What Are the Best Powercon Combo Cables for Professional Audio Equipment
1. Why Powercon Combo Cables Are Required
Powercon XLR combo cables are favoured for outdoor performances or portable church stage audio-lighting system setups.
By combining two cable types into one, they ensure cleaner and safer stage cabling.
They undoubtedly save considerable time, expediting both installation and dismantling.
2. What Is a Powercon Combo Cable?
A Powercon combo cable typically refers to a cable combining a Powercon cable with an XLR cable.
Its cable structure is as shown below.
This cable is not simply two cables bundled together with heat-shrink tubing or tape.
Instead, an additional cable sheath is added around the 3Â power cables and XLR cable to integrate them.
Next, we install the connectors
A side: a blue Powercon plug + 3-pin female XLR connectorÂ
B side: a white Powercon plug + 3-pin male XLR connector.
The branched power cable and signal cable are stripped and wrapped in sufficiently dense braided mesh.
The branching point is neatly finished with sufficiently thick heat-shrink tubing.
3. Will the Powercon Combo Create Interference Problems?
Before trying this cable, our primary consideration was whether it would create interference issues.
The answer is unequivocally NO.
The balanced XLR cable shielding will be an aluminium foil shield and a copper braided shield, which is quite good to ensure your audio system operates without issue.
4. Can This Cable Be Used for Lighting Signals (DMX / Moving Head Lights)?
The answer is YES.
Most XLR cables on the market typically feature a characteristic impedance between 100–120 ohms and low capacitance.
So this XLR cable is suitable for audio, intercom, and lighting applications.
Achieving precise 110 ohms requires additional specifications. Commercially available combo cables generally cannot attain exact 110 ohms.
However, for standard moving head lights, this cable is perfectly adequate if your signal transmission distance is not extensive.
110-ohm DMX512 combination cables cost several times more, with negligible practical impact.
5. How to Identify a High-Quality Powercon Combo Cable
a. Whether the cable size (conductor gauge) is really enough?
Some suppliers may state 1.5mm² when the actual gauge is only 1.3mm².
Verification methods include measuring weight and cable diameter.
Falsely labelled cables will be notably lighter and have a thinner diameter.
Weight measurement is generally more reliable.
b. Whether the shielding coverage of XLR DMX signal cables is sufficient
The density of XLR cable shielding impacts susceptibility to interference.
Some manufacturers employ shielding made from merely 64 copper strands, while others use 96 or even 128 strands.
Here, I maintain that XLR shielding should minimally consist of 96-strand 0.10mm conductor braiding; otherwise, signal integrity may be compromised.
c. Outer sheath material for composite cables
Composite cables typically employ specialised PVC sheathing, referencing European standard H05VV5-F.
This material offers waterproof, oil resistance, drag durability, and exceptional flexibility.
Inferior cables exhibit reduced sheath suppleness, developing a sticky surface over time and accelerating ageing.
d. Braided sleeving must feature sufficiently dense weave
Higher density enhances abrasion resistance.
e. Heat-shrink tubing sections must be applied smoothly and provide complete coverage
f. Naturally, connectors from Neutrik or Seetronic are preferable. (This significantly increases cost but ensures reliable quality.)
6. Conclusion
By substituting any set of individual power/DMX cables with powercon combo cables. You can streamline your stage audio lighting system installation, removal, and maintenance. This results in a tidier, safer stage environment.
These cables are suitable for the portable audio lighting system of small stage, church, and theatre.
Are you require bulk stage power signal cables pricing or a quotation for a custom stage cable project, feel free to contact us via email!
Tourycable can be your one-stop supplier for audio, lighting, power, and signal solutions if you wish.