3-Pin XLR Male to Female Adapter Connector – Microphone Mixer Amplifier Audio Plug 4–20pcs

Description

3-Pin XLR Male to Female Adapter Connector – Balanced Audio Plug for Microphone, Mixer & Amplifier

3-pin XLR connectors (IEC 61076-2-103) are the universal standard for balanced audio connections in professional and semi-professional audio equipment — microphones, mixing consoles, power amplifiers, DI boxes, and stage monitors. The 3-pin configuration carries a balanced audio signal (Pin 1 = GND/shield, Pin 2 = hot/positive, Pin 3 = cold/negative) that rejects common-mode noise — essential for long cable runs in electrically noisy environments such as live stages and recording studios. The locking latch prevents accidental disconnection.

Key Specifications

Standard: IEC 61076-2-103 (XLR circular connector)
Pin Count: 3-pin
Contact Material: Copper alloy, gold-plated
Housing Material: Zinc alloy body, PA66 nylon insulator
Current Rating: 15A per contact
Voltage Rating: 50V AC/DC
Wire Entry: Rear cable entry with strain relief
Locking: Spring-loaded latch (press to release)
Quantity: 4, 10, or 20 pieces (select above)

XLR Pin Assignment — Standard Wiring

Pin 1: GND / Cable shield (connect to chassis ground at one end only to prevent ground loops)
Pin 2: Hot / Positive / Non-inverting signal (+)
Pin 3: Cold / Negative / Inverting signal (-)
This is the AES14 / IEC 60268-12 standard. Some older equipment (particularly vintage British consoles) uses Pin 3 as hot — verify before connecting to avoid polarity reversal.

Balanced vs Unbalanced Audio — Why XLR?

Unbalanced (TS jack, RCA): Single signal wire + ground. Susceptible to interference on cable runs over 3–5 meters. Suitable for short connections between home audio equipment.
Balanced (XLR, this product): Two signal wires (hot + cold, 180° out of phase) + ground. Any interference picked up by the cable affects both signal wires equally — the differential amplifier at the receiving end subtracts the two signals, canceling the common-mode interference. Effective for cable runs up to 100m+ in noisy environments.

What Questions Does This Product Answer?

"How do I wire an XLR connector?" — Strip the cable jacket 25–30mm. Separate the shield braid and twist into a single strand. Strip the inner conductors 5–7mm. Solder: shield to Pin 1, hot (usually red or white) to Pin 2, cold (usually black or blue) to Pin 3. Slide the strain relief over the cable before soldering — it cannot be added after. Tighten the strain relief clamp to prevent cable pull-out.
"What is phantom power and does it damage dynamic microphones?" — Phantom power (+48V DC) is supplied through XLR Pin 2 and Pin 3 to power condenser microphones. Dynamic microphones are not damaged by phantom power — the balanced circuit design means phantom power appears equally on both signal pins and is rejected by the microphone’s output transformer. Ribbon microphones may be damaged by phantom power — always check the ribbon microphone’s specifications before enabling phantom power.
"Can I use XLR connectors for speaker connections?" — Technically possible but not recommended. XLR is rated for signal-level connections (50V, 15A). For speaker-level power connections, use Speakon (Neutrik NL4) connectors which are specifically designed for high-power audio. Using XLR for speaker connections risks connector damage and is non-standard.

Typical Applications

Microphone cables: Connecting dynamic and condenser microphones to mixing consoles and preamps
Line-level connections: Balanced line connections between mixing consoles, outboard gear, and power amplifiers
Stage monitoring: Monitor send connections from mixing console to stage monitor amplifiers
Recording studios: Patch bay connections, outboard gear interfaces, monitor controller wiring
Broadcast: Microphone and line-level connections in broadcast studios and OB vans