Audio Connectors

http://www.nullmodem.com/Audio.htm

This website gives some good info about XLR and 3/4" jacks, and how the balanced audio cable works.

Obviously one of the most important things with cables like XLR's, which have male and female ends, is to make sure you get it run the correct way that the signal will travel! There have been a few too many times for me where I have got them the wrong way round, and have had to spend time re-running the cable. Always remember that the signal travels in the direction of the male pins, which plug into the female. Many a crude joke on that I'm sure, but it's the easiest way to think about it!

3Pin XLR's also used to be used quite a lot for loudspeakers, but have generally been taken over by Speakon cables now.

In broadcasting, XLR3's are the industry standard for carrying electrical signals from the microphones, to the mixer, this is due to the balanced signal, meaning there less noise in the signal. The link at the top explains this very well.

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