phono to phone OR balanced ?

Hiya

Sorry I have to ask, as I do not know the difference , I keep coming across the word balanced signals L & R and guess that balanced gear is more expensive, something to do with XLR cables and Disco equipment??

Any simple explanations, pros and cons appreciated
Cheers

 

Balanced cables use the XLR plugs that have 3 pins. At source the signal is inverted on 1 pin and then sent along with the origional signal on another. At the amp the inverted signal is reinverted (is that even a word, but couldn't think of anything better ) and the 2 signals compared. Any differences are then ignored ie interference picked up along the way. Therefore a balanced connection should give a cleaner signal, especially on long runs of cable. This is why balanced cables are used on stage and in a studio for microphones etc.

Mark.

 

Ohhh
All is Clear now
Thanks very much for the explanation
Cheers