Re-terminating a XLR cable with RCA connectors

fatwok · 30th January 2009, 01:34 AM

I want to re-terminate an Audioquest XLR cable with RCA connectors.
There are 4 conductors in this cable, pin 1,2,3 and shield. The plan
is to connect #2 to RCA tip, #1 and 3 to RCA sleeve, and the shield at the source only. Is this the right way to do it?
These are silver cables. WBT silver solder good for this? Any other suggestion? TIA.

hifimaker · 30th January 2009, 03:21 AM

Are you re-terminating both ends or just one side?

-David

aznshadoboy77 · 30th January 2009, 12:25 PM

What're you using the cable for?

I thought XLR was generally 3 conductor - pin 2, pin 3, and pin 1 connected to shield?

I'm probably wrong though.

Justin

fatwok · 31st January 2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hifimaker
Are you re-terminating both ends or just one side?

-David

both.

fatwok · 31st January 2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aznshadoboy77
What're you using the cable for?

I thought XLR was generally 3 conductor - pin 2, pin 3, and pin 1 connected to shield?

I'm probably wrong though.

Justin

These cables have a separate shield conductor.

Iain McNeill · 31st January 2009, 11:07 PM

With RCA connectors there's not too much you can do. Your proposal is sound using the shield to prevent hum/EMI coupling.

Personally, I'd double up conductors on the signal/tip to reduce cable impedance but the difference should be negligible.

Remember that the benefit of breaking the shield at one end is an attempt to force main leakage currents through the safety ground. The RCA defeats this by shorting the chassis' through the sleeve conductor.

This won't do much unless you have a floating RCA driven from a differential output into a floating RCA driving a balanced input. In which case you're better off with XLR

fatwok · 10th February 2009, 07:47 PM

You mean connectors 1, 2 to RCA tip, 3 to sleeve?
Attached are pictures of the cable in question.

Quote:

Originally posted by Iain McNeill
With RCA connectors there's not too much you can do. Your proposal is sound using the shield to prevent hum/EMI coupling.

Personally, I'd double up conductors on the signal/tip to reduce cable impedance but the difference should be negligible.

Remember that the benefit of breaking the shield at one end is an attempt to force main leakage currents through the safety ground. The RCA defeats this by shorting the chassis' through the sleeve conductor.

This won't do much unless you have a floating RCA driven from a differential output into a floating RCA driving a balanced input. In which case you're better off with XLR

etyvben89 · 14th February 2009, 03:46 PM

Not sure if it works.

Japanese gears have different pin allocations to US/UK gears. Check first please.

http://files.centrmus.com.hk/genelec/8020a/om8020a.pdf

http://www.lundahl.se/catframe.html

Iain McNeill · 14th February 2009, 06:48 PM

Just did a couple of XLRs just now. Mine were wired pin1=shield, pin2=positive/hot, pin3=negative/cold. So I'd wire pin 2 to tip and pin1&3 to sleeve. Maybe you're referring to another diagram.

Anyway for a full explanation I refer you to this excellent document from Rane
http://www.rane.com/note110.html

The correct way of wiring depends on the application and the system grounding scheme.

fatwok · 14th February 2009, 11:50 PM

Thanks but it's going to be a RCA to RCA connection. This being a 4 conductor cable, 1,2,3 + shield. Questions is how best to use the extra wire.

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30th January 2009, 01:34 AM	#1
fatwok diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2008	Re-terminating a XLR cable with RCA connectors I want to re-terminate an Audioquest XLR cable with RCA connectors. There are 4 conductors in this cable, pin 1,2,3 and shield. The plan is to connect #2 to RCA tip, #1 and 3 to RCA sleeve, and the shield at the source only. Is this the right way to do it? These are silver cables. WBT silver solder good for this? Any other suggestion? TIA.

30th January 2009, 03:21 AM	#2
hifimaker diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose	Are you re-terminating both ends or just one side? -David

30th January 2009, 12:25 PM	#3
aznshadoboy77 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	What're you using the cable for? I thought XLR was generally 3 conductor - pin 2, pin 3, and pin 1 connected to shield? I'm probably wrong though. Justin

31st January 2009, 11:07 PM	#6
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	With RCA connectors there's not too much you can do. Your proposal is sound using the shield to prevent hum/EMI coupling. Personally, I'd double up conductors on the signal/tip to reduce cable impedance but the difference should be negligible. Remember that the benefit of breaking the shield at one end is an attempt to force main leakage currents through the safety ground. The RCA defeats this by shorting the chassis' through the sleeve conductor. This won't do much unless you have a floating RCA driven from a differential output into a floating RCA driving a balanced input. In which case you're better off with XLR

14th February 2009, 03:46 PM	#8
etyvben89 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008	Not sure if it works. Japanese gears have different pin allocations to US/UK gears. Check first please. http://files.centrmus.com.hk/genelec/8020a/om8020a.pdf http://www.lundahl.se/catframe.html

14th February 2009, 06:48 PM	#9
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	Just did a couple of XLRs just now. Mine were wired pin1=shield, pin2=positive/hot, pin3=negative/cold. So I'd wire pin 2 to tip and pin1&3 to sleeve. Maybe you're referring to another diagram. Anyway for a full explanation I refer you to this excellent document from Rane http://www.rane.com/note110.html The correct way of wiring depends on the application and the system grounding scheme.

14th February 2009, 11:50 PM	#10
fatwok diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2008	Thanks but it's going to be a RCA to RCA connection. This being a 4 conductor cable, 1,2,3 + shield. Questions is how best to use the extra wire.