Documents & Sheets / Cable & Connector ID Reference
Cable & Connector ID Reference
Reference: CABLE-ID-01. A quick-lookup card for what plug goes where, balanced vs. unbalanced, and how far you can realistically run a cable before signal quality suffers.
Connector ID
| Connector | Also called | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| XLR (3-pin) | Cannon connector | Balanced mics, balanced line-level (consoles, DI outputs, amp line inputs) |
| TRS (1/4") | Tip-Ring-Sleeve | Balanced line-level, stereo headphone/aux, or insert points |
| TS (1/4") | Tip-Sleeve, "jack" | Unbalanced instrument level — guitar/bass, keyboard outs, unbalanced line |
| RCA | Phono connector | Unbalanced consumer line-level — turntables, DJ gear, consumer playback |
| Speakon | NL2/NL4 | Power amp to passive speaker runs — locking, higher current-rated than 1/4" |
| Combo jack | XLR/TRS combo | Mixer/interface inputs that accept either a mic (XLR) or line/instrument (1/4") plug in one socket |
Balanced vs. Unbalanced
A balanced line carries the signal on two conductors plus a shield, with the two conductors' polarity inverted relative to each other — noise picked up along the run hits both conductors equally and cancels out when the receiving gear takes the difference between them. Unbalanced lines carry signal on a single conductor referenced to the shield, so induced noise has nothing to cancel against. That's why unbalanced runs (guitar cables, RCA) are kept short, and balanced runs (XLR, TRS line) can go much further without picking up hum and buzz.
Never carry power-amp output on a mic/line cable
A power amplifier's speaker output is a much higher voltage/current signal than a mic or line-level cable, connector, or patch bay is rated for. Running amp output through mic/line wiring is a real fire and equipment-damage risk — always use dedicated speaker cable and Speakon (or comparably rated) connectors for that run.
Max Cable Length (Rule of Thumb)
| Unbalanced, high-impedance (guitar/instrument, TS) | ~10m / 30ft before high-frequency loss becomes audible |
| Unbalanced, low-impedance (line-level, RCA) | ~20m / 65ft |
| Balanced (XLR, TRS line-level) | ~80m / 260ft+ in typical live-sound runs |
These are practical rules of thumb, not hard physical limits — actual usable length depends on cable quality, connected gear's input/output impedance, and how noisy the environment is. When in doubt, go balanced.
Sources: Alto Professional, Live Sound Survival Guide, "Balanced/Unbalanced Lines and Connectors" / "Impedance: No Worries!" Yamaha Corporation, Live Sound Guide, "Tips 2." Rewritten in Ryan's own words from the source material.