Craig, I’m sure you hear what you hear ... just trying to guess why
Suspect the balanced outputs of the 7703 are a cleaner path. Bet the 8805 is similar (have not tried the XLR outputs yet).
I was going to use the XLRs wherever I could when the ADAs came in .... mainly for the cool factor on the short runs
Sometimes, I need to communicate better. The RCA's were picking up a light hum - not a ground loop at 60 Hz - but a light hum. It was inaudible at the listening position, but was at about 2 feet.
The XLR's are dead silent outside the very faint hiss one will hear through the tweeters on any system at 2 inches.
I wasn't expecting much of a difference in program material, and it turned out it was better. It isn't better in a Stereophile "The violins had more presence, while Amanda's voice was even more sultry than before." It was better in the silence is making for "deep black background."
For 2 channel, the Marantz 77 and 88 series are supposed to be the same.
