Karaoke Forums

Is there any specific requirements when selecting XLR cables to connect powered speakers to a mixer? Are they interchangeable with XLR cables for mic or not at all?
Also, when to use balanced vs. unbalanced and what should I get?
Thanks.

Go with XLR balanced. The longer the cable is the more you would need them. They cancel noise and interference and greatly maintain the quality of your signal.

XLR-XLR cables are by definition balanced. That is your regular microphone cable. If you have an XLR out from your mixer they are the best by far to use.

Some people recommend only the lifetime guarantee mic cables. I find them pricy for speaker connects which don't get much strain. I personally have bought Whirlwind 20' cables and then use multiple ones if I need longer runs.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--WHRMC20

You can get ten for $75.00 shipped, and they are good quality. Haven't had one fail yet, though I do use the lifetime guarantee cables for my two main mics.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

XLR is merely the trade name for the Cannon connector. When the negative phase of the differential pair is attached to ground or not connected at all it becomes an unbalanced line. It can also be used for stereo and digital audio.

Similarly a 1/4" RTS connector by definition is only "ring-tip-sleeve" but can be use as balanced, unbalanced, stereo, telephone, effects return/send etc.

Thanks a bunch to all the gurus for all the helpful feedback... and as responsive as always.

All that is technically correct but meaningless in the pro audio world. XLR cables, i.e. mic cables, are all the same. I was wrong to say "by definition". I should have said simply that XLR-XLR mic cables will be balanced cables. You can't buy a pre-made XLR-XLR from an audio store that is not.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

[/quote]All that is technically correct but meaningless in the pro audio world.[/quote]

That is completely accurate and definitive in the pro audio world. Your use of the term "pro audio world" should be "karaoke world". There's a greater audio world out there that you obviously are not aware of.

[/quote]XLR cables, i.e. mic cables, are all the same. I was wrong to say "by definition". I should have said simply that XLR-XLR mic cables will be balanced cables. You can't buy a pre-made XLR-XLR from an audio store that is not.[/quote]
You could simply state an xlr mic cable. I was merely clarifying the difference in the original post between balanced and unbalanced since a differential input can be used for both and an xlr mic can be used for both.