xlr

[deltaforce]

simple question really what does balanced xlr output mean and would it be better to use this than he master output sorry if this is a stupid question:confused:

[NKR]

simple question really what does balanced xlr output mean and would it be better to use this than he master output sorry if this is a stupid question:confused:

The balanced XLR will also be your master output just not the phono version. In a word yes get some XLR's as it cuts down on background fuzz - what are you using?

Ie - Whats your desk (mixer) and amp and how are you currently connecting.

I use balanced XLR from my Denon to either of my amps.

However, I have a pair of 200 watt OHM RW2 speakers I power off an old Macgregor ss500 warhorse for intimate venues and as it only has jack input I opt for phono to Jack in that instance (although I really should use XLR to Jack to reduce the hum - and now you mention it I actually have a set of XLR to Jack so why am I not using them? :bang: )

Its all about cables also being antenna's and picking up background frequencies and creating hum. The balanced cables cancel this out by the cables being twisted together to act as a closely spaced conductor. Background noise is the same on both wires so the equipment can't hear it. Its a voltage equalisation thing.

I don't know enough to guide you any further than that. Tony is your man for that.

[kilmeedyman]

simple question really what does balanced xlr output mean and would it be better to use this than he master output sorry if this is a stupid question:confused:

Basically it is a way of connecting equipment (eg. your mixer to your amp or your mic to your mixer) which helps protect against interference (noise), especially over longer cable runs. It uses cables which are wired in a special way and the equipment at either end has circuitry to correctly use with a balanced signal.

If your mixer supports balanced output it would be unusual for the the master output not to be balanced.

[deltaforce]

at the moment im using phono to jack
my mixer is numark cdmx1
my amp warrior 1300 which has lot of ways to connect
i think speakon xlr & jack
just had a good look speakon balanced and jack unbalanced combined
and xlr balanced both output on mixer and input on amp are female xlr

[NKR]

at the moment im using phono to jack
my mixer is numark cdmx1
my amp warrior 1300 which has lot of ways to connect
i think speakon xlr & jack
just had a good look speakon balanced and jack unbalanced combined
and xlr balanced both output on mixer and input on amp are female xlr

Okay is that the CDMIX1 - the combined mixer CD unit? If so that has male balanced XLR output so you can stick your remale end in there (so to speak).

The warrior 1300 has input receivers as female XLR for you to stick your male end on, or it has Jack alternative. They are the only inputs on the Warrior 1300.

Outputs to speaker are Speakon or binding post.

If you can't get standard xlr's you can also use shielded DMX cable.

Try CPC for your cables or ebay.

That any help?

[Excalibur]

Okay is that the CDMIX1 - the combined mixer CD unit? If so that has male balanced XLR output so you can stick your remale end in there (so to speak).

The warrior 1300 has input receivers as female XLR for you to stick your male end on, or it has Jack alternative. They are the only inputs on the Warrior 1300.

Outputs to speaker are Speakon or binding post.

If you can't get standard xlr's you can also use shielded DMX cable.

Try CPC for your cables or ebay.

That any help?

XLR/XLR cables are almost always balanced. You can also get balanced ones XLR/Jack. If you need to daisy chain amps, you can go XLR mixer-XLR amp1.
Jack amp1-xlr Amp2. Jack amp2-XLR amp3 etc etc.

[Pazz]

Now that I have figured out the best way forward for me is using 3m female XLR to male XLR cable. Which are the best ones for the job and where to buy (cheapest and best quality options at the moment)??? Where do you buy yours as I cannnot make my mind up the best place to buy?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions :)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Sorry to hijack this but can anyone recommend somewhere where I can get some decent short XLR's? These are to go from the Crossover to the amp. At the moment I am using mic leads and the shortest I have is 3m.

By the way Deltaforce, I always used to use the phono output on my mixer to XLR on the amp but since I started using the XLR Balanced output, it seems so much cleaner (probably my imagination). I also leave them in there now so all I need to do is connect them to the crossover.

[A1DL]

Sorry to hijack this but can anyone recommend somewhere where I can get some decent short XLR's? These are to go from the Crossover to the amp. At the moment I am using mic leads and the shortest I have is 3m.


http://www.vdctrading.com/products_gridview.asp?SubSectionID=8&secName=Audio+single+leads+%2D+mono+and+balanced&ProductID=112#p112

Assemblies from .25m upwards, great company to deal with.

[TonyB]

I can make you some up using Neutrics and Van Damme SP - OFC (Silver Plated Oxygen Free Cable). I initially though the cost might be a bit much but looking at the prices on the VDC site, prehaps I am not so expensive :) 1 metre cables would be £5.19 plus p&p.

Other lengths, the M/F XLRS are £4.19 and cable £1 per metre (50p for 0.5 metre, 25p for .25m etc)

Neutrics are the older style NC3MX and NC3FX (were replaced last year with NC3MXX & NC3FXX) but they have been industry standard without a problem for ages!. I have enough left to make about a dozen cables.

If you are interested, let me know how many and what lengths you want (can be any length as I'll cut the cable from a reel).

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll look into it.

[CRAZY K]

simple question really what does balanced xlr output mean and would it be better to use this than he master output sorry if this is a stupid question:confused:

They ( the sound pros) recokon its a better quality signal and although they may be correct I never notice any difference when using either xlr balanced or quarter inch jack with screened lead on my JTS radio mike to the mixer-both sound fine to me.

