Cable Buying Guide

Our world is connected by cables, and the sheer variety of types, connectors, and applications can be challenging to navigate. As confusing as it can be, Sweetwater is here to help. After all, knowing which cable you need for your situation may be the difference between a piece of working or broken gear! Understanding how to distinguish cables that look similar, as well as learning how and why they work, is critical to sounding your best. Keep reading to learn how to choose the right cable for the connections that keep your setup going. Of course, when in doubt, your Sweetwater Sales Engineer is always happy to help find the right cables to support your creative journey at (800) 222-4700!

Balanced vs. Unbalanced Audio Cables

Common Audio Cable Connectors Explained

Cable Shielding Explained

Other Audio Cable Connectors Explained

Data Cables & Connectors Explained

Power Cables & Connectors

Balanced vs. Unbalanced Audio Cables

A balanced electrical signal runs along three wires: a ground wire, a positive wire (commonly referred to as “hot” or “high”), and a negative wire (commonly referred to as “cold” or “low”). Both the positive and negative wires (sometimes called “legs”) carry the same signal but in opposite polarity to each other. Because of the close proximity of the cables, any noise (radio frequencies [RF] or electromagnetic fields [EMF]) picked up along the cable will be identical on both legs. When plugged into a balanced input, the receiving device will “flip” the negative signal and put the two signals back into polarity with each other. This results in any noise picked up along the length of the cable run to be canceled out. This technique is called “Common Mode Rejection” and is the reason balanced lines are generally best for long cable runs. XLR and TRS cables are used to transmit balanced audio from one balanced device to another.

Unbalanced cables use one fewer wire, which makes them much more susceptible to picking up noise and interference along the length of the cable. In general, unbalanced lines should be kept as short as possible (25 feet or less) to minimize any potential noise that may be carried with the signal into the connected equipment.

Common Audio Cable Connectors Explained

In the audio world, there are six cable connectors you’ll come across frequently: TRS and XLR for balanced connections and TS, RCA, speakON, and banana plugs for unbalanced connections.

TRS

TRS is the abbreviation for “tip, ring, sleeve.” It is a 1/4-inch or 1/8-inch plug with three connections on the plug. TRS cables offer two connections for hot and cold plus a ground (shield). They are commonly used to connect balanced equipment or for running both left and right mono signals to stereo headphones. You will also find TRS connectors at one end of Y (or insert) cables. These are used for mixer insert jacks where the signal is sent out through one wire (usually the tip) and comes back in through the other (usually the ring).

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XLR

XLR connectors are 3-pin connectors: positive (Pin 2), negative (Pin 3), and ground (Pin 1). They are usually used for transmitting microphone or balanced line-level signals. In audio, you will typically see XLR cables connecting microphones to mixers, line level connections to outboard gear, and connecting various outputs to powered speakers.

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TS

TS is the abbreviation for “tip, sleeve,” and refers to a specific type of 1/4-inch or 1/8-inch connector that is set up for 2-conductor, unbalanced operation. The tip is generally considered the “hot,” or the carrier of the signal, while the sleeve is where the ground or shield is connected. TS cables are best known as guitar, amplifier, or line-level instrument cables.

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RCA

RCA is the common name for phono connectors used to connect most consumer stereo equipment. Typically, you will see Tape or CD inputs and outputs using RCA connectors, as well as phonograph (turntable) inputs from which it gets its name. In the digital audio realm, RCA connectors are also used for S/PDIF connections.

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speakON

A speakON connector is used to connect power amplifiers to PA speakers and stage monitors. These are often preferred over 1/4-inch TS connections because of their ability to lock into place. Since you should never use an instrument cable to connect an amp to a speaker (due to cable thickness [or “gauge”]), they also help to avoid risky cabling mix-ups.

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Banana Plug

A banana plug is an electrical connector that is designed to join audio wires, such as speaker wires, to the banana jacks on the back of power amplifiers or speakers. The ends of the wires are inserted into a hole in the banana plug and held in place by a locking screw. While these plugs and jacks are frequently found on speaker cables, they’re occasionally used as patch cables for synthesizers, such as those made by Buchla.

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Cable Shielding Explained

Braided Shield

This is a cable shield that applies braided bunches of copper strands (called “picks”) around the insulated, electrostatically shielded center conductor. Its coverage can vary from less than 50% to nearly 97% by changing the angle, the number of picks, and the density at which they are applied. The braided cable maintains consistent coverage even if it is flexed or bent around corners.

