Start typing your question and we'll check if it was already asked and answered. Learn More
Do not include HTML, links, references to other stores, pricing or contact info.
My question is about:
If your question is about more than one item, click + to add them.
Browse 2 questions
Browse 2 questions
and 7 answers
How do I choose between getting un-balanced or balanced cables? I don't see an option to choose. I'm looking to get an un-balanced stereo snake.
A shopper
on Jan 8, 2018
BEST ANSWER:Balanced and Stereo can be looked at as being the same thing. They both have 2 "channels" and use a single ground wire. In fact cables know nothing about the concept of "stereo" or mono. Even the terms TS and TRS go back to the days of early telephones when stereo hadn't been invented yet. T = Tip, R = Ring, S = Sleeve. If you look at an old telephone connection they are likely marked with at T R and S where the wires connect.
So back to you question, essentially stereo and balanced cables are the same. The actual "balanced part" has to do with the electronics on each end. The transmitter creates 2 signals exactly opposite to each other. When one is at +1V the other is at -1V and so on. At the receiving end the DIFFERENCE between the two is amplified. If anything is added to the signal (such as hum) it would be added to both wires/signals. In other words +1V and +1V on each line. The difference between the two is 0. So the hum is eliminated at the receiving end.
As for the cable it doesn't care what 2 signals (stereo or balanced) it carries.
BEST ANSWER:Balanced and Stereo can be looked at as being the same thing. They both have 2 "channels" and use a single ground wire. In fact cables know nothing about the concept of "stereo" or mono. Even the terms TS and TRS go back to the days of early telephones when stereo hadn't been invented yet. T = Tip, R = Ring, S = Sleeve. If you look at an old telephone connection they are likely marked with at T R and S where the wires connect.
So back to you question, essentially stereo and balanced cables are the same. The actual "balanced part" has to do with the electronics on each end. The transmitter creates 2 signals exactly opposite to each other. When one is at +1V the other is at -1V and so on. At the receiving end the DIFFERENCE between the two is amplified. If anything is added to the signal (such as hum) it would be added to both wires/signals. In other words +1V and +1V on each line. The difference between the two is 0. So the hum is eliminated at the receiving end.
As for the cable it doesn't care what 2 signals (stereo or balanced) it carries.
The quick way to visually tell should be looking at the 1/4" plug end. TS (one black ring--Tip Sleeve) should be UNbalanced. TRS (two black rings--Tip-Ring-Sleeve) would be balanced. That, and the fact it has an XLR on the other end says Balanced. Still can't tell...use the search box.
Do you need unbalanced snake with XLR on one end? or you want to connect unbalanced gear with TS plug to balanced XLR input? If so, easiest way to buy existing and solder a wire on TRS between Ring and Sleeve.
Monoprice does not carry a unbalanced version of this cable, only the balanced (TRS). You should be able to use the balanced version with unbalanced equipment (the ring part will not be used).
YES absolutely unbeatable price for what you get, yah they are not Neutrik but they will do the trick and save you los of dough, and do basically the same job without the name brand pricing!
Overall a good cable value, however the Chinese TRS connectors are not quite sized correctly and may not make proper contact with the typical Switchcraft sockets found in much pro-audio equipment. Also the standard of soldering and wire prep in the connectors is very low.
The good news is, even with replacing the TRS connectors & tidying up the soldering, the snake is cheap enough to still be a good value.
I shopped around quite a bit before buying these and this was the best price by far. I was concerned about quality at that price but the connectors appear to be very sturdy and look like they will hold up for years.
PROS: Sturdy connectors
CONS: Brown, grey, and black colors are hard to tell apart on a dark stage.
I found this place looking for a snake for my home studio and I was blown away by their low pricing. I did my order and the shipping price was very reasonable as well. My order was placed at 3pm and for about $5 they promised it overnight!!!!!!!! At 8am the following day my delivery arrived. As you can imagine i was blown away by this company's service. The quality of the snake i purchased was way better than expected for the price I paid for it. I like to make my own cables but I could not even make it myself for that price. I will recommend this company to everybody. Price, service and quality is amazing. I will keep coming back
I found this place looking for a snake for my home studio and I was blown away by their low pricing. I did my order and the shipping price was very reasonable as well. My order was placed at 3pm and for about $5 they promised it overnight!!!!!!!! At 8am the following day my delivery arrived. As you can imagine i was blown away by this company's service. The quality of the snake i purchased was way better than expected for the price I paid for it. I like to make my own cables but I could not even make it myself for that price. I will recommend this company to everybody. Price, service and quality is amazing. I will keep coming back
