Hi i found a good deal on a pair of XLR female - TRS cables. I need the for my vocal and acoustic condenser mics . Some people say it doesn't matter if it is XLR or TRS they are both the same but i have read TRS jacks don't support phantom power. So should i stay away from XLR - TRS cables for my condenser mics?
Comments
Yes, that is correct, you should not use those for condenser mic
Yes, that is correct, you should not use those for condenser mics. Any mixer or pre-amp worth having, would not apply Phantom Power to a TRS input due to their momentary shorting nature. (electrically speaking) They generally just provide Phantom Power to the XLR.
A block diagram from a typical mixer:
Attached files
Thanks for your reply.. Im glad i didn't buy them.
Thanks for your reply.. Im glad i didn't buy them.
DVDhawk is correct - don't use XLR-TRS cables for your microphon
DVDhawk is correct - don't use XLR-TRS cables for your microphones, either condenser or dynamic. Not only is phantom power on any reputable mixer or pre-amp supplied only to the XLR connectors and not to the TRS jacks, the TRS inputs usually include an attenuator (typically 20dB) so that they can accept line-level inputs when needed.
Even if you managed to supply phantom power to your mics from a separate in-line power supply, line inputs do not generally work well for microphone signals due to inappropriate input impedance and a rise in the noise level roughly equal to the amount of input attenuation.