Question

I'm trying to connect a preamp to my interface but the preamp has an XLR balanced output as well as a 1/4in. unbalanced output. I have expensive balanced cables but I don't know if I should use the 1/4 to 1/4 cable or the XLR to 1/4 cable or if a balanced cable is altogether a mistake. I read the term active balanced in reference to the output but I have no idea what that means.

Answer 1

you'd better use the XLR to XLR cable. unbalanced jacks are for instruments and using XLR to 1/4 will not improve quality, and even likely will decrease it (or at least I've been in situation when this happened to me).

if the only thing you've got is balanced 1/4 input, get XLR to balanced 1/4 dongle.

p.s. unbalanced jack has two contacts, balanced one uses three. google for "trs balanced unbalanced" for more details.