3-Pin XLR Male to Female Adapter – Balanced Audio Connector for Microphone, Mixer, Speaker & Studio Sound Equipment

3-pin XLR male-to-female inline adapters (gender changers) for balanced audio signal routing in professional audio applications. This listing covers standard (non-gold-plated) XLR inline adapters — suitable for general-purpose audio connections, live sound, and applications where cost is a priority over premium contact plating. The XLR inline adapter allows two XLR cables to be connected end-to-end, extending cable runs or reversing gender at any connection point in the signal chain.

Key Specifications

• Type: 3-pin XLR male to female inline adapter (gender changer)
• Contact Material: Brass, nickel or silver-plated
• Body Material: Zinc alloy
• Pin Assignment: Pin 1 = GND/Shield, Pin 2 = Hot (+), Pin 3 = Cold (-) (IEC 60268-12)
• Impedance: Suitable for 50–600Ω balanced audio circuits
• Quantity: 4, 10, or 20 pieces (select above)

Standard vs Gold-Plated XLR Adapters

• Standard nickel/silver-plated (this product): Lower cost. Adequate for most live sound, rehearsal, and general-purpose audio applications. Nickel and silver plating provide good corrosion resistance for indoor use. Preferred when cost is a priority and connections are not subject to frequent mating cycles or harsh environments.
• Gold-plated: Higher cost. Gold plating provides superior long-term corrosion resistance — gold does not oxidize, maintaining low contact resistance over years of use. Preferred for permanent studio installations, broadcast facilities, and applications where connectors are rarely disconnected and long-term reliability is critical.
• Audible difference: None in normal use. The difference between nickel and gold plating is in long-term reliability, not immediate audio quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need an XLR male-to-female adapter?

Common scenarios: (1) Two XLR cables both end in female connectors — use a male-to-female adapter to join them. (2) A cable ends in the wrong gender for the equipment — use an adapter to reverse gender without replacing the cable. (3) Extending a microphone cable run by joining two cables end-to-end. (4) Creating a temporary connection at a patch point where the permanent cable is the wrong gender.

Does an XLR inline adapter affect phantom power?

No. A properly wired XLR inline adapter passes phantom power (+48V DC on pins 2 and 3 relative to pin 1) through without modification. The adapter’s contacts are rated for 250V AC — well above the 48V phantom power requirement.

Can I use XLR adapters for speaker connections?

Yes, for low-power speaker connections (passive monitors, studio monitors). XLR is used for speaker connections on some professional monitors and amplifiers. Note that XLR speaker connections carry speaker-level signals (higher voltage than line-level) — do not connect a speaker-level XLR output to a line-level XLR input, as the high voltage will damage the input stage.

What is the maximum cable length for balanced XLR connections?

Balanced XLR connections can run 100m+ without significant noise pickup in most professional audio environments. The practical limit is determined by cable capacitance (which rolls off high frequencies at very long lengths) and the source impedance. For microphone connections (high source impedance), keep runs below 50m for full frequency response. For line-level connections (low source impedance), 100m+ is achievable with quality cable.

Typical Applications

• Live sound: Stage box and snake cable extensions, microphone cable gender reversal
• Studio: Patch bay connections, cable extension
• Rehearsal: Quick cable fixes and extensions during rehearsal
• AV installation: Microphone and line-level signal routing in fixed installations
• Broadcast: Microphone and line-level connections in broadcast facilities

Package Contents

4, 10, or 20 pieces (select above) — 3-pin XLR male to female inline adapters.