Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater amplifier?

Normally an amplifier is fed a signal which moves from positive to negative in reference to the ground following the waveform which it is to reproduce. The ground is shared with the shield. This is called single-ended.

Some receivers (mostly pre-amp/processors, which do not have inbuilt amps) have balanced or differential outputs. A differential signal has two parts one which matches the above, the other one is the same signal but inverted. There's also a ground wire separate from the shield. The wires are wound or braided closely together. The amplifier is driven by the difference between the normal and inverted signals. The idea being that any outside electrical influence will act equally on both wires. So the difference between them doesn't change just their offsets.

Most consumer oriented gear will not have balanced outputs. Additionally the advantage of using differential signaling over short distances (like if your receiver and amp are next to each other) is minuscule. Long runs which may end up near power feeds is where the benefit starts to show.

If you don't think you're ever going to get a stand alone pre-amp/processor instead of a receiver, and you don't plan to locate your amp across the room. A single-ended amp is perfectly suited. But since amps are an investment which you'll probably keep over many receiver or pre-amp upgrades, you may wish to lay out the little extra for one with balanced inputs for future proofing.

Your call.