Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: XLR connections
References: <[email protected]>
"LMMP"  writes:

> Hi,
> 
> I heard that XLR connectors are better than the simple cinch connections.
> But I can not understand the difference between them, apart from the number
> of wires.
> What differences, in the circuit of an amplifier, exist between the 2 types
> of connection?

In the mechanical sense XLR connectors are superior to amny
oher conenctor types. They make reliable connection and can take
time + hard use without reliabity problems. Cinch connectors
are very unreliable compared to XLR (you will find out the
difference when you build a system with very many connections
or you need constantly plug & unplug the cables).

XLR connections used in audio industry have 3 electrical conductors. 
Connections made with XLR connectors are almost always balanced
(unbalanced connections also possible but not used often). 
Balanced connection exploit a differential amplifier circuitry 
that rejects hum and outside sources of electrical noise.
Also the shielded twisted pair cabling used with balanced
connections by itself rejects outside noise sources better
whan unbalanced counterparts.


-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/