XLR socket standard - when to use male/female? (source, amp, speakers et)

[JonesySA]

Hi

I’m building a little hifi setup that’ll use XLR interconnects and speaker cabling. This is just for aesthetics but It’ll be balanced where applicable .

What is the rule of thumb for when to use a male or female SOCKET? I real that it’s:
Outputs = Male
Inputs = Female
So…
Sources: (media player): male socket,
Preamp: Inputs: all female sockets; Output to amp: male sockets
Amp input: female
Does this carry over to speaker cabling:
Output from amp: male
Speaker: input female

Correct?
Thank you

 

[Vintage Fart]

Regarding amp output to speaker XLR is not too common solution. Therefore I recommend to use bananas or Speacon.

 

[MarcelvdG]

For line and microphone level signals, the outputs are indeed male and the inputs female. (Although a Dutch national broadcasting organization used to use the same gender for outputs and inputs, so they didn't have to worry about the direction of the cables - but that was very non-standard.)

 

[JonesySA]

Regarding amp output to speaker XLR is not too common solution. Therefore I recommend to use bananas or Speacon.

Thanks. I thought about speakon but I have an excess of sockets 🙂… I might still use speakon so it’s more standardised.

 

[Speedskater]

In the distant past, because 3 pin XLR connectors could safely carry a lot of current, they were occasionally used as loudspeaker or low voltage DC cables.
But as XLR interconnect cables became more popular, it became more dangerous to use them for other purposes.

 

[Mark Tillotson]

3-pin XLR are standard for electric wheelchair and mobility scooter 24V charging sockets for instance.

They are/were used over 1/4" jacks for speakers because they don't short the amp output when plugged!

Very much recommend SpeakOn for speakers as they are actually designed for the purpose.