Audio Cables and Connectors
Audio Cables and Connectors
This tutorial explains the different types of
audio cable and connectors. We will also look
at how to solder the various connectors to the
cable, such as XLR to XLR, XLR to RCA and
XLR to 1/4" jacks.
First of all we will look at the most common types
of audio cable and connectors available:
• Audio Cables
• Audio Connectors
Audio Cables
There are two main types of audio cable
we will look at:
Single core / shielded (unbalanced)
One pair / shielded (balanced).
Single Core / Shielded Cable
In a single core / shielded cable, the single core
is used for the +ve, or 'hot', and the shield is
used for the -ve, or 'cold'.
This type of cable is used for unbalanced audio
signals.
Single core / shielded cable
One Pair / Shielded Cable
A one pair / shielded cable has one core as the +ve, and the
other core is -ve. The shield is earthed.
This type of cable is used for balanced audio signals.
One pair / shielded cable
Audio Connectors
There are a variety of different audio connectors available. The
most common types are
* 3-pin XLR
* RCA
* 6.5mm (¼" jacks).
3-pin XLR
3-pin XLR connectors are mainly used for
balanced audio signals. Using a balanced signal
reduces the risk of inference.
• Pin 1 is the earth (or shield)
• Pin 2 is the +ve (or 'hot')
• Pin 3 is the -ve (or 'cold).
There are a number of different XLR's
3-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin etc
3-pin XLR Male
3-pin XLR Female
¼" Jack (6.5mm Jack)
There are two types of 6.5mm Jacks: Mono and stereo. The mono jack
has a tip and a sleeve, the stereo jack has ring, a tip and a sleeve.
1. On the mono jack the tip is the +ve, and the sleeve is the -ve or
shield.
2. On a stereo jack being used for a balanced signal, the tip is the
+ve, the ring is the -ve, and the sleeve is the shield.
3. On a stereo jack being used for a stereo signal (left and right), the
tip is the left, the ring is the right, and the sleeve is the shield.
Jacks also come in various sizes - 6.5mm (¼"), 3.5mm, 2.5mm. The
wiring for all of them is the same
1/4" Mono Jack
1/4" Stereo Jack
RCA
RCA s are used a lot for home stereos, videos, DVDs etc.
The RCA can carry either audio or video. It is wired the same way
as a mono jack: The center pin is the + ve, and the outer ring is
the -ve or shield.
RCA Male
Then we will have a closer look at how to make the following
types of cables:
•XLR to 1/4" mono jack
•XLR to RCA
•Stereo jack to 2 x RCA
•XLR to stereo jack
•XLR to 2 x RCA
XLR to 1/4" Mono Jack
The most comon way to wire a 3-pin XLR to a 1/4 inch mono jack (or
6.5mm jack), is to join the -ve and shield together.
This can be done by either soldering the shield and -ve wires to the
sleeve of the jack......
Or by soldering a jumper on the XLR.....
Either way gives you the same result: An unbalanced audio cable.
XLR to 1x RCA
When connecting a 3-pin XLR to one RCA, you use the same wiring as
if you were connecting an XLR to a 1/4" jack.
The -ve and shield of the XLR are joined together, either at the XLR
end or the RCA end. The easiest way is to solder a link between pins 1
and 3 (shield and -ve) of the XLR, rather than trying to solder the shield
and -ve wire to the sleeve contact of the RCA.
This produces an unbalanced audio cable.
Stereo Jack to 2x RCA
When a stereo 1/4" jack is being used for a stereo signal (as opposed to
a balanced mono signal), the left and right parts of the stereo signal can
be split off to two seperate connectors. For example, a stereo
headphone output can be split into left and right connectors, and one
possible use for this would be to use these two independant connectors
to feed left and right monitoring speakers.
XLR to 1/4" Stereo Jack (wired for balanced mono)
The usual way to connect a 3-pin XLR to a 1/4" stereo jack is to
use the following pin allocation:
XLR pin 1 to jack sleeve
XLR pin 2 to jack tip
XLR pin 3 to jack ring
This wiring configuration gives you a balanced mono audio cable.
XLR to 2x RCA
A 3-pin XLR with a stereo signal can be split into left and right by
wiring pin 2 of the XLR to the tip of one RCA plug, and pin 3 of the
XLR to another RCA tip. Pin 1 of the XLR connects to the sleeve of
both RCA plugs.
