XLR vs. 1/4"" Jack

[Flet]

XLR vs. 1/4"" Jack

Is one really better than the other? I need to get a new mic chord to reach the distance from my cab to the FireWire 410. Since i can use either XLR or 1/4"" jack, I figured why not find out which is better and why?
Also, is there a chord length that would eventually degrade my signal? Would 15 feet be bad? 20 feet?

 

[apl]

XLR vs. 1/4"" Jack

Is one really better than the other? I need to get a new mic chord to reach the distance from my cab to the FireWire 410. Since i can use either XLR or 1/4"" jack, I figured why not find out which is better and why?
Also, is there a chord length that would eventually degrade my signal? Would 15 feet be bad? 20 feet?

XLRs are usually wired for a balanced configuration, which eliminates hum, and allows you to use very long cables. While some 1/4 connections are TRS (tip-ring-sleeve, three conductors), your 410's 1/4s are TS, and hence unbalanced and susceptible to noise with low level signals like mics. It may be that the 410's mic preamps are wired into only the XLRs and that phantom power for the mic is only available on the XLR.

Anyway, you should be using the XLR.

 

[sile2001]

It may be that the 410's mic preamps are wired into only the XLRs and that phantom power for the mic is only available on the XLR.

Yessir, that is correct. The 1/4" inputs are unbalanced line-level inputs.

 

[andyhix]

either is probably fine for a short run (<20'), but I believe XLR is best in most cases if you have the choice. For a longer run, XLR is better, because it eliminates any noise picked up by the cable, which, at long lengths can act as an antenna and pick up noise. At this point, someone usually chimes in with a diagram with a bunch of these: >>>>>> and these:**** to explain that there is a phase reversal to cancel the noise generated in the cable.

Anyway, go with XLR for minimized noise.

Sorry about the lack of effort to 'splain this.

 

[Flet]

No, you guys have been great. Thanks for your help again.

 

[Ford Van]

XLR is a more "secure" connection. Not only does it allow more surface area on the contacts, but the barrel usually "locks into" the panel mount jacks. It is very hard to accidently unplug an XLR connection.

 

[sile2001]

It is very hard to accidently unplug an XLR connection.

Unless you're the backup guitarist in my band :\

 

[thavva]

Adding on a question here.

Is it right if we have a cable with one end XLR and the other with 1/4? If yes shud the 1/4 be balanced or can be unbalanced?

 

[ermghoti]

It can happen. You would like to see TRS balanced, but there are some XLR balanced -TR unbalanced cables. The latter usually really, really suck, IME.

 

[TimOBrien]

Sound-on-Sound magazine did a shoot-out of connector types a few months back.

They found that the resistance and surface area of both XLR and 1/4" TRS plugs is nearly identical. RCA was a bit worse, but not by much.

But 1/8" miniplugs had far higher resistance and far less surface area.

Their recomendation: Stay away from 1/8" if you can but don't sweat any of the others....

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

I would only use phantom power with an XLR. This way the voltage is separated by the pins.

 

[thavva]

So the best quality is XLR to XLR. 2nd is XLR to balanced TRS right? Definitely not XLR to TS.

I'm always confused with TRS and TS because, I dont understand whether I can use TRS to TRS for outputs from sound cards to speakers. Usually people say that we use TS to TS for left and right channels. Why can't we just use balanced TRS to TRS? Is it like stereo to stereo maybe? Sorry if its stupid question. Hope someone can clear that for me.

 

[fazil]

It might be confusing yeah

TRS means Rip Ring Sleeve.
TS means Tip Sleeve

In most (pro) audio applications the TIP is "Hot", the Ring is "Cold" and the sleeve is ground. It has nothing to do with stereo cables.
Iin consumer audio stuff TRS migh be used as unbalanced stereo.

(one exception is headphones, where TRS is used for stereo.)

In a balanced situation Hot is the signal and Cold is the inverted of that signal (some may refer to this as "phase reversed" though it is not the most suited term). In the input of a balanced device the Hot and Cold are combined in a differential amplifier (or a transformer). Any noise or hum that is added in the cable will be the same for both Hot and Cold. As the Cold signal gets "inverted" the noise or hum will be cancelled.

Use a balanced interconnection wherever is possible. Using just a trs to trs or xlr to xlr cable wont help if you have no bal inputs or outputs.


I hope this has cleared some things up !

Good luck.

-arno

 

[willythekid]

Hey Flet,

I see that you have the Firewire 410 unit. I'm looking for something like that right now, and I wonder if you are happy with this machine. Do you experience any noice or radio interference? Do you like the sound of the preamps? I've had som problems with my M-Audio Duo, that's why I'm asking -
regards
wtk

 

[thavva]

Hey thanks guys. This has cleared my mind. I can be more careful on buying new cables now. Thank you very much for your advice. I'm going for belden cables and neutrik connectors should be good right?