Balanced Cables Question

[Myriad_Rocker]

This may seem like a stupid question...

Are all "TRS" cables balanced? Also, what's better...XLR or TRS 1/4"?

Thank you, kindly. (spoken like "Red" ala Shawshank)

 

[hasbeen]

Are all "TRS" cables balanced? Also, what's better...XLR or TRS 1/4"?

Yes, they are balanced. I keep each kind around to match different kinds of gear. Not to mention adapters. I have TRS to XLR etc.

As far as which is better? No dif in my opinion...

 

[bennychico11]

TRS is only balanced if there is a balancing circuit on one end of the cable (ie. a soundcard or mixer or speaker that accepts balanced connections)....otherwise it's either a) a stereo cable as long as a L/R signal is being sent down it or b) a cable that has the same signal but with opposite polarities...and a ground wire.

neither TRS 1/4" or XLR connectors are better. they are just two different ways to connect to your gear. however, generally XLR female connectors on your gear will have preamps in them

 

[Raw-Tracks]

TRS is only balanced if there is a balancing circuit on one end of the cable (ie. a soundcard or mixer or speaker that accepts balanced connections)....

That's a good point to mention. Technically, it's not the cable that's balanced, it's the gear.

..... or b) a cable that has the same signal but with opposite polarities...and a ground wire.

The cable does not invert the polarity. Again, it's the gear. So "b" isn't really applicable here.

neither TRS 1/4" or XLR connectors are better. they are just two different ways to connect to your gear.

Agreed, 100%. The only thing that makes XLR's better is the fact that they lock into place. Other than that, the signal quality is the same.

however, generally XLR female connectors on your gear will have preamps in them

I would say that's an over-generalization. There is plenty of gear out there that has line level XLR inputs. Don't ever assume that just because it has a female XLR that it's a mic preamp.

 

[bennychico11]

The cable does not invert the polarity. Again, it's the gear. So "b" isn't really applicable here.

you're right....that's not really what i meant though. i guess I assumed you might be plugging one end into something that inverts polarities and the other end into something that doesn't. stupid of me to assume i suppose

I would say that's an over-generalization. There is plenty of gear out there that has line level XLR inputs. Don't ever assume that just because it has a female XLR that it's a mic preamp.

True again, but when most people look at an XLR cable they think of it as a mic cable (at least I do). I'd say probably more than 50% of gear out there that has XLRs on it will have a preamp of some sort in it. pretty much EVERY preamp has XLRs (for obvious reasons). i also think TRS is probably cheaper for manufacturers to make which is why you'll see that on more outboard gear that's not a preamp.

 

[dgatwood]

True again, but when most people look at an XLR cable they think of it as a mic cable (at least I do). I'd say probably more than 50% of gear out there that has XLRs on it will have a preamp of some sort in it. pretty much EVERY preamp has XLRs (for obvious reasons). i also think TRS is probably cheaper for manufacturers to make which is why you'll see that on more outboard gear that's not a preamp.

So what do folks think about connectors that are both TRS and XLR? More to the point, how many hours of actual use do you think you'd get with one before one of the contacts broke?