XLR Connector Types: Gender and Pins
Quick answer / TL;DR: Short answer: an audio XLR cable has a male plug at one end and a female at the other, three pins, with a latch that locks into the socket. Outputs are male, inputs female. Four-pin and five-pin XLRs are used for intercom, lighting and power and are not interchangeable with audio. Check the pin count before assuming a connector is audio.
XLR connectors come in male and female versions with a locking latch, and the gender rule is simple: outputs are male, inputs are female. The cable between them has one of each. Variants with four or five pins exist for intercom and lighting control and are not audio.
This is the connector guide: the gender rule, the latch, and the variants that are not what they appear.
Gender and the Latch
| The connector | The role | The feature |
|---|---|---|
| Male | Output | Pins exposed |
| Female | Input | Socket with latch release |
| Latch | Locks the pair | Prevents pull-out |
The latch is the practical difference from a jack: a locked XLR will not fall out, which is why stage wiring uses it.
The Variants
- 3-pin: balanced audio, the standard
- 4-pin: intercom and headset systems
- 5-pin: DMX lighting control
- Power XLR: some loudspeakers, not interchangeable
The pin count is the fastest way to tell whether a connector belongs in an audio rack.
Standards and Verification
| The reference | The relevance |
|---|---|
| IEC 61076-2 | Circular connector standards |
| IEC 60268 | Audio interconnection |
| Continuity test | Per pin, shell to pin 1 |
Per-SKU pin counts are not provided in the knowledge base. The conventions are standard; count the pins rather than trusting the shape.
Practical Notes
Replacement connectors are worth carrying: a failed cable can be re-terminated in minutes if a spare male and female are in the kit. The latch mechanism is the part that breaks when a cable is pulled out without releasing it.
Real-World Applications
The stage box
Female inputs on the stage box, male plugs on the cables: the gender rule followed throughout – no adapters needed and no ambiguity at setup.
The DMX mix-up
A five-pin XLR offered for a microphone line: it would not fit the three-pin socket. The pin count caught the error before purchase.
Related reading: The XLR microphone cable — blogs/news/xlr-mic-cable-guide
Related reading: XLR to jack wiring — blogs/news/xlr-to-quarter-inch
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gender goes where?
Male to output, female to input; a cable has one of each.
Are all XLR connectors audio?
No – four and five-pin versions serve intercom and lighting.
Why does my cable not lock?
A damaged latch or a non-locking variant.
Can I use an XLR for speakers?
Only with the specific power connector the loudspeaker uses – not an audio XLR.
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