emusonacid!

to

Balanced cables exhibit better noise-rejection traits than non-balanced. The signal is sent on two wires, with opposite polarity with relationship to ground. When these signals are added together at the other end of the cable, any extra noise that was added along the cable run gets cancelled out. Or something like that :)

I've never noticed a huge difference, myself.

Using balanced inputs / outputs has nothing to do with you sampling or playing in mono.

If you can afford the cables and if all your equipment is balanced (sampler, mixer etc.) then go for it. It will result in 'significantly' less noise.

But make sure that both the receiving and transmitting hardware is balanced.
There's no point at all in using balanced cables from your sampler to a non-balanced mixer for instance

/Dane