Female XLR to 1/4 inch: A Common Stage Cable
Quick answer / TL;DR: Short answer: wire XLR pin 2 to the 1/4 inch tip and join pins 1 and 3 to the sleeve. The link becomes unbalanced at that point, so keep that section short and match levels at the source. A TRS plug does not restore balance.
Four audio lines: balanced XLR, TRS, unbalanced RCA, and speaker cable.A female XLR to 1/4 inch cable connects a balanced output to an unbalanced input, most often a mixer output into an amplifier or a powered speaker.
The wiring is standard, but the noise rejection ends at the 1/4 inch plug.
Wiring and Levels
| End | Signal | Note |
|---|
| XLR pin 2 | Hot | To tip |
| XLR pin 3 | Cold | To sleeve with pin 1 |
| XLR pin 1 | Shield | To sleeve |
| 1/4 inch | Unbalanced | TS plug |
Joining pin 3 to the sleeve is what makes the cable unbalanced. Leaving it open raises level slightly and noise noticeably.
Practical Rules
- Keep the unbalanced section short
- Match levels at the source
- Do not use TRS expecting balance
- Check the amplifier expects line level
- Label the cable as unbalanced
The labelling point prevents someone later assuming the whole run is balanced and extending it with a mic cable.
Real-World Applications
A mixer main output feeding a power amplifier with 1/4 inch inputs is the standard case. A powered speaker with XLR input fed from the same mixer should use XLR to XLR, keeping the link balanced throughout.
Standards and Verification
| Reference | Relevance |
|---|
| AES14 | Interconnection practice |
| IEC 60268 | Sound system equipment |
| IEC 61938 | Phantom power where relevant |
Input type for a specific amplifier is not provided in the knowledge base. Check the manual for balanced or unbalanced.
Practical Notes
If hum appears, check whether the amplifier input is actually balanced. A TRS socket can be either.
Related reading: audio cable — blogs/news/audio-cable
Related reading: xlr to quarter inch — blogs/news/xlr-to-quarter-inch
Related reading: quarter inch to rca cable — blogs/news/quarter-inch-to-rca-cable
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this cable balanced?
No. The 1/4 inch end is unbalanced.
Which pin goes to the tip?
Pin 2, the hot signal.
How long can it be?
Keep the unbalanced part short.
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