Serve Shield

A serve shield, also known as a spiral-wrapped shield, is applied by wrapping a flat layer of copper strands around the center in a single direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise). The serve shield is very flexible, putting very little restriction on the movement of the cable. Although its tensile strength is much less than that of a braid, the serve shield’s superior flexibility makes it more desirable in real-world instrument applications.

Foil Shield

A foil shield is composed of a thin layer of Mylar-backed aluminum foil in contact with a copper drain wire used to terminate it. The foil shield/drain wire combination is very inexpensive, but it severely limits flexibility and breaks down under repeated flexing. Foil’s 100% coverage advantage is largely compromised by its high transfer impedance (aluminum being a poorer conductor of electricity than copper), especially at low frequencies.

Conductive PVC Shield

If you’ve ever heard mention of vinyl with cables, then that’s likely a reference to PVC, short for polyvinyl chloride. When adding materials such as graphene or carbon-based polymers to PVC, its signal-conductive properties make it a robust, flexible shielding option. Its capacity to safeguard your signal from electrostatic discharge is owed to the material’s antistatic nature, making it a regular choice for conveyor belts and other surfaces in industrial environments. PVC also does a fantastic job of protecting your wires from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) — a common concern in live-performance and studio settings. Across recording gear, wireless systems, cell phones, and even other cables, EM and RF signals abound, and their potential to disrupt or modulate your signal should be taken seriously.

Other Audio Cable Connectors Explained

DB-25

A type of D-sub connector, DB-25s are commonly found on computing equipment, where they are employed to connect peripherals. TASCAM and other brands commonly use DB-25 connectors for analog I/O on gear where there is inadequate room for a bank of larger connectors, such as XLRs. for analog and/or digital I/O on their products.

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Y Cable/Insert Cable

Insert cables and Y cables look nearly identical due to having one connector on one end of the cable and two connectors on the other end (they look like a “Y”), but they serve completely different functions. The Y cable is wired in parallel, meaning that the tip of the TRS plug on one end is wired to the tip on the other, and ring to ring, and sleeve to sleeve. This allows splitting a single connector to two connections. It can also be reversed and used to combine two outputs to one input. One example of a Y cable is a headphone splitter cable, which allows two sets of headphones to be sourced from one headphone output jack.

Insert cables, on the other hand, are used to accommodate sending and receiving signals on the same cable. An insert cable plugged into an insert jack (such as on the back of a console) splits the balanced 1/4-inch connector into two cables. The tip (and ground) sends to an unbalanced 1/4-inch connector to a piece of outboard gear, and the other 1/4-inch connector is wired to the ring for the return of the signal from that piece of gear.

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TT or Bantam TT (Tiny Telephone)

A TT connector (or tiny telephone) is a miniature version (roughly 1/8-inch in diameter) of what is known as a phone jack, or phone plug. The original 1/4-inch phone connector originated for use in telephone switchboards in the late 1800s. The smaller version that we use today measures half the diameter of the original 1/4-inch plug and comes in TS or TRS forms. You may hear these referred to as TT or Bantam, but both names refer to the same connector. Today, TT/Bantam jacks and cables are almost exclusively used in recording studio patchbays.

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Data Cables & Connectors Explained

AES/EBU

AES/EBU is a digital audio transmission standard, and the name is an abbreviation of “Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union” — the groups that standardized the protocol — and is sometimes shortened to “AES3.” This cable is the most common digital connector and utilizes AES Type I Balanced: 3-conductor, 110-ohm twisted pair cabling with XLR connectors on each end. Use of AES/EBU cables is common in broadcast, studio, and live-performance environments due to their ability to consistently maintain the fidelity of a digital audio signal over distances up to 100 meters (328 feet) without degrading.

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Optical (TOSlink)

Optical cables can be used for compatible 2-channel S/PDIF connections and Alesis ADAT Lightpipe connections. The ADAT optical format can transfer eight multiplexed channels of digital audio at a time. This has become an industry standard and is used in a wide range of products from many manufacturers. These are sometimes called TOSlink (Toshiba Link) cables, but the names are interchangeable, and they function identically.

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S/PDIF

A format for interfacing digital audio equipment together, S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format) is considered a consumer format and is largely based on the AES/EBU standard. In fact, in many cases, the two can be compatible. S/PDIF typically uses either unbalanced, high-impedance coaxial cables or fiber-optic cables for transmission.

