XLR cables

XLR to XLR

— a cable equipped with XLR connectors on both sides (more precisely, three-pin connectors of this type, they are the most popular in audio equipment). It can be produced both in the "plug — plug" version (for connecting various devices to each other), and "plug — socket" (plays the role of an extension cord if the main cable is not enough).

In terms of purpose, analogue XLR is similar to RCA, it is also used to transmit a linear audio signal on the principle of "one channel per plug", but is found mainly in professional equipment. This is due to the fact that the XLR connector, on the one hand, is much larger, on the other hand, it is more reliable (the plug is fixed in the socket with a lock), and, most importantly, it provides the so-called balanced connection. With this connection, the cable itself works as a noise filter, which allows you to transmit a high-quality signal even with a long wire length (10 m or more).

Note that the AES/EBU balanced digital interface (see related paragraph) is also based on the XLR connector. However, cables for such a connection have increased requirements for the quality of shielding, so they are classified as a separate category.