BALANCED CABLES
QUARTER INCH TO QUARTER CABLE
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Your basic balanced cable with quarter inch male plugs.  This type of cable is also referred to as:
Stereo Cable,  balanced patch cable, or simply as a patch cable. This type of cable has two inner conductors and an outer shield.  Note: a "stereo" or "balanced" quarter inch connector has two black bands separating the tip, ring and sleeve, hence this this connector is commonly referred to as a TRS connector.


 
 


MICROPHONE CABLE
XLR FEMALE — XLR MALE
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Your basic Microphone cable, wired for Pin-2 "HOT," which is the most common type. You should be aware though, that not all equipment manufacturers follow the pin-2 hot protocol, but instead opt to make pin-3 hot.  If you get some strange results use a meter or a convention cable tester to check the wiring.

QUARTER INCH TO XLR MALE
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This configuration is essentially the same as that for a "mic" cable.  The same precautions apply.

UN-BALANCED CABLES
QUARTER INCH TO QUARTER CABLE
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This is an un-balanced type of cable, because it consists of only a single center conductor and a shield.  Used primarily for patching in audio systems, or for instruments.  Generally speaking, when this type of cable is used for instrument, a guitar for example, it has a heavier outer jacket, and strain relief.  Additionally "instrument" cables typically have an extra sheathing material inside to reduce "handling" noise.  Caution should be exercised when arbitrarily grabbing a cable like this because speaker cables terminated with TS

 (tip-sleeve) connectors is very common.  Using an audio cable for a speaker cable can result in damage to the cable and equipment.  Using a speaker cable for audio purposes will most likely result in poor performance and added noise.


 

RCA (MALE) TO RCA (MALE)
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These connectors are also called a PHONO plugs.  The Cable shown here is an UNBALANCED line level audio cable.  It is most often used for line level audio: i.e. home audio components, audio for VCR's, and other applications with a direct audio signals.  NOTE:   One must be cautious when using cables with RCA connectors because cables with these 
 

connectors are also used for video (75 ohm cable usually colored yellow) and speaker applications (which is a two conductor cable).  Failing to know what type of cable it really is can lead to poor performance or even damage to equipment.

QUARTER INCH TO RCA CABLE
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