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BNC

BNC is a type of coaxial connector often found on video and digital audio equipment. BNC cables are normally used to carry synchronizing clock signals between devices. BNCs are bayonet-type connectors rather than screw-on or straight plugs.

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HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cables support simultaneous transmission of high-fidelity audio and video signals through a single cable. HDMI 2.1 is the most recent release and offers greater bandwidth than previous versions. Even though HDMI cables are backward compatible, newer 2.1-compliant cables offer options that previous versions did not, so using lower-rated HDMI cables will compromise features or performance. Common additions to basic HDMI functionality, which are useful in recording-studio, home-audio, live-broadcast, and video-performance settings as well as immersive audio, include:

ARC (Audio Return Channel) is an audio link that supports the replacement and consolidation of wired connections that would normally exist between a TV/monitor and the receiver/speaker system. This allows sound and video through a single cable. For ARC, you can use HDMI 1.4 or higher.

eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is an audio link that supports the replacement and consolidation of wired connections that would normally exist between a TV/monitor and the receiver/speaker system. This allows sound and video through a single cable with the addition of greater bandwidth to handle streaming Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. With eARC, you are getting higher-quality audio. You will need HDMI 2.1 to use eARC.

With HEAC (HDMI Ethernet and Audio Return Channel) cables, two lines from the connector enable two-way data communication at high speeds.

Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is a feature of HDMI cables that allows the connection of up to 15 CEC-compatible devices, so you can control them with a single remote. This is distinct from a universal remote control, which usually requires an additional peripheral, through which all other devices are routed. CEC-supported configurations maintain this control through the HDMI cable alone. This must be activated on your device for ARC to work.

HEC (HDMI Ethernet Channel) is a style of HDMI cable that transmits video, audio, and data-stream information, including Ethernet, via one HDMI cable at speeds up to 100MB/s.

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MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) connections allow you to send up to 16 channels of information to and from compatible devices, including effects pedals, tabletop effects, synthesizers, drum machines, synth modules, samplers, MIDI controllers, and virtual software instruments or DAWs (digital audio workstation). This information includes Note Number (with Velocity), PC (program change), CC (control change), Aftertouch, MIDI Clock, and other signals. While MIDI information can be transmitted via USB and Bluetooth wireless connections, these are the two primary connectors used in the wired transmission of MIDI information.

The 5-pin DIN connectors ubiquitous with MIDI are based on the DIN sync technologies developed by Roland in 1980, featuring five pins in a 180-degree arc. MIDI signals are carried as an electric current but only in one direction. Bidirectional communication requires an additional cable.

TRS minijack are usually a 3.5-millimeter (1/8-inch) connector, though 2.5-millimeter connectors exist for the same purpose. Practically speaking, these don’t function differently from their 5-pin counterparts and are often used to save space or to allow MIDI control over small-footprint devices that wouldn’t accommodate a 5-pin DIN port.

An important note on TRS MIDI connections: When using 1/8-inch TRS connectors to transmit MIDI information, some devices use TRS Type A cables while others use TRS Type B cables. The connectors and form factors are visually identical, but the wiring configuration is different. You need to know when to use a Type A cable or Type B cable to ensure that your device will work. If you’re unsure which cable you need, then just ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer!

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DMX

Also known by its original DMX512 protocol name, DMX cables support digital communications for controlling lighting and stage effects such as dimmers, fog machines, and more. These come in 3-pin and 5-pin versions and utilize XLR connectors.

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Note: A 3-pin DMX cable and a 3-pin XLR cable look identical. These cables can be used interchangeably in an emergency, but it is not advised since a DMX cable is a 110-ohm cable designed to transmit digital data and has less shielding, making it unsuitable for audio.

EtherCON

Neutrik manufactures etherCON connectors and cables for a variety of audiovisual and networking needs common to both professional studio and stage settings. EtherCON cables transmit Ethernet information over twisted-pair wiring, designed specifically for use in high-demand environments, and are outfitted with a rugged, lockable connector. These cables also support the transmission of audio over Ethernet and IP.

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RJ45 (Connector)

The RJ45 nomenclature, as it pertains to Ethernet cables and connectors, is a subtype of twisted-pair flat cabling referred to as 8P8C (8-position, 8-contact). The RJ45 connector, specifically, features a standardized shape and dimension that spans multiple groups for national and international standards. These connectors are frequently used for Ethernet internet connections, structured cabling, and data communication.

