{"id":241620,"date":"2022-04-14T17:36:32","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T15:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tyxcisv.cluster031.hosting.ovh.net\/?p=241620"},"modified":"2025-09-18T18:56:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T16:56:45","slug":"electronic-wiring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.majorcom.fr\/en\/electronic-wiring\/","title":{"rendered":"Electronic wiring"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Electronic wiring<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Audio signals<\/h2>\n

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Balanced Vs Unbalanced Audio<\/h3>\n
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Which way do we go ?<\/b><\/p>\n

This is a good question, of which the answer lies in a couple of other questions, listed below. The obvious answer is which ever method gets you the clearest audio. Because the main goal of a sound system is to reproduce the original sound in the best and clearest way possible.<\/p>\n

1. What is unbalanced audio ?<\/p>\n

2. What is balanced audio ?<\/p>\n

3. What device are you coming out of? And what device are you going into ?<\/p>\n

4. What is the distance between the devices ?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s answer some of those questions and then go from there.<\/p>\n

What is Unbalanced Audio ?<\/b><\/p>\n

Unbalanced audio is what will be found in the typical home stereo. The typical connector for unbalanced audio is either RCA, 1\/4\u2033 TS (Tip, Sleeve), and 1\/8\u2033 TS. Another variant connector is the stereo wired TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) connectors, be sure to not confuse these with a Balanced Audio cable, as they look a lot alike.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Unbalanced cable uses a single center conductor, and the shield, for the audio signal to travel on. Audio travels on the shield of the cable, which means that any interference that the shield picks up, will be inserted on the audio signal. This could come across in any number of audible ways, from hums to radio stations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What is balanced audio ?<\/b><\/p>\n

Balanced audio is a method of interconnecting audio equipment using impedance balanced lines. Balanced Audio uses a cable made up of two conductors that are twisted together and surrounded by an overall shield. The basic idea being that each conductor is connected to an impedance at each end of the line. The impedances are the same between both conductors, even if they are different at each end of the line. The audio on the two conductors is exactly the same, except that one of the conductors has the audio inverted at the source piece of equipment. The input of the destination equipment inverts the inverted audio and sums the two channels together. The shield of the cable is never part of the audio signal path and should be grounded directly to the frame of the audio equipment.
\nThe shield of the cable is the first line of defense, so to speak. The interference should be picked by the shield and then deposited to the electrical ground of the system, hopefully never becoming part of the audio signal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The twists in the audio cable help to defer electromagnetic signals. An electromagnetic interference signal is actually picked up equally by both conductors and actually travels to the destination piece of audio equipment. This is were we go back to High School Physics classes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Interference produces an addition to the original signal, let\u2019s say a positive 4 on an imaginary graph, on both conductors. When the destination equipment then inverts one of the conductors, the interference is now a positive 4, on conductor #1 and a negative 4 on conductor #2. When these are summed together they come out to zero. There by removing the interference from the audio signal. This process is also referred to as common mode rejection.<\/p>\n

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What devices are being connected ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an important question, as this will affect the way the audio is connected.\nWithin home stereo equipment, which in general is all unbalanced, it makes sense to use unbalanced cable through out the system. Using balanced cables within this scenario does not make a large amount of sense, since the transitions between the two types of audio will outweigh the benefits.
\nWithin concert or professional audio systems, were there are large lengths of cable, is were balanced audio makes the most sense.
\nOf course there will always be times were the two types of audio will need to interface with each other. Probably the best way to transition between the two is with a transformer. (A DI Box is a perfect transformer.) Also, there are a number of ways to wire cable to interface between the two styles of audio transmission. See cable adapter wiring in particular half unbalanced cables.<\/p>\n

What is the distance between devices ?<\/b><\/p>\n

Unbalanced audio should not be run more than about 10 feet. Balanced Audio can be run both short and long distances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mono <\/strong>: The Mono signal corresponds to a single signal. To be complete, this signal must include both left and right channels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Connectors<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Common Balanced Connectors<\/h3>\n

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The two most common balanced connectors are XLR and TRS.<\/p>\n

