Balanced input?

[ssssly]

Not terribly familiar with the whole balanced input realm.

What all would need to be done to convert a paramount to accept the balanced input from a BeePree?

Would be be a add a couple of parts thing or a redesign the circuit thing?

[Doc B.]

 You would need to install a balanced to single ended input transformer on each monoblock.

[ssssly]

Any chance, that since the Beepre comes with balanced outs, that there will be an upgrade kit of this variety on the horizon?

If not, is there a suitable off the shelf transformer that you would suggest?

[Doc B.]

Our rationale for the balanced outputs on BeePre was really that some might want to connect to some other amp besides Paramount, that has a balanced input. In going to balanced cables you add a lot of stuff in the circuit that you don't need with single ended cables - caps or transformers or even fully differential buffers. I don't grok that extra stuff is getting one closer to the goal of good sound.

But enough of my philosophizing. Get a 10K:10K or 15K:15K transformer. Cinemag, Jensen, Lundahl, or vintage Peerless/Altec.

[Tickwomp]

Our rationale for the balanced outputs on BeePre was really that some might want to connect to some other amp besides Paramount, that has a balanced input. In going to balanced cables you add a lot of stuff in the circuit that you don't need with single ended cables - caps or transformers or even fully differential buffers. I don't grok that extra stuff is getting one closer to the goal of good sound.

But enough of my philosophizing. Get a 10K:10K or 15K:15K transformer. Cinemag, Jensen, Lundahl, or vintage Peerless/Altec.

I thought the "main" advantage of balanced input/output was it good for longer distances?  Is there more?

[Doc B.]

Yeah, that's the one possible situation where it would be advantageous, a run long enough that single ended cables are picking up too much noise. But other than that one type of situation I'm not sure balanced cabling shows any advantage at line level. Now contrary to this general observation about line level signals I do find that balanced connection of speakers to output transformers seems to make the bass sound better. I have no rational explanation why, but I do want to emphasize that this is transformer coupled connection. IME avoiding transformers where possible is a good thing, but that's pretty difficult at the output of an SE amp. If I could get a speaker manufacturer to make me a 500 ohm or maybe 800 ohm speaker I would love to try a transformerless SE amp driving it. But I digress.