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Ethernet (Cable)

Ethernet twisted-pair cables are designed for numerous types of wired connections. Aside from their frequent use for internet connections, their uses for networked audio include standards spanning Dante, AVB, AES67, and Behringer Ultranet, for example. Multiple categories of Ethernet cables exist, each with distinct configurations and use cases, but three are commonly encountered across studio and performance environments. These  include Cat 5, Cat 6, and Cat 7 Ethernet cables, all of which feature twisted-pair designs. Network and internet support aside, it should be noted that standard twisted-pair Ethernet cables that utilize RJ45 connectors can also be used to transmit analog audio signals — as is the case with the Cranborne Audio C.A.S.T. system.

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Thunderbolt (General)

The Thunderbolt protocol first debuted in 2011 as a collaboration between Apple and Intel to replace the ExpressCard and IEEE 1394 FireWire connections. Thunderbolt connections are on their fifth iteration — Thunderbolt 5 — at the time of writing and feature two groups of connectors: Mini DisplayPort and USB-C. While every iteration offers distinct supports, Thunderbolt connections are incredibly useful in myriad studio, playback-engineering, and live A/V environments since Thunderbolt transmits audio, video, and DC-power signals over one cable. Furthermore, these can daisy-chain up to six devices, reducing cable clutter and freeing up additional ports or power-supply connections.

Thunderbolt 1 & Thunderbolt 2

The original Thunderbolt 1 cable and its 2013 successor, Thunderbolt 2, utilize the Mini DisplayPort connector. Apple products from early 2011 to mid-2015, in addition to external-storage devices, RAID units, display monitors, and other computers or laptops, frequently feature these ports. Thunderbolt 1 connections transmit 20 Gbps, across two channels at 10 Gbps each, while Thunderbolt 2 consolidates this into a single 20 Gbps channel. Using the DisplayPort 1.2 protocol, Thunderbolt 2 cables can accommodate 4K video resolution, which is an increase from the 1080p support provided by the Thunderbolt 1’s DisplayPort 1.1a protocol.

Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5

Thunderbolt 3 cables were the first to feature USB-C connectors, and Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 continue to use USB-C connectors. Across dedicated lanes of general-purpose data and video transfer, Thunderbolt 3 can transfer at rates up to 40 Gbps in addition to supporting USB 3.1 Gen 2. Moreover, Thunderbolt 3 can simultaneously display 4K video at 60Hz on two monitors, 4K/120Hz on a single monitor, and 5K/60Hz on select MacBook Pro models from late 2016 in addition to sourcing or sinking up to 100 watts of power.

Thunderbolt 4 maintains the same 40 Gbps maximum bandwidth but transmits data significantly faster, up to four times the speed of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 protocol. The biggest improvement offered by Thunderbolt 4 is its addition of multi-port accessory architecture — a support for Thunderbolt Alternate Mode USB hubs that allows ports to function as both Thunderbolt and USB connections on top of daisy-chain capabilities.

Thunderbolt 5 doubles the bandwidth of its predecessor, at 80 Gbps, and supports USB4 2.0 connections. For museums, art installations, concerts, and other events that feature heavy use of video, Thunderbolt 5 can reprioritize the data-transmission distribution of its two-way communication, equaling 120 Gbps in one direction and 40 Gbps in the other direction. Because Thunderbolt 5 accommodates previous Thunderbolt, USB, and DisplayPort versions — alongside the daisy-chain and USB-hub technologies — its 240-watt power capacity can be used to transmit and connect myriad audio, video, and general-purpose data information on top of powering devices. For visuals, specifically, 8K video at 60Hz is supported on two simultaneous displays via Thunderbolt 5.

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A Note About Thunderbolt & USB-C

With Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 5 cables, their use of USB-C connectors can cause confusion. This is worsened because Thunderbolt 3 introduced multifunctionality via USB-C ports. Put differently: not every USB-C cable can support everything that is achievable with a Thunderbolt cable. In order to take advantage of Thunderbolt capabilities, only use Thunderbolt-specific cables. Labeling and/or physically separating Thunderbolt and USB-C cables is a low-effort way to guarantee some peace of mind!

USB-C (Connector)

The USB-C connector — interchangeably referred to as USB Type-C — features a 24-pin design and is engineered to transmit audio, video, MIDI, and additional data types. This connector is favored for its versatility and used for devices that span laptops, cell phones, storage devices, monitors, external drives, hubs, docking stations, and many more. Plus, these connections support protocols well beyond the USB standards, such as Thunderbolt, PCIe, DisplayPort, HDMI, and more, in addition to accommodating USB Power Delivery and numerous Alternate Modes. As a bonus, the connector’s housing is reversible — no more figuring out the “proper” orientation for your USB connector!

