Can TRS connectors be unbalanced?

  • Thread starter Thread starter whattaguy
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whattaguy

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The reason I ask is because the Behringer UB502 (I use this as a switch for my SB Live! and Aardvark DP2496 cards...not as my mixer) spec sheet says that the main outs are 1/4" TRS, unbalanced connectors. I thought that TRS = balanced. Am I wrong? Would TRS lines from the main outs to my monitors (MAudio SP B5s) reduce the background hiss? Thanks.

Here's the website...click on "Spec Sheet"

http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex_ub.cfm?id=UB502&lang=eng
 
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It looks like they used a Stereo jack like a headphone jack for the main outs. Those preamp specs are a joke. There is no way it performs that well.
 
state-of-the-art 4580 operational amplifiers provide lowest noise and distortion - better than the 4560 op amps
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the 4580 is 20 better than the 4560. 20 bananas in Behringers case.
 
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TRS are unbalanced if you plug a standard 1/4" instrument cable into it.Maybe they mean either can be used.
 
A TRS cable can't be unbalanced, that's why it's a TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve). You can hook up unbalanced cables to a TRS, but that would negate the point of it being TRS.

Later,
musik
 
That's what I thought...so when Behringer says that their outputs are "1/4 inch TRS connectror, unbalanced", they're full of crap? In other words, I shouldn't waste my money on TRS cables?
 
I told you what it is. It's a stereo jack. That means the TRS is carrying two unbalanced signals for left and right. It's the same way a headphone jack works.
 
A balanced cable (TRS) isn't necessarily a stereo cable. The positive and negative carry the same sound, while traveling down the cable one side is phase reversed, both sides carry any added noise that may come into the cable between point A and B, on the other end the side that was phase reversed is reversed again, this eliminates any unwanted noise that may have been picked up due to phase cancelation.

Later,
musik
 
musikman316 said:
A TRS cable can't be unbalanced, that's why it's a TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve). You can hook up unbalanced cables to a TRS, but that would negate the point of it being TRS.

Later,
musik
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Of course it can......... as Tex said, it can be used in a balanced-configuration - using 2-conductors for 1 signal, OR it can be used to carry two unbalanced signals.

2 types of configurations can be handled with 1 TRS, isn't science wonderful?!?
 
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