Differential Signaling

This is a method for electrically transmitting information using two complementary signals. The same electrical signal is sent as a differential pair of signals, each in its own conductor. The pair of conductors can be wires (typically twisted together) or traces on a circuit board. The receiving circuit responds to the electrical difference between the two signals, rather than the difference between a single wire and ground. Audio equipment often uses differential signaling for internal balanced signal routing.