USB (Cable)

As a shortened form of “Universal Serial Bus,” USB cables categorically comprise a constellation of industry standards, connector styles, and data-transmission capabilities. Each USB standard — 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, USB4, USB4 2.0 — offers specific supports, and the pinout designs and connector types define what each standard accommodates. In virtually any musical setting, USB cables can be used to supply power and send and receive MIDI data, bidirectional audio, visual-display information, and more.

It’s important to note that USB standards and USB connectors are not linked. For example, the first USB cables in 1996 featured Type-A rectangular connectors and supported the debut USB 1.0 protocol, but contemporary USB Type-A cables can support the USB 3.0 protocol; however, backward compatibility varies by needs and use cases. In contrast, the capabilities of USB 3.2 standards and higher are exclusively compatible with USB Type-C connectors.

USB Type-A (Connector)

USB Type-A connectors, more often called USB-A, are rectangular in shape and feature a polarized (will only plug in one way) 4-pin design, which transfers power and data. The USB 3.0 standard introduced bidirectional communication, but previous versions of this standard were limited to one-way transmission with the cable and connector plugging into a destination’s DFP (downstream-facing port).

USB Type-B (Connector)

USB Type-B connectors, or USB-B, feature a polarized 4-pin design like their Type-A counterparts and support the same per-standard single- or dual-direction transmission capabilities. One of the key differences, aside from the shape, is that pre-3.0 Type-B connectors were built to interface with a device’s UFP (upstream-facing port).

USB Type-B SuperSpeed (Connector)

The USB Type-B SuperSpeed connector was developed in both Standard and Micro sizes and introduced specifically with the release of the USB 3.0 standard. SuperSpeed connectors implement individuated differential pairs for transmitting and receiving data, requiring double the number of wires as non-SuperSpeed cables and connectors, which results in its taller design.

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SC MADI (Connector)

The SC connector — Standard Connector, Subscriber Connector — is a type of fiber-optic cable connector commonly used in MADI setups. Not be confused with MIDI, MADI is the Multichannel Audio Digital Interface standard under the AES10 designation of the Audio Engineering Society (AES). These connectors feature a push-pull latching mechanism and are frequently used in studio environments and live-performance settings that require a large quantity of audio channels to be processed simultaneously. The MADI standard itself, being a digital medium, supports up to 64 channels of audio at high-resolution sampling rates up to and beyond 96kHz at a 24-bit-per-channel depth.

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Power Cables & Connectors

IEC C13

Standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission, the IEC C13 power inlet and connector is one of the most commonly used methods of supplying power to various devices. These include computers, peripherals, mixers, consoles, synthesizers, amplifiers, video-game consoles, servers, switches, routers, and more. The terms “kettle cord” and “kettle lead” are often informally used in reference to the C13.

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PowerCON (Connector)

Like the etherCON, the powerCON connector is a Neutrik product designed with high-grade usage in mind, featuring a twist-locking mechanism and full insulation of both the line and chassis even when not connected to a destination. Neutrik’s powerCON connectors are designed to bring mains power to various equipment, especially in tight spaces, with secure connections. Speakers, lighting effects, and rackmounted studio gear are a few common applications of powerCON.

Of important note: powerCON connectors are color coded; their A- and B-type designs are represented with blue and gray, respectively. This is to distinguish the incompatible functionalities of each, mitigating possible damage from incorrect usage. The blue A-type connector brings power into its destination while the gray B-type connector sends power from its connection.

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Edison Plug/NEMA 5-15

Edison plugs — as defined by the US-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association — utilize the NEMA 5-15 standard for AC mains power plugs and power sockets in North America: 15-amp, 125-VAC (volts alternating current). Under the NEMA 5-15 umbrella, you’ll find three relevant standards: NEMA 1-15P, which is the two-pole plug with no ground; NEMA 5-15P, which features a three-pole design that includes a grounding pin; and NEMA 5-15R, which is the power receptacle at the standard 15-amp capacity.

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Where Do You Go from Here?

Still unsure how to connect and configure your devices? Rest assured that connecting with your highly trained Sweetwater Sales Engineer will help you find the missing link you need to maximize your creative workflow and bring your sonic vision to life! Give them a call today at (800) 222-4700 to step up your setup!
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