TC Electronic Impact Twin and Converting Analog Vinyl to Digital

[ibastian]

In mitchco's Guide to Converting Analog Vinyl to Digital Files Using Macintosh, a TC Electronic Impact Twin was provided along with a custom cable to connect a turntable with a Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 cartridge to the unit's Hi-Z instrument input. The cable appears to feature TRS connectors but I have read in the Impact Twin manual that only the XLR connection is balanced - the Instrument input is not.

 

My initial thoughts were that the benefits using pro gear like the Impact Twin for vinyl conversion was the all balanced set up like you can do with a LOMC into a mic preamp XLR. Is LOMC the way to go when using a Mic preamp?