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An analog audio cable carries an electrical audio signal between devices. To choose one, match the connectors and wiring to the source and destination, then check that the devices support the same signal type and level. A plug that fits is not proof that the connection is compatible.
What an analog audio cable does
An analog audio cable carries audio as a continuously varying electrical signal. A digital audio connection instead carries encoded data. Analog cables connect equipment such as microphones, instruments, mixers, audio interfaces, speakers, and home audio components.
The cable is only one part of the connection: the output and input must also be designed to work together. Connector shape, balanced or unbalanced wiring, mono or stereo use, and signal level are separate considerations.
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Unbalanced wiring
An unbalanced connection typically uses one conductor for the signal and the cable shield as its return path. TS and RCA connections are common examples. RCA is widely used in consumer audio; TS is commonly used for instrument and line connections. Focusrite’s overview of analog connections describes these connector uses.
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Balanced wiring
A balanced connection carries audio on two signal conductors, alongside a shield. Compatible receiving equipment can reject noise that affects both signal conductors in common. That noise-rejection benefit depends on balanced-capable equipment and wiring at both ends; a cable alone cannot make an unbalanced device balanced. Focusrite explains that balanced cables are better at rejecting interference in its balanced-versus-unbalanced audio guide, updated 9 October 2024.
Common analog audio connectors
| Connector | Common use | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| XLR | Three-pin XLR is widely used for balanced audio. Microphones commonly connect to mixers with an XLR cable. | Confirm the device ports and required cable ends. A common microphone-to-mixer cable is XLR female-to-male, as shown in the JBL EON700 user guide. |
| TRS | Tip-ring-sleeve can carry balanced mono audio or unbalanced stereo audio, such as a headphone signal. | Do not assume TRS means balanced. Check the port’s intended function in the equipment documentation. |
| TS | Tip-sleeve is commonly used for unbalanced instrument and line connections. | Check that the equipment expects an unbalanced connection. |
| RCA | Commonly used for unbalanced consumer audio. | Match the RCA connections at both devices and confirm the signal purpose. |
Focusrite’s connector explanation covers XLR, TRS, TS, and RCA. The number or shape of contacts does not identify the signal by itself: TRS is the key example, because it may serve either balanced mono or unbalanced stereo.
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Signal level is a separate compatibility check
Microphone, line, instrument, headphone, and speaker signals have different requirements. A cable can have the correct connectors while still linking an output to an input that is not suitable for its signal. Focusrite’s guide to mic, line, and instrument level gives examples for its own product families and cautions that specifications vary by product. Do not treat its example input levels or impedances as universal values. It also warns that speaker-level signals can damage inputs intended for lower signal levels.
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How to choose the right cable
- Identify the source output and destination input. Check the labels and manuals for both devices; do not choose by plug fit alone.
- Match the connectors at both ends. For example, a microphone-to-mixer connection commonly uses an XLR female-to-male cable when the equipment ports call for it.
- Confirm balanced or unbalanced operation. Use balanced wiring when both devices support balanced audio. If one end is unbalanced, do not assume a balanced cable will provide noise rejection across the connection.
- Check mono versus stereo wiring. In particular, verify whether a TRS port is intended for balanced mono or unbalanced stereo.
- Verify signal-level compatibility. Consult the device documentation when connecting mic, line, instrument, headphone, or speaker outputs and inputs. Never connect a speaker-level output to a lower-level input unless the equipment documentation specifies a suitable method.
- Consider cable length and surroundings. Interference concerns can affect the choice between balanced and unbalanced connections, but there is no universal cable-length limit established here. Follow the equipment guidance and account for the installation environment.
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