[James Romeyn]

I found some Canare L-4E6S, 4-conductors + braided shield (no idea of the source).  Strangely, only two insulation colors for the 4-conductors (two white/two blue); one might expect 4 different colors to differentiate them.  What are common uses for this cable?

Thanks.

[BradJudy]

It's a star-quad geometry microphone cable - http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=53

This page explains the star-quad approach and how to connect it to a microphone XLR connector: http://www.canare.com/UploadedDocuments/Cat11_p35.pdf

[James Romeyn]

What took you so long?     Very nice!  It looks like Canare's point is to increase the NR effect by increasing the density of integration of the opposed signals; simple & effective I suppose. 

Is it generally acceptable to employ 2-conductors + braided shield for balanced interconnects, in which case the braid is earth + shield?   

When using 3-conductors + braided shield for balanced interconnects is the shield connected on the load only & open on the source or connected both ends?  (Making a hard-wired box; cables not reversible once assembled.)

[Speedskater]

Four conductor star-quad cable is more symmetrical than most two conductor cable. Even the small difference in the insulator thickness of the individual conductors can have an effect on this symmetry and a spiral drain conductor can have a greater effect.  In a balanced circuit, symmetry is important for high frequency common mode noise reduction.