What are the differences between balanced and unbalanced output? When is one preferable?
Balanced output is hot signal, cold signal and ground. An unbalanced output has hot signal and ground only. Balanced output eliminates noise with a differential amplifier when a cable is used with long distance signal transmitting. Thus, mostly professionals for input and output use it.
It eliminates the noise signal from receiving weak signals transmitting from long distance. As for short distance signal or transmitting of strong signal, unbalanced output can be used.
