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Compact balanced connectors
- Thread starter ai1
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kchap
Addicted to Fun and Learning
The 6.35 mm TRS was used (still used?) in broadcasting for years. It's pretty reliable.
GeorgeBynum
Active Member
restorer-john
Grand Contributor
The old DIN series of round 2-8 pin horrors should never have seen the light of day. My least favourite was the evil 2 pin used in the early 70s on euro speaker terminals.
And the Scart. Whoever designed that should have been locked up.
The Mini-DIN that followed wasn't any better.
The terminals on the back of the MiniDSP 4x10HD shown in the first post are commonly called Euro connectors or generically, pluggable terminal blocks. They have 3.81 mm pin pitch. I'm not a huge fan of them on the outside of equipment, but they are compact.
Tom
The terminals on the back of the MiniDSP 4x10HD shown in the first post are commonly called Euro connectors or generically, pluggable terminal blocks. They have 3.81 mm pin pitch. I'm not a huge fan of them on the outside of equipment, but they are compact.
Tom
3-pin TRS is very compact and is an industry standard. Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 shown below.
Only annoyance is that if you go from TRS to XLR you'll need two cable sets. One with male XLR and another with female XLR.
Tom
Only annoyance is that if you go from TRS to XLR you'll need two cable sets. One with male XLR and another with female XLR.
Tom
- Thread Starter
- #27
I have horrid memories of russian-built (soviet era) din plugs. It sounds, they were not much better on the other side of the wall;-)
You might want to look into Lemo connectors.
https://www.lemo.com/en
Not audio particularly, but I worked in a physics lab where they were used For Everything (think CERN, only 70s, in US), mostly 50 and 75 ohm data lines, and have them on all my oscilloscope probes as a result
Very durable, simple to use (just Pull (sleeve) to remove), tiny footprints.
Ever since using these, XLR, DIN, Amphenol (ugh), TRS, etc just look silly and too steam punk for me!
Pick your style and pinout config.
Pricey, though.
https://www.lemo.com/en
Not audio particularly, but I worked in a physics lab where they were used For Everything (think CERN, only 70s, in US), mostly 50 and 75 ohm data lines, and have them on all my oscilloscope probes as a result
Very durable, simple to use (just Pull (sleeve) to remove), tiny footprints.
Ever since using these, XLR, DIN, Amphenol (ugh), TRS, etc just look silly and too steam punk for me!
Pick your style and pinout config.
Pricey, though.
Skeptischism
Active Member
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yeah I was going to suggest lemo, or amphenol, great stuff, but pricey. love them, but for 12 balanced channels youd end up spending over $500.
i'd vote for DB25. actually not that difficult to solder. since its balanced audio, is there any reason you actually need a ground wire for each channel? I would expect that would not even be desirable. 25 pins is 12 x 2, plus 1 shield/gnd. or do you need to have it XLR at the other end like a breakout cable? if its DB25 -> db25, I dont see why 25 pins wont work. ground doesnt carry any return signal in balanced audio
i'd vote for DB25. actually not that difficult to solder. since its balanced audio, is there any reason you actually need a ground wire for each channel? I would expect that would not even be desirable. 25 pins is 12 x 2, plus 1 shield/gnd. or do you need to have it XLR at the other end like a breakout cable? if its DB25 -> db25, I dont see why 25 pins wont work. ground doesnt carry any return signal in balanced audio
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My favourite solutions for these situations are those very cute and reliable Mini XLR connectors
https://www.amphenol.com/node/4901
JayGilb
Major Contributor
Cool, but one would think that connector dimensions would be provided on the product page.
- Thread Starter
- #32
JayGilb
Major Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #34
Thanks. Indeed, I am wondering if I need multiple ground wires on the MiniDSP side. Would it be OK if I just connect the (25-th) ground wire with the amplifier box?
I want to second this idea. Neutrik makes some very nice Ethercon D sized panel mounts that would fit nicely in place of 3 of your current XLR connections. Get a length of flexible, shielded, stage grade cat5 and make 3 cables to connect directly to the phoenix connectors on the back of the MiniDSP. A few blank D connector covers and done.
Someone used them in their audio electronics a ways back but I cannot recall who.
Cute, yes, but I have not found them to be particularly reliable.
Me, too.
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Well.. they actually have everything on their page, just choose product and click "download" to get technical drawing in PDF
https://www.amphenol-industrial.de/en/Mini-XLR-Series
Skeptischism
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You are probably thinking of Mark Levinson. the switchcraft mini XLR are a better class of mini xlr, if one must be used, but they arent a Lemo. The swiss watch of hi end scientific/industrial connectors. Again, not recommending it here. While they do have stuff in their catalogue that would take care of you nicely. they would cost you an arm and a leg. The N series, for nuclear applications ... so sexy ...
I shudder to think of the cost.One thing, there are definitely DB25 connectors and DB25 connectors.
Skeptischism
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I would think it would be fine. have you got a means of testing it with one channel? if there is a shield in your cable, tie that to the chassis—and chassis only—at BOTH ends (and the db25 shell casings if they are metal) not just one end, both. that isn't signal ground and you shouldnt tie signal ground and chassis ground together at this point (if at all). its not possible to give a clear cut answer, but if you are able to control the way this goes, because you are DIYing: I would expect its possible to connect just one GND pin at minidsp end (all channel grounds will be connected I expect) to signal GND at the other end, or Chassis GND at the amp end only would work too.
