what is the diffrence xlr microphone/speaker cable?
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- KVRist
- 311 posts since 24 Feb, 2008
Are there any differences and could someone show me which cables should I buy for my new JBL308 and 310S? I don`t want a cheap cable. Which should I buy and what is the difference between a XLR cables for microphones and xlr for speakers, because they look the same?
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
HUMMMM let me think about this...
Seriously, the short answer is the mic cable is shielded and the speaker cable is not and without said shielding you will get a lot of hum.
Seriously, the short answer is the mic cable is shielded and the speaker cable is not and without said shielding you will get a lot of hum.The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- 16866 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
Speakers (passive ones) need to be fed by an amp with a hundred watts or so. So the cable needs to be thick gauge in order not to melt from that much power. If the voltage is that high, radio frequency interference is neglectable, so shielding it is futile.
Mic cables are usually for very low voltage sources, and thus need good shielding against interference.
There's also XLR cables for active monitors. These are standard line-level patch cables, but for balanced connections and thus shielded. Physically there's not much (if any) difference between these and regular mic cables. Interchangeable in common usage...
Your speakers have AC power input, and thus are active, and thus don't need proper speaker cable (usually red & black insulation) but line patch cables.
Mic cables are usually for very low voltage sources, and thus need good shielding against interference.
There's also XLR cables for active monitors. These are standard line-level patch cables, but for balanced connections and thus shielded. Physically there's not much (if any) difference between these and regular mic cables. Interchangeable in common usage...
Your speakers have AC power input, and thus are active, and thus don't need proper speaker cable (usually red & black insulation) but line patch cables.
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