We are offering optional balanced line outputs and inputs on the new AvaStar hybrid preamp only to not loose sales to people who just have to have these connections to interface with their other non-AVA equipment.
In general, in an all AVA electronics system, our recommendation is to use the standard single ended RCA jack connections for best possible performance. We see no advantages to balanced line operation in a home audio system except if the entire system from DAC chip to speakers is maintained as a complete internal four channel system (left plus, left minus, right plus, and right minus) then there could be some musical advantages, all other things being equal, because common mode distortion in the entire system would cancel at the speakers.
Of course all things are not equal. The equipment would essentially cost twice as much. And the distortion reduction would be dependent upon how much residual distortion remained in the first place that would be canceled as compared to just a very clean two channel system.
We tried this "four independent channel" approach a couple of years ago with our OmegaStar solid state equipment and did notice a definite sonic improvement. This motivated us to re-think their designs and with the new Insight equipment, running a full internal four channel prototype system provides only a tiny musical improvement, certainly not cost effective to do and push as production units. The full balanced system was useful here internally for improving our standard equipment, and that benefits all our clients. Just balanced line connections with standard two channel internals is probably a waste of money.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
