[pjchappy]

A balanced cable with XLRs is the same thing as a microphone cable w/ XLRs, correct?

Thanks,


Paul

[srb]

Correct.
 
Steve

[Speedskater]

Just noticed this older thread:
Microphone cables are a sub-set of balanced cables.
Some important features of mic cables are:
Flexability
Ruggedness
To not make self-noise when stepped on. 

[NagysAudio]

Theoretically, an XLR cable is the same as a microphone cable. However, a lot of audiophile equipment and consumer equipment in general are not properly grounded. In this case, leaving the shield hanging can sometimes be desirable in order to reduce the hum. The issue becomes even worse when pro electronics are mixed with consumer electronics. There are many configurations that an XLR cable can be made in.

But if everything was properly made, then it would be pin1-pin1, pin2-pin2, and pin3-pin3.

[Speedskater]

Because pro-audio installations can quickly get rather complex. Maybe with different AC power sources at each end.  I've seen reasonable discussions about what to do with the shield at the far end of the cables:
a) Connect the shield.
b) Don't connect the shield.
c) Use a capacitor hybrid shield connection.
I think that it depends on the situation and the skill of the audio engineer.

In some home equipment (and budget semi-pro units) the label "balanced" is stretched a long way.

[NagysAudio]

Speedskater - I agree 100%.

[Artie]

 . . . and, considering some of the info in the Jensen Transformers "white papers", even some pro-audio engineers don't understand it.

Interconnection of Balanced and Unbalanced Equipment
 
Hum & Buzz in Unbalanced Interconnect Systems

Artie

P.S. I've read those papers several times, and I still don't understand all of it.