In domestic setups, the primary source of noise isn’t signal interference between cables but rather contamination in the ground path—the shared electrical reference used by connected devices.
This type of noise often originates from switching power supplies, computer peripherals, Wi-Fi routers, or even slight voltage differences between outlets. Because both single-ended (RCA) and balanced (XLR) systems rely on grounding, noise introduced here can affect the entire system.
“Most of the noise bleeding into your signal wires is from the ground side anyway,” Børresen told Next Level HiFi. “So if you pollute the ground in a balanced circuit, you still have noise from that. It doesn’t give you any real benefits.”
To minimize these problems, experts recommend powering all components from the same outlet, keeping interconnects short, and physically separating signal and power cables. Using USB isolators or relocating noisy power adapters can also make a noticeable difference—often more than switching cable types.
Børresen’s Engineering Philosophy: Keep It Simple
For Børresen, simplicity is key. He designs his components with single-ended signal paths, arguing that every additional circuit or amplification stage can degrade sound quality.
His philosophy extends to volume control. In his preamplifier design, volume is adjusted directly within the amplifier’s feedback loop using two precision resistors—a minimalist approach that maintains a high signal-to-noise ratio and reduces distortion, especially at lower listening levels.
Because his circuits are inherently single-ended, adding balanced outputs would require additional line-driver stages or integrated circuits, introducing the very complexity he aims to avoid.
“You do something balanced by using another set of amplifiers or op-amps,” Børresen explains. “If you do a discrete op-amp, you actually need two to make them balanced, so you have a true balanced output.”
This isn’t a blanket dismissal of balanced designs, he adds. When a system is fully differential from input to output, balanced connections can be the most transparent choice. But for single-ended designs, converting the signal just to accommodate XLR connectors can undermine sound purity rather than enhance it.
What Audiophiles Should Do Instead
For home listeners seeking cleaner playback, system grounding and layout matter more than connector type. Simple steps often yield the biggest improvements:
Power all audio components from the same outlet or power conditioner.
Use short, high-quality interconnects with proper shielding.
Keep signal cables separate from power cables.
Eliminate or isolate noisy devices such as chargers and routers.
Ultimately, understanding how and why balanced systems were developed helps consumers make better decisions for their specific listening environments. As Børresen’s experience suggests, less can sometimes be more—especially when it comes to achieving the purest, most natural sound at home.
Source: Headphonesty – Balanced Cables Don’t Reject Noise Better and Some May Be Making Your System Worse, Says High-End Audio Engineer
