So I'm still deliberating between Pathos Classic MK III, Leben CS600, and Plinius 8150 for my integrated. I was considering - as source - Cambridge Audio 840C, Slim Devices Transporter, or a custom built quiet PC connected directly to the amp via Lynx L22 card (is the last idea bad/dangerous?)
I'm very much interested in going for the Leben, especially as I do a lot of music through headphones, and the headphone out on the Leben CS600 is just incredible; this would get rid of the need for another component, get it out of the way of music...
But, EVERYONE is telling me to go for the Pathos Classic because it's the only amp among my choices that offers balanced XLR. (First of all, does anyone know if the Pathos is a truly balanced?) Especially as Lynx L22 card, Cambridge Audio 840c, and Transporter all use balanced XLR, and almost all of the users of those sources report better sound quality through balanced output. What am I to do? I mean, can better interconnects solve this issue or something? I'd be loathe to have a separate headphone amp, as I'd like to keep the system minimal, component & interconnect-wise.
So if you were me, would you give up the sweet headphone out capability and great sound of the Leben for the balanced input of the Pathos? (which sounds amazing to me, btw., except for the lack of the headphone out, which is a bummer.) Is there a clever way to bypass this issue of not having balanced XLR?
So I'm still deliberating between Pathos Classic MK III, Leben CS600, and Plinius 8150 for my integrated. I was considering - as source - Cambridge Audio 840C, Slim Devices Transporter, or a custom built quiet PC connected directly to the amp via Lynx L22 card (is the last idea bad/dangerous?)
I'm very much interested in going for the Leben, especially as I do a lot of music through headphones, and the headphone out on the Leben CS600 is just incredible; this would get rid of the need for another component, get it out of the way of music...
But, EVERYONE is telling me to go for the Pathos Classic because it's the only amp among my choices that offers balanced XLR. (First of all, does anyone know if the Pathos is a truly balanced?) Especially as Lynx L22 card, Cambridge Audio 840c, and Transporter all use balanced XLR, and almost all of the users of those sources report better sound quality through balanced output. What am I to do? I mean, can better interconnects solve this issue or something? I'd be loathe to have a separate headphone amp, as I'd like to keep the system minimal, component & interconnect-wise.
So if you were me, would you give up the sweet headphone out capability and great sound of the Leben for the balanced input of the Pathos? (which sounds amazing to me, btw., except for the lack of the headphone out, which is a bummer.) Is there a clever way to bypass this issue of not having balanced XLR?