"Ian Bell"

It is a balance between minimising the load on the the mic and keeping
noise
under control.


** Utter nonsense.

No such balancing act exists.


The optimum noise performance of the original descrete class
A Neve mic pres was about 4.8K.


** ********.


A 2:1 transformer gives you 6dB of noise
free gain ......


** Even worse ******** !!!

A 2:1 step up tranny provides no noise advantage * AT ALL * since it
increases the source impedance as seen by the pre-amp by 4 times and so
*doubles* the noise voltage along with the signal voltage.

Where the hell do folk get these WACKY ideas ???


and an input impedance of 1.2K plus all the other benefits of
truly balanced floating inputs.



** The input impedance is around 1200 ohms direct with most mic pres.

Inserting a 2:1 step up REDUCES the load seen by the mic to 300 ohms, likely
cutting its output voltage in half.

The net effect is a poorer signal to noise ratio.




........ Phil