6. CONNECTIONS

Use a high-quality 3-conductor shielded cable to connect the signal between the signal source (mixing console, equalizer, etc.) and the balanced inputs to the amplifier. If you are using unbalanced inputs, use a high-quality

2-conductor shielded cable. Here are some common audio connectors and their internal wiring:

XLR Connectors

XLR connectors are commonly wired as follows (according to standards specified by the Audio Engineering Society):

SHIELD 2

HOT

COLD 3 1

SHIELD 1

COLD 3 2

HOT

1SHIELD

3COLD

1/4" TS Phone Plugs and Jacks

“TS” stands for Tip-Sleeve, the two connections available on a mono 1/4" phone jack or plug. They are used for unbalanced signals.

SLEEVE

SLEEVE TIP

TIP

TIP

SLEEVE

1/4" TS Unbalanced Wiring

Sleeve = Shield

Tip = Hot (+)

Loudspeaker Cable

Use loudspeaker

Minimum AWG

4 ohm

8 ohm

cables with a minimum

 

 

 

18

10 ft

25 ft

conductor size for the

length you need as

16

25

50

listed in these tables.

 

 

 

14

25

75

 

This will minimize power

12

50

125

 

2

XLR Balanced Wiring

Pin 1 = Shield

Pin 2 = Hot (+)

Pin 3 = Cold (–)

1/4" TRS Phone Plugs and Jacks

HOT

losses to less than 0.5

 

 

 

10

100

200

dB. The cable lengths

listed are “up to”

 

 

 

Min Metric WG

4 ohm

8 ohm

lengths. For in-between

lengths, use the next

12

3 m

8 m

larger conductor

14

8

15

gauge. Using larger

16

8

25

than the recommended

 

 

 

20

15

40

conductor size is

“TRS” stands for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, the three connections available on a stereo 1/4" or balanced phone jack or plug. TRS jacks and plugs are used for balanced signals and stereo headphones.

RING SLEEVE

SLEEVE RING TIP

TIP

RING

TIP

SLEEVE

1/4" TRS Balanced wiring

Sleeve = Shield

Tip = Hot (+)

Ring = Cold (–)

always permissible.

25

30

60

Using smaller than

recommended conductor size will result in higher power losses.

The recommended conductor gauges are listed for AWG (American Wire Gauge) and Metric WG (Metric Wire Gauge). Note that smaller AWG numbers = larger conductors and smaller Metric WG numbers = smaller conductors. The Metric WG is equal to ten times the nominal conductor diameter in millimeters.

Longer Lengths

For cable lengths over 200 feet / 60 m at 8 ohms, and over 100 feet / 30 m at 4 ohms, the conductor sizes needed for less than 0.5 dB power losses are rarely practical for physical and cost reasons.

As a practical compromise for these situations the recommended conductor gauge is 10 AWG or 25 metric.

CAZ Series – 9