Cables equipped with XLR connectors are referred to as XLR cables. Since XLR connectors were originally known as Cannon connectors, some people also call this type of cable a “Cannon cable.” This cable consists of a male XLR connector, a female XLR connector, and a straight cable connecting the two. XLR connectors can have 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 pins, with the 3-pin version being the most widely used.

In this article, I will discuss in detail what cable is used for 3-pin XLR cable?

Pin Configuration of a 3-Pin XLR Connector

According to the EIA RS-297-A standard, the functions of the three pins in this connector are as follows:

Pin 1: Shield ground
Pin 2: Positive terminal of the balanced audio circuit
Pin 3: Negative terminal of the balanced audio circuit

Each pin must be connected to the corresponding wire. You might ask, “Do I need a three-conductor cable?”

No. We need a two-conductor twisted-pair shielded cable, as shown in the figure below. We connect Pin 1 (shield ground) using the drain wire or copper shielding on the shielding layer.

Is Any 2-Conductor Shielded Cable Suitable?

If you buy based on the appearance described above, you should be able to get an XLR bulk cable that’s just barely usable. If the transmission distance is very short, it should work fine.

However, if the distance between devices is 200 meters, it’s unlikely that every 2-core shielded cable can transmit audio signals accurately and without distortion.

Therefore, to simplify the selection of 2 core shielded cable for audio based on specific applications, I have listed the following substitutions for the internal twisted-pair cable used in a 3-pin XLR connector:

AES-3 digital audio cable > DMX-512 lighting control cable > analog audio cable

AES-3 Digital Audio Cable

The AES-3 digital audio cable is the best option. This type of cable is used in professional studios and for audio equipment at live events.

It is backward compatible with lighting control cables and analog audio cables (mic cables). This cable is manufactured in accordance with AES 3-4-2009 and IEC 60958-4-4-2016.

It features:

• Extremely low capacitance
• Characteristic impedance of 110 ohms
• Stable long-distance signal transmission

It ensures stable and accurate transmission of audio signals even over distances of up to 200 meters.

However, these cables are typically quite expensive.

DMX-512 Lighting Control Cable

Although it is a lighting control cable, it can also be used as an analog audio cable and actually performs better than most standard analog audio cables.

This is because most DMX-512 lighting cables today have a characteristic impedance of 110 ohms. Achieving 110 ohms requires:

• Twisted-pair conductors
• Low-capacitance PE insulation

A cable that meets these basic requirements is already a decent analog audio cable.

If you’d like to learn more about DMX-512 control cables, you can refer to this article.

Analog Audio Cable

Microphone cables are a type of analog audio cable. These cables generally feature twisted pairs and low capacitance, but they cannot guarantee 110-ohm impedance or support long-distance signal transmission. Therefore, they are not backward compatible. The microphone cable (analog audio cable) quality on the market is much different. I can give advice is to choose PE insulation double layer shielding is generally not bad.

It is important to note that among analog audio cables, there is a special type called Starquad audio cable that offers superior noise immunity compared to DMX512 cables.

Starquad cables significantly reduce noise and enhance noise immunity through the twisting of four conductors. However, this mainly improves noise resistance rather than transmission performance.

If the operating environment is not complex, you can opt for a standard analog audio cable, which will significantly reduce costs.

Final Thoughts

After checking the information above, you may now have a good idea of what kind of cable to buy. Well-known professional cable suppliers include CANARE, BELDEN, and SREXACT.

If you can’t find these brands locally, feel free to contact us. Tourycable has manufactured cables for many well-known brands, and our quality is excellent.

Are you interested in customizing an audio cable? We support customization for:

• Copper conductor count
• Insulation material
• Shielding type
• Outer jacket material
• Outer diameter
• Cable labeling

Feel free to contact our experts. We’ll provide a professional and cost-effective solution.