XLR Cables - Technical Discussion: Difference between revisions

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What does it to have "balanced" vs. "unbalanced cables and connections?

What does it mean to have "balanced" vs. "unbalanced cables and connections?

'''Balanced''': What this really means is that there are TWO wires carrying a varying signal, not just one. There has to be a "reference", which is provided by the 'ground' -- hence a third wire. The advantage of a "balanced" signal is that one can get a better "signal-to-noise" ratio because the receiving amplifier is looking at the difference between the two signal wires, rather than just the difference between one wire and "ground". That's why a "balanced" system (balanced output, 3-wire cable, balanced receiving input) can be better at rejecting any "noise" which might exist between the 'sender' and the 'receiver' -- and the longer the cables, the more of a problem the "induced noise" might be.

Revision as of 17:38, 4 January 2007 view source DanCornett (talk \| contribs) 76 edits New reference page - perhaps should be split into two (or more)?		Revision as of 17:51, 4 January 2007 view source DanCornett (talk \| contribs) 76 edits mNo edit summary Newer edit →
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	What does it to have "balanced" vs. "unbalanced cables and connections?		What does it mean to have "balanced" vs. "unbalanced cables and connections?

	'''Balanced''': What this really means is that there are TWO wires carrying a varying signal, not just one. There has to be a "reference", which is provided by the 'ground' -- hence a third wire. The advantage of a "balanced" signal is that one can get a better "signal-to-noise" ratio because the receiving amplifier is looking at the difference between the two signal wires, rather than just the difference between one wire and "ground". That's why a "balanced" system (balanced output, 3-wire cable, balanced receiving input) can be better at rejecting any "noise" which might exist between the 'sender' and the 'receiver' -- and the longer the cables, the more of a problem the "induced noise" might be.		'''Balanced''': What this really means is that there are TWO wires carrying a varying signal, not just one. There has to be a "reference", which is provided by the 'ground' -- hence a third wire. The advantage of a "balanced" signal is that one can get a better "signal-to-noise" ratio because the receiving amplifier is looking at the difference between the two signal wires, rather than just the difference between one wire and "ground". That's why a "balanced" system (balanced output, 3-wire cable, balanced receiving input) can be better at rejecting any "noise" which might exist between the 'sender' and the 'receiver' -- and the longer the cables, the more of a problem the "induced noise" might be.