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How do I wire unbalanced outputs to balanced inputs?

ripwire

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Like the title says, I'm looking for information on how exactly to wire up a cable that will take a single ended output and connect to a balanced input.

Or should I not do this at all? Browsing the net I've seen references to this being done, but have yet to dig up concrete wiring information. But if this is a bad idea then I won't try it.
 

sergeauckland

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No problem at all doing that. Take the unbalanced signal wire to XLR pin2, and the unbalanced screen to XLR pin 3. Strap together XLR pins 1&3.

If you get a hum loop, which depends on how the unbalanced unit is grounded, then remove the strap and leave XLR pin 1 floating.

S
 

voodooless

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No problem at all doing that. Take the unbalanced signal wire to XLR pin2, and the unbalanced screen to XLR pin 3. Strap together XLR pins 1&3.
1667804560693.png

Like so is a bit better :) Did this with CAT7, worlds like charm.
 

JaccoW

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There are ready-made cables available that do this. One affordable one is the Cordial CFU FC.
Can be had for about €15 + shipping.

Very nicely made and supple cables as well.

terminaldiagram-fc.webp
 
OP
R

ripwire

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Thanks! That's really helpful.

Are the pinouts of balanced XLR cables an industry standard? (ie, there aren't some manufacturers doing things differently from everyone else.)
 

sergeauckland

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Thanks! That's really helpful.

Are the pinouts of balanced XLR cables an industry standard? (ie, there aren't some manufacturers doing things differently from everyone else.)
Pin 1 is always ground/shield, Pin 2 is usually +ve, pin3 -ve, but a few older items have them the other way round. It doesn't actually matter whether you ground pin 2 or 3 except that the 'wrong' way round reverses polarity. Only an issue if you're phasing-up with surround 'speakers and/or your belief system requires the 'correct' polarity.

S.
 
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