Why are XLR outputs male, and inputs female?

Bricolo · 29th August 2004, 10:23 AM

This is something I don't understand.

On a source, a preamp or whatever you want, the XLR outputs are male, and the inputs are female connectors.
Am I the only one thinking it's odd? It's like an AC wall wart made with a male connector

The opposite would lead to less shortcircuits, no? Is there any reason for this choice?

johnnyx · 29th August 2004, 10:37 AM

Maybe, if the male pins were inputs, and you touched them, there would be very loud buzzing coming from your PA.
Just a thought

trwh · 29th August 2004, 11:07 AM

Phantom power (48V) could be present on a mic input. Although it is current limited to just a few mA, I would guess it could give you a bit of a shock if you came into contact with it. Maybe that is a reason why sockets are used as inputs.

Also, I like being able to say to green stage hands that the male is an output and the female is an input, just to match nature ;-)

Tim.

Bricolo · 29th August 2004, 11:23 AM

1audio · 30th August 2004, 12:47 AM

The real reason I believe is the sensitive part is the input in this case and touching the pins on an exposed input (on a console for instance) would introduce hum.

The other reason I have heard is that the pins are the part of a connector that breaks, so its prefered to keep them on cables and sockets on chassis. Then a broken pin is fixed with a new cable. More relevant to VGA connectors but a common principle.

But the myths about this are like the stories on the origin of the BNC connector, they never end.
-Demian

imix500 · 30th August 2004, 01:43 AM

It is also an electrical code in some states here in the US. Chicago, IL for instance specifically states that voltage carrying cable with temporary connectors must be non-contact... Female- Even for audio. They get a little crazy with this though, xlr's were sometimes used on 70.7v distributed speaker systems. Not so much now that we have lovely speakons and such. But have you ever plugged in a mic to a high level output?

I've actually heard an sm58 act like a speaker this way.

29th August 2004, 10:23 AM	#1
Bricolo diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Grenoble, FR	Why are XLR outputs male, and inputs female? This is something I don't understand. On a source, a preamp or whatever you want, the XLR outputs are male, and the inputs are female connectors. Am I the only one thinking it's odd? It's like an AC wall wart made with a male connector The opposite would lead to less shortcircuits, no? Is there any reason for this choice? __________________ Just remember: in theory there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice it usually is quite a bit difference... Bob Pease

29th August 2004, 11:23 AM	#4
Bricolo diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Grenoble, FR	__________________ Just remember: in theory there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice it usually is quite a bit difference... Bob Pease

30th August 2004, 12:47 AM	#5
1audio diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SF Bay Area	The real reason I believe is the sensitive part is the input in this case and touching the pins on an exposed input (on a console for instance) would introduce hum. The other reason I have heard is that the pins are the part of a connector that breaks, so its prefered to keep them on cables and sockets on chassis. Then a broken pin is fixed with a new cable. More relevant to VGA connectors but a common principle. But the myths about this are like the stories on the origin of the BNC connector, they never end. -Demian __________________ Demian Martin Product Design Services

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29th August 2004, 10:37 AM	#2
johnnyx diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: manchester	Maybe, if the male pins were inputs, and you touched them, there would be very loud buzzing coming from your PA. Just a thought

29th August 2004, 11:07 AM	#3
trwh diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: UK	Phantom power (48V) could be present on a mic input. Although it is current limited to just a few mA, I would guess it could give you a bit of a shock if you came into contact with it. Maybe that is a reason why sockets are used as inputs. Also, I like being able to say to green stage hands that the male is an output and the female is an input, just to match nature ;-) Tim.

30th August 2004, 01:43 AM	#6
imix500 Proud Union Member diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nashville, TN	It is also an electrical code in some states here in the US. Chicago, IL for instance specifically states that voltage carrying cable with temporary connectors must be non-contact... Female- Even for audio. They get a little crazy with this though, xlr's were sometimes used on 70.7v distributed speaker systems. Not so much now that we have lovely speakons and such. But have you ever plugged in a mic to a high level output? I've actually heard an sm58 act like a speaker this way.

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