See what you think--try both

[csg]

+1 on vdc trading, alternately canford audio are also excellent. Studiospares pro range using neutric connectors and sommer cable are also good.

To answer the original question as to how balanced systems work:

single conductor and screen cables can be a source of hum and noise, particularly when used over long distances, or in enviroments with lots of interference from other electrical equipment. The screen, which is tied to earth is there to shield the inner conductor from interference, however this is not 100% effective, hence the noise issues that can be experienced in some situations.

Balanced systems use a system known as common mode rejection to provide an effective way to reduce or eliminate noise problems in most situations.

so, a single ended ( unbalanced) signal enters the system, and is split, by way of a transformer or electronic circuit into 2 equal signals which are the same, but opposite in phase ( 180 degrees out of phase, so if one is at +2 volts, the other is at -2 volts, and vice versa)

These 2 signals are known as hot ( which retains the same phase as the original signal) and cold ( out of phase with the original signal)

So, these 2 signals travel around as a pair, surrounded with a screen, just like a single ended cable. Infact, just like a single ended cable, these 2 conductors will be picking up hum and noise from surrounding sources of interference.

so, why does a balanced system not suffer from noise in the same way?

well, here is the clever bit...

at the other end of the circuit, there is a combining transformer or circuit, which turns the hot and cold conductors back into one signal. to do this, the phase of the cold conductor is flipped 180 degrees so that it becomes the same as the hot conductor.

When the two conductors are added back together, in phase, their components sum together to produce the same signal as existed at the other end of the circuit.

But, the noise which has been picked up on the way to this end of the circuit has been picked up the same by each conductor - i.e. in phase. So, when the 2 signals are combined and the cold conductor is phase flipped, the noise component becomes out of phase, so when combined with the hot conductor, the noise gets cancelled out.

genius!

well, you did ask....

[Jiggles]

In picture form. :)

http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/balanced/images/balanced-waveform.gif

[Pazz]

Now that I have figured out the best way forward for me is using 3m female XLR to male XLR cable. Which are the best ones for the job and where to buy (cheapest and best quality options at the moment)??? Where do you buy yours as I cannnot make my mind up the best place to buy?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions :)


Sorry to hijack this but can anyone recommend somewhere where I can get some decent short XLR's? These are to go from the Crossover to the amp. At the moment I am using mic leads and the shortest I have is 3m.

By the way Deltaforce, I always used to use the phono output on my mixer to XLR on the amp but since I started using the XLR Balanced output, it seems so much cleaner (probably my imagination). I also leave them in there now so all I need to do is connect them to the crossover.

Ok back to my originial question if I may :eek: where best can I buy a 3m female XLR to male XLR cable from (cheapest and best quality if possible) as I am still undecided after having a look around? Any ideas on good online places to look? :beer1: Cheers :)

[csg]

please read my post above - it explains why balanced connections are superior, and where to buy them, its all there!

google is your friend, and will take you to the relevant websites

[Pazz]

Thanks csg.
I
am aware google is my friend but when there is so much choice out there for 1 type of lead I thought I would put it to the forum to inform me of which kind they prefer and works best. I have visited vdc trading and it appears you can make your own leads by buying the cabling and conncetors separately but this isn't really what I was looking for. Shakermaker and deltaforce I think were looking more at this and the science behind it all (which I also read) but I'm just after 3m female XLR to male XLR cable but having visited the other websites you mentioned and done a google search I cannot choose as there seems to be so many different ones to choose and differences in the prices and I'm not sure why.

Basically if I take Amazon: you got these different ones for all the same lead:
Adam Hall 3m female XLR to male XLR cable: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Cables To Go 3m Pro-Audio XLR Male to XLR Female: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

LINDY 3m XLR Cable - Male to Female Red: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

The last one is LINDY and is red :confused: why is it red and what is the difference? There are different brands for the same lead and different prices. I was just wondering why? Can anyone help? :)

Sorry to go on
Thanks

[csg]

colour makes no difference, just preference - other than pink which conventionally means that it is wired reverse phase

take a look at studiospares item no.579166, thats a 2.5m lead in blue usiong sommer cable and neutrik connectors - all pro quality which will last you for ever

all the cables in your link are using cheap or copy connectors, which will fall to bits or stop working. id advise against all of them.

alternatively, give vdc, canford or studiospares a call tomorrow - they all have very helpfull sales people which will find what you want once you have explained what you need.

[Pazz]

colour makes no difference, just preference - other than pink which conventionally means that it is wired reverse phase

take a look at studiospares item no.579166, thats a 2.5m lead in blue usiong sommer cable and neutrik connectors - all pro quality which will last you for ever

all the cables in your link are using cheap or copy connectors, which will fall to bits or stop working. id advise against all of them.

alternatively, give vdc, canford or studiospares a call tomorrow - they all have very helpfull sales people which will find what you want once you have explained what you need.

I can see now why the prices are different. I thought it would have been the quality that was the difference - so i take it usiong sommer cable and neutrik connectors are the best around. I'm glad I asked - I can't believe how so many companies will make cheap alternatives and people like myself will fall foul of them if we do not ask! Much appreciate your advice and info on this and I very much like the look and sound of the studiospares one :) :)

Thanks again.

[Pazz]

I have just searched on ebay and would I be right in saying that this is good one?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6m-BALANCED-MICROPHONE-CABLE-LEAD-CHERRY-RED-XLR-XLR-/160437293600?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item255aced220

[Pazz]

Ignore that post above it's not going to be a neutrik for that price! ;):o :o