Ok, I'm at a total loss and confusion here...

Read these first: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/newbie-audio-engineering-production-question-zone/853901-what-kind-cables-do-i-need.html / http://www.gearslutz.com/board/9240682-post4.html

Let's say I have an interface with two balanced outputs (L + R) going to speakers that accept both a balanced (XLR-M) and an unbalanced signal. (Essentially using a 1.4" TRS to XLR-M cable) The outputs use TRS 1.4" jacks. Here is where the confusion starts:

I've seen some TRS to XLR-M cables being separated as TRS Stereo to XLR and TRS Mono to XLR... Now, let me jump here:

http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/07/the-essential-guide-to-audio-cables-for-djs/

So, questions, questions:
- The interface output is considered a MONO output or a "Stereo Left" output? (See, regular PC Speakers use a Stereo 3.5mm (the green one). One cable for Stereo Playback. No?)
- The (separate L & R) XLR speaker input is considered a MONO input or a "Stereo Left" input?
- How do you tell the difference between a TS (amp? guitar?) cable from a TRS cable? (Both 1.4"?)
- Unbalanced is Mono or Stereo? (Methinks Stereo...?)

Wikipedia says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_%28audio%29

(Click meh)

(...)
http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/connection/xlr-jack-stereo.html

(...)
http://www.swamp.net.au/3.5mm-trs-to-xlr-m-stereo-to-mono-cable.html?utm_campaign=myshoppingcomau&utm_medium=myshoppingcomau&utm_source=myshoppingcomau&utm_term=3.5mm+TRS+to+XLR%28m%29+-+Stereo+to+Mono+Cable+150cm&_fpts=1384228863?utm_source=myshopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Audio+Video+Accessories&utm_term=3+5mm+TRS+to+XLR+m+Stereo+to+Mono+Cable+150cm

(...)

- So, XLR is ALWAYS Mono?
- Is there only ONE kind of TRS to XLR-M cable?
- Can 1.4" TRS be Mono or Stereo? Is it the same? (Unsummed Stereo or Summed Mono? Is that even correct or I talk bull?)
- Accordingly, is the interface output Mono, gets converted to unbalanced Stereo through the TRS and then re-converted to (balanced?) Mono on the XLR jack? But it's still MONO is essence though the entirety of the chain?
- Do cable connections separate balanced from unbalanced or Stereo from Mono signal? Or both?
- Doesn't it matter at all because in the end it will be 'Summed Mono' in the speaker input? If yes, why do I see "TRS Stereo to XLR-M" cable and "TRS Mono to XLR-M" cable?
- Is 3.5mm only Mono Or Stereo?
- Is 6.35mm/1.4" ALWAYS Stereo? Is a TRS to TRS always Stereo? Is TS to TS/whatever with TS always stereo (the same, just more noisy)? But isn't the guitar/amp output Mono? It's doubled by the cable?

I reach to this conclusion with no answers:
- TRS & TS is the same but TRS is shielded (three compared to 2 connections...? I dont' even know what that means) so it's quieter
- I still can't tell if Mono is balanced and Stereo unbalanced (TRS (b)/TS(unb)
- It doesn't matter in the end for what the speaker will produce. TRS/TS will always be unbalanced, just TS will be noisy. XLR is balanced (Mono).

I most likely messed things up or got something wrong and overlapped but maybe you can help me clear this out and correct it.


PS - I HATE CABLES!!

 

As balanced cables have to carry 3 different kinds of signals, yes they are all mono. There is +, -, and ground. + and - for "balance" and ground for isolation. I see absolutely nothing confusing about it. Unbalanced cables have only + and ground, no - to "balance" with. Balanced cables can carry the signal of any type for tens of meters without any loss of strength to the signal and the ground shield shields them from any EMI or other interferences. Unbalanced cables lose the signal strength with every additional meter, can easily introduce various noises, buzzing etc. into your audio, so it's desirable that unbalanced connections are as short as possible to try to avoid all this.

Yes, problem with all the people entering pro audio who are used to connecting only headphones to their MP3 players is that they don't know anything about professional audio cables. For me, as you will see, they're more simple than all the consumer type cables, actually.

Like... briefly: we have XLR female-male mono [used a LOT for MICs and various outputs/inputs], XLR f-m digital stereo [AES/EBU], mono jack [used a LOT for various unbalanced outputs/inputs], stereo jack/TRS jack which can be used for either unbalanced send/return or balanced TRS mono cable. There's also BNC word clock digital sync and ADAT optical cables. Everything else you know is consumer class cables. Simple, isn't it? And yeah, you can always "wiki" these cables to find out stuff about them easily.

