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Pro-Ject Audio True Balanced Connection
Balanced audio connections are commonly used by professional musicians and in recording studios because they provide a stable, interference-free signal, which is especially important when signals need to be highly amplified, like those from a microphone. Traditionally, this technology was reserved for high-end audio gear, but now, for the first time, Pro-Ject Audio are bringing the benefits of balanced connections to entry-level equipment. This type of connection is key for reducing unwanted noise, particularly between your turntable and phono preamplifier.
Balanced Connections for Your Turntable
Phono signals from your turntable are much weaker than other audio signals like those from CDs or streaming devices. That’s why your turntable needs a phono preamplifier to boost the signal so your regular amplifier can use it. Your turntable’s cartridge, which converts the grooves in a record into an electrical signal, works similarly to a microphone. Just like a microphone, your cartridge generates a balanced signal, but most phono preamps only process half of this signal because they aren’t designed for balanced connections.
The Natural Balance of Cartridges
Your cartridge naturally produces a balanced signal, which is why it has four wires instead of just two—each channel (left and right) has both a positive and negative signal. This is similar to how a microphone works, where sound waves create both positive and negative voltages. Ideally, both parts of this signal should be sent to your phono preamp, but regular RCA cables (often used in HiFi systems) can’t handle that—they’re only built to carry one side of the signal.
The Limitations of RCA and Single-Ended Connections
RCA cables were originally designed for sources like radios and CDs, which are already amplified and less sensitive to interference. For these, high-quality single-ended RCA cables with good shielding are usually sufficient for home use. However, phono signals from a turntable are much more delicate and prone to interference, especially in today’s homes filled with electronic devices and wireless networks.
The Modern Solution: True Balanced Connections
Modern homes are full of electromagnetic interference from wireless networks and electronic devices, which can cause noise in your phono signal when using RCA cables. This noise can then be amplified by over 1000 times in your phono preamp, affecting the quality of your music. While high-quality RCA cables can reduce this noise, they can’t eliminate it completely. That’s where Pro-Ject's "True Balanced Connection" products come in—it fully cancels out any interference from the moment the signal leaves your cartridge, ensuring your music is clear and free of unwanted noise. This is the power of balanced audio connections.