

Q: What types of XLR connectors exist? A: XLR connectors are produced in male and female modifications, in cable and chassis designs. The cables reliably shield the audio signal from interference and transfer your audio over longer distances. Cables of this type continue to be a widespread industry standard for live performance and recording. Q: Do XLR cables still remain a popular solution for audio equipment? A: Yes. Therefore, despite the more complex process of audio transmission, balanced cables can reduce the level of distortion. Cables of this type flip the polarity of the audio signal to cancel out the distortion. Typically, the signal wire is in the center of the cable, surrounded by the ground wire.īalanced cables, in turn, usually come with three conductors - two signal wires and one ground wire. Like in the case of unbalanced cables, signal wires serve to pass audio signals, while the separate surrounding ground wire is used for shielding signals against interference. The signal wire is used to pass the sound signal, while the ground wire is used to shield it from the outside electronic interference produced by electrical and electronic devices and appliances. Unbalanced cables always consist of two conductors - signal and ground wires. Q: What is the difference between balanced and unbalanced cables? A: Basically, unbalanced cables receive an audio signal from a musical instrument or an audio system and pass it through to a receiver device without any changing or manipulation. We'd also recommend you to choose XLR cables that have strain reliefs to prevent kinking. For concerts or public performances, you'll definitely need longer options.

If you need an XLR cable for your recording studio or DJ’s stand, 10-20-feet cables will be enough. Besides, the cable should have a protective braid and several layers of shielding to minimize impact of external interference.Ĭhoose the length of the cable with its place of use in mind. Gold-plated contacts can also improve the quality of the audio signal. The connectors should come wrapped in a robust metal housing to provide reliable connection/disconnection of the cable and its long lifespan. Sometimes, one look is enough to distinguish a really high-quality cable from other products, however, it's better to understand their key distinctive features.

Thus, before you go purchase one, consider available options, check out your equipment connectors and make a decision. Your audio equipment may accept both types of cables. Balanced XLR cables, in turn, are longer and transmit audio signal over long distances better. Unbalanced cables are typically more sensitive to external interference and thus aren't very long (25 feet the max). Both have their own advantages and drawbacks and transmit audio signal in different ways. Then, you want to know what type of cables, balanced or unbalanced, will work with your equipment better. Therefore, you should know exactly what type of audio equipment you will connect to a microphone.
What Features to CompareĪs a rule, XLR cables come with a standard XLR connector at one end and with either XLR or TS or RCA type connector on the other end. Likewise, you can be interested in HDMI cables.
#XLR AND HDMI FOR MAC PRO HOW TO#
If you are wondering how to connect an audio source to speakers, receivers or other audio devices, pay attention to speaker wires. The specific characteristic of these cables is that they come with an XLR male connector at one end, intended for hooking up microphones. XLR cables are used in recording studios, concert halls, and at home for karaoke singing. Typically, its main purpose is to connect microphones to other audio equipment: receivers, mixing consoles, etc. An XLR cable is one of the most popular types of audio cables.
