mbernardo said:What does it mean when an input or output jack is "balanced" or "unbalanced"?
mbernardo said:Will I destroy the equipment if I mismatch the I/O?
mbernardo said:Does the cable itself make it "balanced" or "unbalanced" or is it the gear connected to the cable?
boingoman said:The gear is balanced. The cable is not, but needs to be the correct type for the whole thing to work right. Both pieces need to be balanced as well, or the circuit won't function right.
boingoman said:I think perhaps by the strictest definiton, the cable may be balanced. But when it is in the circuit, it becomes secondary. And strictly, it's the connector, not the cable, that needs to be correct.
peace--
TravisinFlorida said:Here's how balanced signals were explained to me:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=169146&highlight=balanced+unbalanced
That's also the thread that got me really interested in electronics, although I have'nt really learned anything useful so far.
boingoman said:Jesus freakin' crap. Wading through that gave me a headache.
Robert D said:For a balanced connection to happen, the output circuit, the output jack, the plug on the cable at the output end, the cable, the plug and jack at the input end, and the input circuitry all have to be correct.
mbernardo said:I bought a bunch of TRS and RCA cables yesterday and none of them made references to being "balanced" or "unbalanced" though.
Check the manual. Some balanced outputs can be damaged by driving unbalanced inputs unless the cables are wired a specific way. Lots of gear these days can handle either, and will likely be labelled as such. Again, check the manual.
Robert D said:It's the cable too. For a balanced connection to happen, the output circuit, the output jack, the plug on the cable at the output end, the cable, the plug and jack at the input end, and the input circuitry all have to be correct. Correct means two signal wires, and ground.
Minion said:2) "Impedance Ballanceing"...This method of Ballanceing is looked down upon by some Poeple
Cheers
boingoman said:Yeah, it gets a bad rap. It works pretty well, though, as long as you realize it has very real limitations, and work within them.