Note: While it's less common, balanced XLR and balanced TRS cables are also capable of carrying unbalanced, stereo audio (both left and right channels on one cable) to a destination.

Pro Neutrik XLR Leads are manufactured from the finest audio connectors and Sommer Cable which cannot be beaten on performance or durability. The differences between balanced and unbalanced cables are subtle enough that it’s easy to miss them at first. This can be confusing because the connectors shown above can carry either balanced signals or unbalanced stereo signals (left and right channels).An unbalanced cable consists of two connectors with two conductors each, connected by two wires inside the cable—a signal wire and a ground wire.

Knowing the difference between balanced and unbalanced cables, and appropriate usage of each of these cables will improve your audio quality and even help with your budgeting and equipment management. You could utilize a DA box to run a balanced 1/4″ longer distances using XLR cables and then convert the cable type to RCA at the speaker source. but my situation is trying to record a Lowrey Sensation organ, through Steinberg UR22, and onto a computer DAW. RCA cable connectors, which are the red and black tips often used in stereo setups such as surround sound systems, turn tables and older audio systems.The signal wires pass an identical audio signal through each wire, while the surrounding ground wire works the same as in unbalanced cables, shielding the signal wires from external electronic interference. A high-end Balanced Jack Lead with Neutrik connectors and double screened Sommer Club Cable (60cm - 15m). Anyone who’s dipped their toes into the waters of live audio production knows that various little things have a huge impact on sound quality. Unbalanced cables, depending on their quality, might be anywhere from 30%-60% of the cost of their balanced counterparts.