Simaudio Neo 380D DAC - Manual (Page 11)

380 D Digital to Analog Converter
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11
Balanced Operation
When using an unbalanced interconnect, the audio
signal runs through both the center wire and the
shield/ground wire. Any noise picked up by this
interconnect (ie. nearby magnetic fields such as an
AC power cord) will be reproduced by both the
preamplifier and amplifier, then heard through the
loudspeakers. Conversely, a balanced interconnect
has three separate conductors; one for the ground
and two for the actual signal. These two signals are
identical except that one is 180 degrees out of
phase with the other. For example, when one
conductor is carrying a signal of +4 Volts, the other
will be carrying a signal of –4 Volts. When these
two inverted signals on a balanced line are output
from the MOON 380D, any noise picked up by the
interconnect will be eliminated since a differential
circuit amplifies only the difference between these
two signals: Noise on a balanced interconnect will
be equal on both conductors and therefore cancel
out .