Why do we still use unbalanced?

[paulears]

With the greatest respect - much of that is total squit!

 

Top producers prefer un-bal out? Really?

 

Probably those who love to spend $2000 on a single channel pre-amp.

 

I suspect you tend to err towards the premise that expensive = best approach, something the pro audio industry often steer clear of.

 

Carefully designed products with discrete components may well appeal to some people - but I fear this sentiment is not shared by many of us, who are firmly anti snake-oil.

 

The site you linked to does have an 'enthusiasts only' appeal. No doubt good kit - but the prices mean they're not exactly mainstream pro audio or broadcast.

 

I'll fix the post, best I can in a moment.

Paul

[ramdram]

Well Ian M, I had a squint at the page you linked to and it seems the kit shewn has balanced and unbalanced o/ps. I could not see though where there was any info that you might safely draw the conclusion that "top producers" preferred unbalanced. I could not find any reference either as to whether or not unbalanced allowed for a players style being "hot" as you put it. I for one would appreciate reading your further views on that topic.

 

As for the charming vision of our Eric jamming in the front room with an AC30, you won't need me to remind you that said kit dates from 1958 and it is unlikely that it would possess a balanced input anyway...so a bit puzzled on that one too.

 

So far we have had "legacy" for remaining with unbalanced and also "inertia" together with "cost". I subscribe to the notion that shielded instrument cable was imagined to be in some measure a way of shielding the signal from all unwanted noise although if you read one of the many monographs in the archives of the AES:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Engineering_Society

 

you will find that is somewhat of a myth.

 

This might be of some interest to yourself:

 

http://www.rane.com/note110.html

 

EDIT to add:

 

Just saw this about 10mins later, apols' about refs from other forums so to speak but these blokes take it seriously.

 

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/geekslutz-forum/75165-balanced-unbalanced-cable.html

 

This thread was running, sort of, for 5 YEARS.