Everyone I've known who prefers balanced connections does so for the sonic characteristics. Those who prefer perceive these characteristics as more accurate to source material, and those who don't perceive them as colored or distorted. If you've never heard a set up A/B'd between balanced and unbalanced, I would suggest you do so before upgrading around this technlology.

If outlaw offered a balanced-connection amp at this time, I would say that their 30-day money-back deal is a good way to accomplish this in conjunction with the 990. Too bad they don't.