[nnotis]

I'm curious, how do you get from a four pin XLR plug, like that of the K1000s, to the standard balanced arrangement of 2 three pin XLR plugs. I know they're supposed to be equivalent. But the four pin plug has two fewer pins. Where do those pins go?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[grandenigma1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nnotis /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm curious, how do you get from a four pin XLR plug, like that of the K1000s, to the standard balanced arrangement of 2 three pin XLR plugs. I know they're supposed to be equivalent. But the four pin plug has two fewer pins. Where do those pins go? Thanks, Nick

You only use two of the three pins in the 3pin XLR.

4pin = 1 L+, 2 L-, 3 R+, 4 R-

3pin = 1 not used, 2 +, 3 -

 

[monolith]

One pin in each of the 3-pin XLRs used to terminate balanced headphones is unused, for a total of only four active pins.

EDIT: Beat me to it.

 

[nnotis]

So the four pin XLR connection has a positive signal pin and a negative signal pin for each channel. If that's so, what happens to the shield ground pins that make up the third pin on a regular XLR connection?

 

[n_maher]

The shield pins are not used for headphone cables. You wouldn't want to try and make a 4-pin component interconnect though as many need the ground/shield (pin 1) connection.