![]() TRS cables can also carry 2-channel stereo audio, making them unbalanced because the left and right audio channels take up two of the conductors. TRS cables can be balanced with a positive, negative, and ground conductor when used on mono equipment. However, whereas the singular ring is a clear indicator of an (unbalanced) TS cable, just spotting the two rings on a TRS cable doesn’t tell you much, as they can be balanced or unbalanced depending on their use. The 1/4-inch TS cables feature better shielding and are the better option if given the choice to avoid signal noise.Īlthough TRS cables look quite similar to the TS audio cable type, you’ll be able to spot the difference because it has two rubber strips on the connector header, which form 3 conductors: Tip / Ring / Sleeve. TS cords are mostly available in 1/4-inch sizes, though you’ll also find the 1/8-inch (3.5mm) TS cable used in consumer products like mono headset microphones. TRS cables, in comparison, tend to have two black rings on the metal connector They allow you to connect mono (one-channel) audio sources like guitars, other unbalanced instruments, effects pedals, and drum machines to amplifiers, mixers, and audio interfaces.Īlthough they have the same physical dimensions as other audio cable types, like TRS, you can usually tell a TS cable from its contemporaries by its singular black band in the middle of the metal connector. TS Cables – short for Tip / Sleeve and often referred to as guitar cables or instrument cables – are one audio cable type that you want to keep as short as possible because they are always unbalanced. Now that you understand the difference between balanced and unbalanced cables, let’s dive into cable types. The ideal scenario for unbalanced cables is keeping them shorter than six feet. Shorter cables have less potential for external interference, so can mitigate any problems that can arise with unbalanced cables. Unless you are building the world’s most balanced professional audio setup, however, you can typically get away with some unbalanced devices or cables, as long as you keep the cable runs short. Any devices connected with balanced cables also need to be balanced themselves in order to avoid the signal losing that protection at the point it reaches that device. Cables designed for audio creation or professional tasks, however, are almost always balanced to prevent signal degradation – though there are still some specific cases where that isn’t the case.įor an audio system to be balanced, however, it’s not just the audio cable types which need to be balanced: the equipment needs to be balanced too. Most mainstream cables aimed at home users are unbalanced, as the utmost audio clarity isn’t necessarily as important as a professional setting. The two conductor wires in a balanced cable work together to cancel out any external electrical noise which could interfere with or affect the signal, in turn affecting the audio data the cable transmits. Balanced cables feature a pair of conductor wires and a ground, whereas an unbalanced cable will feature just a single conductor wire and a ground. Some audio cable types are considered balanced, while others are unbalanced, and it’s important to know whether balance will affect the eventual audio you hear, or not, as some situations require it, while others can do without.Ī balanced cable is designed specifically to avoid external electrical interference by using an additional conductor wire inside the cable. Unbalanced cablesīefore we dive into the individual types of audio cables you can pick from and what they do, there’s an important terminology that needs explaining: balance. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the various audio cable types available and why you might want to choose some over others. The wide array of different cables for audio production and enjoyment doesn’t need to be opaque and intimidating, though. Some devices only support digital or analog cables, others are legacy devices which need access to older audio cable types, and you need to consider cable length too not to mention shielding and balancing. That can make it difficult to know which is the best audio cable type for your new setup, whether it’s purely for listening, for live performances, or for professional and hobby mixing. Facebook Twitter Google + LinkedIn Pinterest Email Share.Ĭlick the photo to open the full infographic.Īudio cable types are some of the most numerous of any cable, with both the consumer and professional space packed with different options for different uses and different generations of technology.
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