Noob questions about XLR

[DarkWolf]

I'm thinking of trying to make my uncle some XLR ICs for Christmas. He built the best sounding speaker system I've ever heard, pretty much by hand. He coppied the DMC Timewindow speaker design, plus a big, sealed subwoofer. He's running the things bi-amped with full digital crossovers from Behringer that he's tuned himself. His system has it's way with my new Grado 325i and Headfive.

Anyway, his analog connection to the stack of matched Hafler amps is a 12' bundle of at least 8 XLR cables made from something resembling the stock cable on my HD590s. He isn't a big believer in fancy cables.. I'm not the sort advocate spending huge amounts of money on exotic cables, but it seems like some 4' StarQuad ICs should be better..? I know if he were using RCA it would be a big improvement, but will it make more or less difference with XLR? Also, how easy are XLR cables to build? Which plugs should I use?

I already scoped out the back of his system. He's using 5 cables and it looks like the cables are all female at the source and male going into the amps. Sound standard? I guess the most important information for me is weather or not it's likely worth the effort. He has tuned the EQ curves of the crossovers with these cables too, is there much likelyhood that if new ICs were much better they'd just throw the system off? (Maybe that's a good thing, it'll give him something to do.)

 

[Garbz]

Easy questions first. Yes the source and load male female plugs is a standard. All cables should have male at one end and female on the other.
The standard connectors are Nutrik or Amphenol connectors. Most have silver pins and you really need nothing more than that. Whatever cable you use it should be shielded with the shield connected to pin 1.

 

[DarkWolf]

OK cool, thanks.

So the million dollar question; Should it be worth the effort of replacing 12' wimpy wires with 4' star quad, or does the nature of XLR sufficiently reduce differences in cable length/quality? How about noise rejection? Capacitance?

 

[flecom]

real quick and easy solution to this is to go out to guitar center and buy some "mogami gold" interconnects... they use neglex 2534 and neutrik XLR's...

i would think good cables are worth it... you can head over to markertek and buy yourself a bunch of mogami neglex 2534 or canare wire and a bunch of neutrik XLR M/F connectors and start soldering away!

they are not very difficult to build, imo easier than most other connectors since they are slightly larger... if you do use a quad/shielded cable my personal favorite wiring method is using one wire from each pair on pin 1 (gnd) then using the other wire from each pair on 2 and 3 respectively... then soldering the shield to the barrell tab... (most XLR's have a tab which is the metal of the connector itself)

of course thats just how i do it, but i have been very happy with my results

 

[Garbz]

I do not think it will make a difference. Noise rejection could probably be improved with a nicer shielded cable but then is there currently noise in the system?

 

[grawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flecom /img/forum/go_quote.gif they are not very difficult to build, imo easier than most other connectors since they are slightly larger... if you do use a quad/shielded cable my personal favorite wiring method is using one wire from each pair on pin 1 (gnd) then using the other wire from each pair on 2 and 3 respectively... then soldering the shield to the barrell tab... (most XLR's have a tab which is the metal of the connector itself)

By doing this, you're negating the advantage that starquad has. The reasoning behind the pairs is the same as with twisted pair, superior noise reduction. Standard is shield to pin 1, white to pin 2, black to pin 3.

 

[Nisbeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Standard is shield to pin 1, white to pin 2, black to pin 3.

Yup! XLR = eXternal (screen), Line, Return

/U.

 

[dcheming]

I just started using the Neutrik XX series XLR connectors and I like what they have to offer. They have some nice features and definitely are a good deal for the price.

 

[expat2005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flecom /img/forum/go_quote.gif real quick and easy solution to this is to go out to guitar center and buy some "mogami gold" interconnects... they use neglex 2534 and neutrik XLR's... i would think good cables are worth it... you can head over to markertek and buy yourself a bunch of mogami neglex 2534 or canare wire and a bunch of neutrik XLR M/F connectors and start soldering away! they are not very difficult to build, imo easier than most other connectors since they are slightly larger... if you do use a quad/shielded cable my personal favorite wiring method is using one wire from each pair on pin 1 (gnd) then using the other wire from each pair on 2 and 3 respectively... then soldering the shield to the barrell tab... (most XLR's have a tab which is the metal of the connector itself) of course thats just how i do it, but i have been very happy with my results

Newbie to the site - excited to find out more and more about amps, 'phones etc. I write music for HBO documentaries and have a great studio, but am looking to upgrade my "listening" room... where the client hears the final tracks.

Now on to the question. I, for the first time am attempting to cobble together my own cables XLR-XLR - and need some help - if possible.

I bought 250ft of W2534 and Neutric (sp?) XLRs - big gig for me - always have relied on the sound man for cables. I want to do this myself.

Is this the right forum to ask for this humble help? If so, i have every thing I need including the soldering iron! Any advice? Many thanks in advance.

 

[mrdelayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nisbeth /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yup! XLR = eXternal (screen), Line, Return /U.

Not according to Wikipedia:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wikipedia In reference to its original manufacturer, Cannon (now part of ITT), the connector is colloquially known as a cannon plug or canon. Originally the "Cannon X" series, subsequent versions added a Latch ("Cannon XL") and then a Rubber compound surrounding the contacts, which led to the acronym XLR.[1] Many companies now make XLRs. The initials "XLR" have nothing to do with the pinout of the connector. XLR connectors can have other numbers of pins besides three.

 

[Nisbeth]

I'm sure you're right it's not the official explanation for the name (especially since XLRs can have more than 3 pins), but it helps remember the pinout when you're making cables

/U.

 

[threEchelon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif By doing this, you're negating the advantage that starquad has. The reasoning behind the pairs is the same as with twisted pair, superior noise reduction. Standard is shield to pin 1, white to pin 2, black to pin 3.

x2. You need to get some shielded twisted pair cable. In fact, the easiest thing would be to just buy cables from Blue Jeans.

But if you want to make them yourself, the cheapest wire options are Belden 1800F or Silver Plated Copper or maybe Vampire stuff (but again, make sure it's shielded twisted pair). I'm buying some 22AWG shielded twisted pair Silver Plated Copper wire from another head-fier. If you pm me, I could possibly give you his account name.

 

[nikongod]

by tying the shield to pin 1, you negate the benefit of the shield in a system that has both ground connections floating.

enjoy.

i tie the shield to ONE of the shells (it has a soldertab just for this!!111) so that it will ALWAYS be grounded.

both white wires to pin-1 on both sides, then the blues to the other 2.