Here a popular one:

Are RCA connections better than XLR?

Well, the appropriate answer is: "It depends".

 

Here a copy of Chord website on that matter:

https://www.chord.co.uk/xlr-vs-rca/

​

XLR vs RCA – which is best?

It’s very easy to assume that if your equipment has both XLR and RCA connections, that XLR connections are going to be the better sounding connection.  It’s not always the case.

The XLR connection carries a balanced signal.  The hot pin carries the signal, the cold pin also carries the signal but inverted (think mirror image) and the third carries the earth.  At the receiving equipment, any noise that is common to both the hot and cold pins is cancelled out.  This makes a lot of sense in recording studios where long runs of cable are often needed to carry the small voltage signal generated by a microphone over (certainly in terms of hi-fi) very long runs of cable.

In a hi-fi system though, where perhaps the longest interconnect is 1 metre and the signal is up to 4 volts, then the need for XLR connections is more questionable.

The most important thing though is sound quality, and this is harder to be certain about. Our experience is that there are systems where the XLR connection sounds better than the RCA connection, and there are systems where the opposite is true.

So with any system that has both XLR and RCA connections, we would recommend that you try both connections and decide for yourself which is the better sounding connection for you. This is also something that your dealer will be happy to advise you on.

​

Not much to take from this, like most other internet searches.

They recommend trying both and finding out for yourself...

The nice thing is that they happen to sell cables also.

What a nice coincidence :)

 

So… you try both connections.

Do you hear RCA vs XLR?

​

Partially only.

Trying different cable, the conductor itself will sound different.

And to a lesser extent, the component sockets/connector such as gold plated, chromed or Rhodium? Ceramic, Teflon, or plastic cable insulation?

You also hear a lot of Cable A vs Cable B, Connector A vs Connector B and XLR vs RCA...

 

 you do not just hear RCA vs XLR

 

Those are particularly important factors to be considered, before saying that one sounds superior to the other.

You should mention this before claiming that YOU found it out between A and B components.

 

To explain more about the XLR’s, here’s the most interesting part of Wikipedia about balanced audio inside components: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_audio

​

...Most audio products (recording, public address, etc.) provide differential balanced inputs and outputs, typically via XLR or TRS phone connectors. However, in most cases, a differential balanced input signal is internally converted to a single-ended signal via transformer or electronic amplifier. After internal processing, the single-ended signal is converted back to a differential balanced signal and fed to an output.

​

A small number of audio products have been designed with an entirely differential balanced signal path from input to output; the audio signal never unbalances. This design is achieved by providing identical (mirrored) internal signal paths for both the "non-inverting" and "inverting" audio signals. In critical applications, a 100% differential balanced circuit design can offer better signal integrity by avoiding the extra amplifier stages or transformers required for front-end unbalancing and back-end rebalancing. Fully balanced internal circuitry has been promoted as yielding 3 dB better dynamic range, as explained above,[5] though at increased cost over single-ended designs...

​

This sums it up very well:

Most products are inherently single ended internally, and the balanced connection is just an add-on. Added for convenience, exotic looks, compatibility and ultimately…often worsen sound.

 

In a home environment, where most products “fake” the XLR balanced connection, Single ended RCA is usually preferable.

If XLR still performs better, this probably suggests a flaw in a component (ex: high output impedance) or… simply a better cable was used for the XLR test.

 

Only “real 100% fully balanced” designs really benefit from XLR and “cheater to RCA” should never be used with those.

These products are quite rare, and when one product is 100% balanced, the product literature always mention this important design aspect, so the buyer knows what their buying. To be the cream of the crop, it should be fully regulated as well, that would be the cherry on top.

 

Fully balanced and fully regulated products are my preference for various technical reasons. (having pretty much no flaws beside extra cost)

Personally, I intend to move toward components which are only designed this way (commercial or DIY).

This means, I use balanced connections (XLR) because it generates significant advantages and no real drawbacks. (Is cost a drawback?)

 

 

YMMV