Of course, there are also a few professional video type cables, but I don't know much about that. Except that they use BNC connectors a lot that I simply adore since they're so easy to assemble and virtually unbreakable, but if you do manage to break it, you can repair it within minutes. That's why no professional cable should be glued/sealed at the connector.

So this is a short list of professional audio cables:

1) XLR[m]-XLR[f] - for balanced mics or audio interfaces to speakers connections
2) XLR-TRS combination is sometimes used to connect balanced mono I/Os.
3) XLR[m]-XLR[f] - for balanced digital AES/EBU I/O connections
4) Stereo jack-stereo jack - for TRS balanced mono I/O or unbalanced stereo insert cables
5) Mono jack-mono jack - unbalanced jacks for guitars and other unbalanced mono connections like drum triggers, CV, Gate
6) ADAT optical cables that can also serve as TOS digital optical stereo cables.
7) BNC-BNC - for word clock digital synchronisation
8) Chinch to chinch SPDIF digital cables here and there

That's it! Not really complicated, eh? Cheers!

P.S. - I HATE CABLES, TOO!!

 

Ok, let's see...

Yes, it's one channel per cable on the interface.

I suppose you have two speakers, left and right. Each of them is mono, but together they're stereo.

TS has 1 isolation ring, TRS has 2 of them.

Can be both, there's no limitation. Each channel can be balanced or unbalanced. It's doesn't matter how many channels you have in total.

No, XLR is just a connector. It doesn't say anything about the signal or number of channels etc. It's also used in lighting equipment for non-audio data. Then it's neither Mono nor Stereo. But it's mostly used for balanced mono audio.

No.

TRS = Tip/Ring/Sleeve = 3 Pins = balanced mono OR unbalanced stereo

No, if it's mono, it's mono.

Both.

See above.

Can be both.

No. Instrument cables (and connectors) are 1/4" (not 1.4") and mono for example.

 

No, could be balanced mono, but the cable is the same.

A single TS cannot be stereo, just unbalanced mono.

If you're using a TRS cable, most likely RING is just not used.

TRS has one more contact (the RING). It can be used for another channel or another phase or some control signals or something different, not for shielding though.

TS is unbalanced mono, TRS is balanced/unbalanced mono or unbalanced stereo.

No, TRS can be balanced too.

I hope I did a bit.

Br,
Olaf

(two posts because I "have posted more than the allowed number of quoted blocks of text" )

 

I think that googling for some images can clarify the question!

 

Ok, thanks for taking the time to answer peeps!

Sorry for the oversight! Somehow, the dot felt more fitting.

I guess (and I did - or I would have some random unconnected questions, which I don't think they are the way I did it), but I wanted it to be organised somewhere so it could also potentially help others who have questions about this. Plus, sometimes I get so baffled by some things that I just HAVE to get them straight. These got me dizzy for the rest of the day yesterday. I also went to great detail 'cause I'm interested in the inner workings, not just the looks of the cables. There's just some necessary time and knowledge to invest into some things. For me it was important.

That said, while trying to take it all in, I have two final questions:
- Does using a TRS (Mono/Stereo) or TS cable to connect a guitar/microphone to an interface make a difference to the quality of the signal? An amp? Can you cause damage? Or it will be silent or noisy or something (won't work)? What about going through a DI? I'm pretty sure the interface inputs are unbalanced but would it make a difference, let's say, in noise?
- For connecting to L+R speakers would you recommend a TRS MONO to XLR-M or a TRS STEREO to XLR-M? (I'd say Mono...?) Or it doesn't matter as long as the jack fits?

 

WNz you're obsessing with cables too much while you should be obsessed with the types of connections you're trying to connect. ;) You know what I mean? The same types of cables can sometimes be used for different connections and the cable type doesn't determine the connection type, it's the other way round. When you want to connect something, you should open the manual and look at what type of a connector/connection you're trying to connect. ;)

This is a good example: if connectors on the both side are unbalanced type, like a guitar to a z-input [also called low-impedance input] on a preamp, you could use a TRS cable to connect the guitar but the signal will not magically become balanced since the types of connectors on both preamp and the guitar are unbalanced. But the connection will work. It's just that the "S" ["sleeve"] part will never get used. See? ;) But that's no good that the sleeve part is not used... so it's better to just use TS cable.

TRS is always a stereo type jack connector... but not to add to your confusion just use two TRS stereo jack to XLR-male mono cables to connect your speakers and you should be good. Or you can use two TRS to TRS balanced mono cables since you said your speakers have TRS inputs also. I personally really like XLR connectors because they're easier to solder, and sturdier, and more durable, so I use them whenever I can. so I would use a stereo jack>XLR cable.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, I think I realise what you say now (in my tempo, lol). Thanks a bunch!