Understanding Audio Cables: 1/4"vs XLR vs Speakon vs RCA vs MIDI

Thank you so much for this video!

Not all "cables" are created the same. For speakers, gauge is an important feature. How does Speakon compensate for the 'right' gauge for a particular speaker? Usually, the more gauge the signal is better. How does speakon work in that field?

I think you forgot to mention TRS cables and the difference between unbalanced and balanced cables. Still a good video, I had no clue speakon was a thing.

Can I plug my XLR cables out from my mixer on to my PA Speakers even if there microphone The speakers are powered ????

thanks for the clear and detailed explanation.

Don't speakon cables carry power, and usually used with passive speakers?

So if you plug the 1/4 to the speakon adapter at the back of your mixer, and plug the other end of 1/4 inch to any instrument, will the power from the speakon fry the instrument??

Thanks very useful video

I liked I subscribed and i am commenting that .... this video was sooo informative. Thank you very much :)

umm, xlr vs 1/4 or 1/8 aux, trying to understand the quality differences...like which is higher quality to preform vocals on

how do you judge if a xlr cable is mono or stereo

Hello! can you turn a raw speaker wire to a 1/4 inch jack? thanks

This is great, thank you!

Thank you so much for this video!! I didn't know anything about cables before but this is a very very informative and straight to the point video. Learnt a lot, thanks!!

Thanks Kennis! I was given an old amp for our old country church. This was very informative how I can utilize it. I have two XLR ports I have to repair. Trying to find out how I can repair this myself! Also, Looks like I can use an adapter from xlr to 1/4"! Very informative on the Mono and stereo stripes on the 1/4" cable! Thanks for your info!

Thanks for this round up. I have a question.

In many situation where people are playing just acoustic guitars or don't want to plug in their electro-acoustic they just use a mic close to the guitar sound whole. It is dead simple. They can wander on stage and play their thing and wander off.

I have a Yamaha SLG200n for practice and it would be easy to travel with. It is a "silent" acoustic guitar but basically I guess like any piezo electo-acoustic without a body. It has a 1/4 instrument out for a PA. This means I couldn't wander on stage and play my bit with out running a 1/4 inch cable to the PA and probably causing a scene.

Is it possible to have a 1/4 instrument to XLR adapter so I can just detach a microphone and plug the cable in my guitar?

I'm pretty certain I couldn't do this with an electric guitar but also that the preamps on many electro-acoustics have XLR females as well as a1/4 inch females so I guess and adaptor is possible. I see XLR to balanced 1/4 inch adaptors - could I use one of these in an instrument?

Sorry - long and possibly dumb question!

Thanks man!

is the splitter with the mini jack and rca what dj's use ?

Which provides a better quality sound, RCA or 1/4"?

this video is a perfect example of why one should write a script before filming. We don't expect you to cover absolutely everything, but the information here is extremely shallow. For instance: what's the difference between balanced and unbalanced signals? What's the difference between TS and TRS cables? Do TS cables transmit a balanced signal?...or does it have to be TRS to be balanced? Do speaker TRS inputs use special speaker cables? etc, etc.

Brilliant video.

Also 1/4 instrument cable should never be made for connections between head units(guitar and bass heads) and the cab as it is not shielded from the power and could damage your amp and speaker cabinets always make sure your 1/4 cable are marked or made by different manufacturers to keep track of which ones for your guitar or power application

Yeah but, what if the male connector identifies as a female?

Need a video titled, "Why can't I use that 'stereo-to-XLR' cable for my... guitar, MP3 player, computer... Too many people think if a cable has a TRS jack, its stereo - and like that 1/4" balanced-to-XLR You called stereo, it's just not the case. Also, another vid: "Why doesn't that stereo/balanced 1/4" cable work with my active guitar/bass." Soooo tired of answering these questions..

An xlr cable used for lighting is known as a dmx cable, and technically theyre different things (tho basically theyre the same, and if youre short of dmx cables, u can use an xlr).

Great video.

Very informative, thanks!

can we call the 1/4inch cable rock cable?

Please share video on wireless audio connectivity. Right from microphones or mike to the speakers through antennas or receivers whatsoever. Thanks in advance..

I donnoo why you are teachin all these but.. man.. I gotta say , you are doin a great job.. many thanks to you.. 👏😳

May the cables be with you
So the God can connect you.. ,

Thank you thank you thank you .....

I don't understand why you pull your cable SO much? Ha Ha Ha!

I would like to see a snake cable

didn't see combo Jack cable

Can you use a 1/4" XLR cable on the same outlet as a regular XLR cable?

I was looking for a comparison (“vs”) between each connector not an explanation. Good video though.

u're not talking about cable, it's all about connectors only, u should know the difference

I always wondered why certain types of plugs and jacks were used in places instead of others.. for example, why is the 1/4" jack better for guitar than the XLR?

Will 1/4 " and XLR cables produce a better signal than RCA cables or it doesn't really matter?

Great video and good explanation.

can i go from headphones out in my guitar multi fx, using trs cable to xlr in my studio monitor?

Thank you. Learned something very useful. Thx a bunch!

yeah! good explanation, I do not get all the thumbs down

Hello nice information but you skipped one totally.. what about the quarter inch microphone Jack to XLR microphone female fitting?? I am trying to find information on whether or not it makes a difference if I use that type or if I use XLR to XLR for my microphone where it applies to volume....loudness. my fellow musician said that the other night the reason that my microphone volumes were not as strong as his is because he is using XLR to XLR and I am using quarter inch to XLR . I don't believe that is the case but I need some proof to offer him..Nobody seems to want to cover that online. Please offer me some information. Thank you in advance.

Nice info thanks! Can you tell me what the link connections mean on an amplifier?

How about them in terms of sound quality?

Not enough info here. There are more to the differences than the type of connection. Signal levels. “Stereo” and TRS. TRRS. XLR is not a mic cable. Some cheap mics use 1/4” or even 1/8”. 1/4” instrument cables are not the same as 1/4” speaker cables.

Hi Kennis. My speaker has 3 pin xlr connector. How do I connect normal speaker wire to that? Alternatively, can I convert the xlr connector to a std speaker terminal to accept red/black speaker wire?

Thank you Kennis Russell
never thought i gonna need this knowledge till now

What does it mean when they say Aux to 1/4 inch. What cable would that be?