Audio vs xlr cables

[simon1969]

Just wondered if there is any really big difference between xlr cables to amplifier and audio cables to amplifier from mixer?
As I use audio cables from amp to mixer...
Thanks Simon

[Vectis]

When you say "audio cables" I'm interpreting this as being RCA "phono" plugs of the red/white variety?

In that case, a big fat YES.

XLR gives a balanced signal, meaning less potential for degradation. And unless you spend mega-wonga on RCA cables, virtually every XLR cable I've ever used, including really cheap ones, are of a far superior construction. They're also screened, thus reducing the potential for noise from other circuits and nearby devices.

[simon1969]

When you say "audio cables" I'm interpreting this as being RCA "phono" plugs of the red/white variety?

In that case, a big fat YES.

XLR gives a balanced signal, meaning less potential for degradation. And unless you spend mega-wonga on RCA cables, virtually every XLR cable I've ever used, including really cheap ones, are of a far superior construction. They're also screened, thus reducing the potential for noise from other circuits and nearby devices.

Yes vectis I do mean RCA cables thanks for the advice!!!!
:D :)
I will have a scout round local craplins for some!!

[csg]

please dont buy them from maplins....

look for connectors by neutrik. On line seller like canford audio, studiospares or VDC trading will sell you proper quality cables for sensible money they will last a lifetime unlike the overpriced rubbish that maplins sell...

[Vectis]

please dont buy them from maplins....

look for connectors by neutrik. On line seller like canford audio, studiospares or VDC trading will sell you proper quality cables for sensible money they will last a lifetime unlike the overpriced rubbish that maplins sell...

:agree:

Although I find that CPC's are pretty decent so long as you avoid the very cheap Pulse rubbish.

[notroubleclubber]

It makes good sense to take notice of how your plugging everything in. I asked on this forum about my setup (laptop - hercules rmx - numark cdmix2 - amps) and found i was having to have my ep2500 amp on full blast to get a decent volume. After a few replies i realised i was plugging everything in wrong and decided to spend £60 on new cables (neutrik). Now my volume is excellent and even at a disco for 200 people i only needed it half way.

[simon1969]

please dont buy them from maplins....

look for connectors by neutrik. On line seller like canford audio, studiospares or VDC trading will sell you proper quality cables for sensible money they will last a lifetime unlike the overpriced rubbish that maplins sell...

Oh thats not good as my wedding is tommorow not enough time to order off the net.
Its because Steve from SPJ is lending me his amp and has xlr connectors on it.
Wouldnt maplin ones be ok for now?
If anyone remembers its the sports hall one I was going to borrow Daves stuff from Abstract but my motor is on the blink and I can't get to his house.
My speakers are 300w each and Steve is kindly lending me his 400w amp.
What a kerfuffle!!

[Danno13]

:agree:

Although I find that CPC's are pretty decent so long as you avoid the very cheap Pulse rubbish.

I have loads of the pulse XLR cables and have never had a single problem :confused:

[yourdj]

Oh thats not good as my wedding is tommorow not enough time to order off the net.
Its because Steve from SPJ is lending me his amp and has xlr connectors on it.
Wouldnt maplin ones be ok for now?
If anyone remembers its the sports hall one I was going to borrow Daves stuff from Abstract but my motor is on the blink and I can't get to his house.
My speakers are 300w each and Steve is kindly lending me his 400w amp.
What a kerfuffle!!

I use RCA (decent ones) and even with the rubbish ones never noticed a real huge difference although i am sure there is one.

Just stick with the RCA's and buy some decent ones from Blue Arun or something next week.
I doubt you will notice a massive difference in a sports hall and your clients certainly wont :)

I got mine from Digital Village. I have a shed loads of XLR's in the garage if you want a couple?

question:

what about jack to XLR? or RCA to XLR for that matter. :confused:

[Vectis]

I have loads of the pulse XLR cables and have never had a single problem :confused:

Well I have... :o

I bought a batch of short DMX cables (0.5m, 1m, 2m) to go with my powerlite bar for daisychaining effects and had no end of noise issues that usually boiled down to very shoddy soldering. Or, where the core ends were stripped for tinning and soldering, they'd been overcut so some of the wire had been removed with the sheath, weakening the joint.

At the same time I had a bunch of 3, 5 and 10m for uplighting most of which lasted about 2 gigs and found that the cable used was that horrid stuff that always ends up in a tightly bunched tangle no matter how much car you take over coiling.

Lesson learned there... :o

[Danno13]

Not sure if there are different grades, but I use this stuff for DMX - http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=AV14547

And for audio - http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=AV14372

[simon1969]

I use RCA (decent ones) and even with the rubbish ones never noticed a real huge difference although i am sure there is one.

Just stick with the RCA's and buy some decent ones from Blue Arun or something next week.
I doubt you will notice a massive difference in a sports hall and your clients certainly wont :)

I got mine from Digital Village. I have a shed loads of XLR's in the garage if you want a couple?

question:

what about jack to XLR? or RCA to XLR for that matter. :confused:

There are no rca inputs on this amp it looks like the bigger jack plug inputs!!
And thanks for the kind offer of spare cables i'll pm you and sort something.
Amp is a numark dimension 4 btw

[Excalibur]

I have loads of the pulse XLR cables and have never had a single problem :confused:
I've got quite a few Pulse cables, and while I'll admit there are better available, I've never had a problem with any of them. I'd buy more with no misgivings.


I use RCA (decent ones) and even with the rubbish ones never noticed a real huge difference although i am sure there is one. :
As far as I know, over short runs, the difference is likely to be hard to spot/hear. As Vectis says, even cheap XLR cables do tend to be better than RCA OF GOOD QUALITY.


question:

what about jack to XLR? or RCA to XLR for that matter. :confused:
Ah. I'm glad you asked me that. RCA/XLR are by definition, unbalanced, so short runs only. RCA/Jack, same applies, cos you can't get balanced connections from RCA. You can get balancer XLR/Jack. They would have the TRS jack plugs. ( three segments. Tip, Ring, Sleeve ). However:


There are no rca inputs on this amp it looks like the bigger jack plug inputs!!
And thanks for the kind offer of spare cables i'll pm you and sort something.
Amp is a numark dimension 4 btw
A quick RTFM shows that the jack inputs on this amp are UNbalanced, so the XLR's would be used. The sockets are the ones for the inputs, the plugs are for daisy chaining the signal to more amps.