Balanced & Unbalanced

  • Thread starter Thread starter Abbott
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Abbott

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I don't get it....It always seems like when you are working with 1/4 cables, you always want to get them into XLR and when you're working with XLR, you always want to get it in 1/4. Why not just make cables that have both ends that would do it for you?
 
The question isn't...

Whether or not to use 1/4" OR XLR...

...It is which 1/4" to use. When possible you want to use 1/4" TRS - a balanced plug - not 1/4" TS which is unbalanced...

Staying in balanced cables will reduce noise and give you a cleaner signal chain. As long as your equipment utilizes balanced plugs - use those. XLR or 1/4" TRS is just a question of which fits in your unit or out of your mic.

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a better question

Why isn't there a standard for which pin is the "hot" pin on an XLR connector? The inconsistencies I've seen so far make it so rediculous that I would feel safer soldering my own cable. That's pretty scary considering I'm a mechanic. :D

Dick
 
Re: a better question

Evildick said:
Why isn't there a standard for which pin is the "hot" pin on an XLR connector? The inconsistencies I've seen so far make it so rediculous that I would feel safer soldering my own cable. That's pretty scary considering I'm a mechanic. :D

Dick
Click to expand...

There is a standard!

Pin 1 is Ground

Pin 2 is signal positive

Pin 3 is signal negative

And if they are used unbalanced, pin 3 is connected to pin 1
 
From the Hosa website

Before you blast me for using Hosa cables :), there is kind of a standard I suppose.

You may be surprised to learn that there is no standard wiring procedure for an XLR-type 3-pin connector when wired-out to unbalanced quarter-inch phone or RCA-type connectors. Pin #1 is almost always
designated as ground (earth) by equipment manufacturers, but the "hot" or "+" pin is an arbitrary choice. Currently, most equipment manufacturers are (thankfully) choosing Pin #2 as the designated "hot" pin and
Pin #3 as the "cold" or "-" pin, but some have stuck with old habits and continue to buck the trends with
Pin-3 "hot" connections. What does this mean to you? Know your equipment before buying any XLR-type
cable that is wired-out to anything OTHER than another XLR! Hosa ships PIN-2 HOT by default, but we will make PIN-3 HOT (and mark it as such in the packaging) if the dealer specifies it by adding a "/3"
(slash 3) to the model number. For example: PXM-105/3.

There is no "HOT" pin in a BALANCED connection. (Both + and - are in equal potential to ground.) This
is not to imply, however, that proper phasing is unimportant!

In an UNBALANCED connection, the negative (cold) contact also serves as ground (earth).

Dick
 
any even better yet question...

...Why not purchase all equipment which utilizes all BALANCED circuitry?? Save the integrity of your signal chain!!

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