Mic cables - XLR to 1/4" plug vs. XLR to XLR

[Ricklh]

What's the audio difference, if any? My mixer has both 1/4 inputs & XLR connectors so I'm wondering is a mic cable with XLR female to XLR male better than XLR female to 1/4" plug?

 

[P. Glaser]

What's the audio difference, if any? My mixer has both 1/4 inputs & XLR connectors so I'm wondering is a mic cable with XLR female to XLR male better than XLR female to 1/4" plug?

Well, XLR typically indicates a low impedance signal and ¼" typically would be high impedance on a mixer or pre unless the ¼" plug is a TRS. You wouldn't want to run a low imp. mic into a high imp. input without a transformer. HTH

Paul

 

[Shadow_7]

XLR doesn't pop when you hot plug it.

It depends on the device though. On my field recorder, XLR uses the onboard preamps, TRS bypasses those preamps.

 

[Weasel9992]

It depends on the device though. On my field recorder, XLR uses the onboard preamps, TRS bypasses those preamps.

That's typically the biggest difference. From a signal standpoint, TRS is exactly the same as XLR...both carry a balanced signal from one place to another. What's happening from a hardware standpoint is the important thing.

Frank

 

[hairylarry]

Often the 1/4" plugs are line in

Ricklh,

Many mixers use 1/4" inputs for line in. These are not TRS. Just TS. (get it?)

Many mics work in high impedance with XLR to 1/4" TS and can be plugged into these line in plugs. Sometimes the same mics work well with lo imp cables (XLR to XLR) too. Don't ask me how. Other mics can be wired either way.

If you are using a mic hi imp with an XLR to 1/4" cable there's about a 20' cable length limit before the cable starts adding noise. Lo imp connections can have long cables.

Sometimes these line inputs accept instrument inputs like guitar or keyboards too.

And, of course, line in, like outputs from a CD player or taped deck.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry