Reterminating HP Cable - Balanced to 1/4" - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

xenithon · 06-20-2008, 03:53 PM

Hi All,

Just a quick question regarding headphones which have been recabled and balanced. Can the 2x3-pin XLR be reterminated to 1/4"? Or does the entire cable need to be changed?

Thanks in advance,
X

xenithon · 06-21-2008, 07:23 AM

Zorander · 06-21-2008, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by xenithon

Hi All,

Just a quick question regarding headphones which have been recabled and balanced. Can the 2x3-pin XLR be reterminated to 1/4"? Or does the entire cable need to be changed?

Thanks in advance,
X

You certainly can. Just chop off the junction that branches into the XLR plugs and re-terminate that section with a 1/4" stereo plug. No need to replace the whole length of cable.

Alternatively, an adapter cable (XLR-to-1/4") will achieve the same effect without having to modify the existing cable. The dongle combination can look awkward though.

Cheers!

xenithon · 06-21-2008, 08:36 AM

Hey there - thanks for the info! I guess what I would need to know (as my knowledge is very limited) is what to do with each of the wires. I believe in the balanced termination, each XLR has a (+), (-) and ground pin. I am uncertain as to what to do with each of those when terminating to a 1/4"

Cheers,
X

MasiveMunkey · 06-21-2008, 08:48 AM

I've never done it, but I believe it goes R+ = R, L+ = L, both - = G. The ground pin on the 3 pin XLR is most likely connected to nothing.

xenithon · 06-21-2008, 10:14 AM

Thanks for that info. I understand the right and left wire config, as well as the two negatives going to ground, but not sure about the shield pin in each channel - I believe the wire is there (green IIRC) but where would that terminate to? Would the shield from each channel also possibly connect to the ground?

Also, pardon my limited knowledge - but to confirm, I would need a 1/4" TS, correct? (IIRC a TRS is balanced?)

Cheers,
X

Zorander · 06-22-2008, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by xenithon

Thanks for that info. I understand the right and left wire config, as well as the two negatives going to ground, but not sure about the shield pin in each channel - I believe the wire is there (green IIRC) but where would that terminate to? Would the shield from each channel also possibly connect to the ground?

Also, pardon my limited knowledge - but to confirm, I would need a 1/4" TS, correct? (IIRC a TRS is balanced?)

Cheers,
X

If there is shielding in the cable and you are re-terminating to a stereo plug (that's TRS, not TS which is mono!), you connect that shield to the ground lug.

Cheers!