XLR cables, any advantage?

relic245

We're changing the way we do our live monitoring and I'm now going to have my own mix.

It will be taken from one of the aux sends on the mixer which is a jack socket.

My monitor can accept either XLR or jack in.

Is there any advantage of using jack to xlr over using a straight guitar cable?

Danny1969

Depends if the aux outs are balanced .. if not then no noise advantage … also on short runs unbalanced is ok anyway.

XLR s are more robust connectors though 

relic245

Thanks Danny,

We're only playing pub stages with our own PA so the runs are pretty short.

We only gig max twice a month as well so gear tends to last well as long as we look after it.

I've got angled jacks so there is little strain on the cables. 

Sounds like I'll be fine with what I've got.

Stratavarious

Yep.. you’ll be fine,

I have one desk with balanced 1/4” out.. I just made some short adaptors to XLR and have both options now. 

i never was happy with long 1/4” plugs levering the sockets.. angled plugs or XLR for robustness.

Worst was an inline transformer 1/4” to XLR about 6” long.. desk wrecker if pulled.

mike257

XLR connectors lock in to place and can't be accidentally pulled out, whereas jacks can. 

Danny1969

mike257 said:

XLR connectors lock in to place and can't be accidentally pulled out, whereas jacks can. 

A lot of active monitors designed for small work don't have the input connector locking, so the male XRL doesn't lock in like normal. I wonder if it's on purpose, so someone standing on the cable doesn't break the cable or connector ?