Why are XLR cables only locked on one side?

[bearcatsandor]

I'm the proud owner of my first pair. The question is in the subject. Also, I have the habit of shutting down everything via power supply switch before I pull interconnect cables of course. I've been told that you can connect/disconnect xlr cables hot. Is that actually true?

 

[Matias]

The cable has the locking pin in one side, while the other side has not because the jack is supposed to have the locking pin.

IMO one should never unplug anything while it is hot (amplifiers turned on), doesn't matter the connection type.

 

[Don Hills]

The "hot pluggability" of XLR cables is because the ground pin is longer than the signal pins so breaks contact last. RCA plugs are the opposite, where the ground connection breaks first, injecting any voltage difference between the connected devices into the signal path.

 

[unpluggged]

The question is in the subject

Because they have latches on the female side and corresponding grooves or loops on the male side, so that female connector could lock into male one.

 

[kongwee]

Still pop if I do that.

 

[Ifrit]

The "hot pluggability" of XLR cables is because the ground pin is longer than the signal pins so breaks contact last. RCA plugs are the opposite, where the ground connection breaks first, injecting any voltage difference between the connected devices into the signal path.

One time I saw the longer ground pin in XLR connector was in some RØDE microphone. Can't really remember any other XLR connectors with longer pin 1.
As to RCA, there was the whole article years ago in yet another audiophile magazine about some connectors that were touted for construction where the ground was connecting first. Monster Cable? Maybe. Nordost have those for sure.

 

[theREALdotnet]

Because they have latches on the female side and corresponding grooves or loops on the male side, so that female connector could lock into male one.

Wait till the European Commission hears of this. They will put a stop to these genderist engineering shenanigans!

 

[unpluggged]

Can't really remember any other XLR connectors with longer pin 1

In standard XLR connectors, it's the female side that has longer contact for pin 1. RODE had just taken this a bit further.

 

[Ifrit]

In standard XLR connectors, it's the female side that has longer contact for pin 1

Not in Neutrik or Switchcraft.

 

[Hayabusa]

The 'microphone' side needs to be locked only.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Mine lock on both ends. (Neutrik Plugs and Receptacles).

Just because you could hot plug it, doesn’t mean that you should. (And in home audio, why even try it. It’s not sooo many devices you would have to switch off).

 

[Groom]

The 'microphone' side needs to be locked only.

With professional equipment, both sides lock as standard. Nowadays some gear uses non-standard, non-locked xlr-female sockets to save money.

 

[unpluggged]

Not in Neutrik or Switchcraft.

In Neutrik too.

 

[pma]

XLR locking pad is on female panel connector and on female cable connector. Always on female. So, in the male-female XLR cable, there is only one locking pad, the other is in the panel. Cheap stuff female panel connectors do not use the locking pad.

 

[Piere]

In the fifties past century the Cannon X-connector became popular for balanced studio audio connections. Those were not locked at all. For the rather rough on-stage use came the question: Can it be locked? So there came the XL version: X-connector locked. The original bakelite isolation of it was a weak point so that was replaced by a rubber one. And it evoluted to the Cannon-X Latched Rubber connector. Locked at both ends! Nowadays the rubber is replaced by modern soft plastics and the lock is often omitted just for cost reasons. The forerunning pin-1 was always there. Today you'll find all kinds of variations like combo versions and el cheapo versions lacking the lock or the forerunning pin-1. And remember male connectors are output and female connectors input by default.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

I've been told that you can connect/disconnect xlr cables hot. Is that actually true?

In studio and live use, unplugging and replugging of balanced connectors (XLR or TRS) happens all the time without kit being powered down. When you've got hundreds of connectors to rig, no-one has the time for powering things down every time. In practice, speakers may be muted or dimmed during changes.

 

[Speedskater]

Note that XLR connectors do NOT have a 'ground' pin. Pin #1 is the shield. There is no 'ground' wire or pin in an XLR balanced analog audio interconnect system.

 

[sejarzo]

Note that XLR connectors do NOT have a 'ground' pin. Pin #1 is the shield. There is no 'ground' wire or pin in an XLR balanced analog audio interconnect system.

Proper balanced interconnects, yes...but the Rane Commercial page on the topic suggests "common" practice is wrong. How "common" is the wrong practice in relatively new gear?

RANE Commercial - Knowledge Base

Rane Commercial

www.ranecommercial.com

 

[Piere]

Note that XLR connectors do NOT have a 'ground' pin. Pin #1 is the shield. There is no 'ground' wire or pin in an XLR balanced analog audio interconnect system.

It is not hard defined as such indeed. But most time it is connected to... Since "Ground" is by itself undefined most time in reality and can have many different flavours, this will be a never ending debate.

 

[kongwee]

In studio and live use, unplugging and replugging of balanced connectors (XLR or TRS) happens all the time without kit being powered down. When you've got hundreds of connectors to rig, no-one has the time for powering things down every time. In practice, speakers may be muted or dimmed during changes.

It is alway mute by console/mixer.