XLR connectors :<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the case of an XLR cable, the three wires are called, X<\/strong> (ground), L<\/strong> (left, hot) and R<\/strong> (right, cold). There are both male and female XLR connectors.<\/p>\n

Pin 1 : Shield (G)Pin 2 : Hot (L)Pin 3 : Cold (R)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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TRS connectors :<\/strong><\/p>\n

TRS stands for T<\/strong>ip (Left), R<\/strong>ing (Right), S<\/strong>leeve (Shield, Ground). Although it may look like a standard 1\/4″ (6.35 mm) or 1\/8″ (3.5 mm) phono plug, it has an extra ring on its axis. TRS cables have two conductors plus a ground (shield). A TRS cable can carry a balanced mono audio signal or an unbalanced stereo audio signal. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Common unbalanced connectors<\/h3>\n

The two most common unbalanced connectors are RCA and TS phono jack. Even XLR cables be used for transmitting unbalanced audio. Unbalanced speaker connectors are speakon, and banana plugs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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RCA connectors :<\/strong><\/p>\n

RCA connectors are associated with the RCA Corporation. Most home audio\/video equipment use RCA connectors. They are even used for S\/PDIF connections in digital transmission of audio signal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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TS connectors :<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are 1\/4\u2033 (6.35 mm) or 1\/8\u2033 (3.5 mm) TS jacks. TS is the abbreviation for Tip and Sleeve. One insulator ring separates the tip and sleeve. The tip is considered to be the positive (hot) and the sleeve is the ground or shield is connected. The most common applications of TS cables are in guitar or line-level instrument connections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Comparison of TRS and TS jacks<\/h3>\n

TS and TRS connectors look almost identical. Some equipment accept a TS connector in a TRS socket, but it may be a good idea to check the equipment documentation to be sure. Remember that 1\/4\u2033 TS connectors connect to \u201310 dBV line level equipment, whereas 1\/4\u2033 TRS connectors expect a +4 dBu line level (for explanation, see the section below on balanced vs. unbalanced reference voltage levels).<\/p>\n

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  1. Sleeve :<\/strong> Ground (Shield)<\/li>\n
  2. Ring :<\/strong> Right channel for stereo signals, negative polarity for balanced mono signals, power supply for power-using mono signal sources<\/li>\n
  3. Tip :<\/strong> Left channel for stereo signals, positive polarity for balanced mono signals, signal (hot) line for unbalanced mono signals<\/li>\n
  4. Insulating rings<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
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    2.5 mm mono (TS), 3.5 mm mono (TS), 3.5 mm stereo (TRS), and 6.35 mm (1\/4 in) (TRS) phone connectors<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Phone jack connectors are available in 1\/4\u2033 (6.35 mm), 1\/8\u2033 (3.5 mm), and 3\/32\u2033 (2.5 mm) sizes. All three sizes are now readily available in two-conductor (unbalanced mono) and three-conductor (balanced mono or unbalanced stereo) versions.
    \nIf a mono TS plug is inserted into three-conductor stereo TRS socket, the result is that the right channel (ring) of the socket is grounded. The signal from the right channel will be lost. If the grounding of the right channel short circuits the right channel of the amplifier, this could damage the amplifier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Mixing wiring configurations <\/h3>\n

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    One Mono XLR Connector to One RCA Connector :<\/strong><\/p>\n

    When connecting a 3-pin XLR to one RCA, the negative (-ve) and shield of the XLR are joined together, either at the RCA end or at the XLR end. The end result will be unbalanced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Stereo TRS Phono Jack to Two RCA Connectors :<\/strong><\/p>\n

    When a stereo 1\/4\u2033 phono jack is used, the left and right parts of the stereo signal are split off to two separate connectors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    One Mono XLR Connector to 1\/4\u2033 (6.35 mm) TRS Connector:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Normally, the 3-pin XLR is connected to a 1\/4\u2033 TRS phono jack for balanced mono applications as in the following. This type of wiring will give you a balanced mono connection.<\/p>\n

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