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text 2019-11-13 09:34
XLR vs RCA: Difference is in the Use

When it comes to wiring for anything, the specifics depend on the devices involved and the overall requirement. Audio cabling, in particular, has two basic analog cables, XLR cable, and RCA cable. These are largely for very different scenarios.

 

The connector on the XLR cable has three pins, whereas the one on the RCA cable only has one. XLR passes balanced audio whereas RCA passes unbalanced audio. This is also where the use case bifurcates. XLR connector also has a latch on it to lock the connection in place. RCA has no such clasp.

 

Let’s take a look:

 

Home Theatre Setup

 

For a home theatre setup, you need a decent or high-end TV for display, preferably one that has an OLED or QLED panel. But the display is not the only important part of the setup. These TVs generally don’t have the best audio output for optimal movie watching. For surround sound, you can connect up to eight audio channels via RCA cables. This can make your movie-watching experience more enjoyable, with the sound of every soft footfall in a horror movie and all the notes in a musical.

 

Audio Editing

 

If you want to edit audio, you want to be able to listen to it in stereo. Headphones that have RCA connectors are capable of handling stereo output. You will need a computer that has the left and right stereo channel RCA ports. If you are able to hear with accuracy, you will be able to make the edits accordingly.

 

Recording Studio

 

Here, you need balanced audio. The sound mixer has audio coming in from the microphone via an XLR cable. This produces significantly less noise in the audio transfer, thus giving purer, high-quality output. This recording can go for mass-market consumption through various mediums like music streaming services, CDs, vinyl records, etc.

Podcasting Studio

 

Podcasts have become an extremely popular way of creating content. It is so huge that there are now multiple dedicated podcast apps and big streaming platforms are putting them at the center of their revenue stream. While anyone can have a podcast, provided they have enough content, you do need decent equipment for it. Since it is a conversation or monologue based format that is just audio, you want superior-quality noiseless audio. For this, you should use XLR cabled microphones. This will give you top-notch audio, which you can then edit. As it already has less interference, you will not need to put too much effort into editing.

 

Live Performance

 

When it comes to any kind of live performance, whether it is a concert, a stand-up comedy show, a karaoke bar, or a quiet poetry reading, the audio needs to be clear, crisp and have no interference. Therefore, it needs XLR cables in connection with high-quality speakers. In a live performance of this sort, the speaker or singer’s utterances are of utmost importance to deliver the best experience and effect of the content.

 

Such differences in use cases are what really matter when it comes to the XLR cable and RCA cable. The technical differences are in their physical structuring, but to the average user, it all comes down to where to use what cable.

 

Take a look at the various use cases of XLR cables and RCA cables, so you know the right cable to use for your needs.

 

Find More Blogs;

 

The Reason We Are Still Talking About Audio Video Cables in 2019

How to Choose the Correct Audio Cable Splitter for Headphones?

Here are all That you Need to Know about Audio Cables

Choosing the Perfect Speaker Cable!

 

Source: www.sfcable.com/blog/xlr-vs-rca-difference-use
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text 2019-07-05 08:20
RCA Is An Analog Classic & It's Here to Stay

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you know the whole controversy about phone companies doing away with the headphone jack and replacing it with a USB-C or Lightning port (in case of Apple devices). Apple was the first one to do it, and as usual, the industry followed. While phones are usually used to consume music on the go, and therefore, consumers have almost come to accept it, and are living the dongle life.

 

But the world is not yet ready for completely doing away with the headphone jack. People still consider audio cables are best suited for clear audio delivery. And they are not wrong to think that. RCA cables have established themselves in the music industry to deliver top of the line experience. They are now also compatible with other kinds of audio connectors.

 

RCA cables deliver stereo sound via two cables that have connectors that are usually red and white colored, red of the right and white of the left stereo sound. Sometimes these cables have the same connectors on the other end as well. If not, they merge into a single 3.5mm jack.

Let us walk through all the uses of this 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable:

 

TV setup:

 

RCA ports are generally on televisions that need to route audio to a speaker or headphones. This pair of devices, TV, and speaker connect via male to male 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable (RCA connectors are 2.5mm connectors). A 2.5mm or 3.5mm audio cable combines the functionality of these two channels into one.

 

Gaming setup:

 

Similarly, a gaming setup also needs an audio output. Gaming consoles don’t have very powerful speakers, so for a more immersive experience, you have to connect external speakers or headphones. If you prefer analog connectors because it delivers better audio, gaming consoles have RCA ports which support them. So, you can connect your speakers via the same male-to-male 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable.

 

 

External Microphone

 

Some headphones have microphones to connect to your computer for internet enabled voice calling, or for recording audio. In this case, headphones often have 3.5mm connector that splits into two, one for audio input through the microphone and one for audio output from the computer to the headphones.

 

MP3 Player

 

Another use case, of this particular cable, is when you have to connect your portable device, like a phone or an mp3 player; you can easily do that with a 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. It gives you personal listening experience.

 

External speakers:

 

Slightly bigger equipment that gives a high-quality audio output has a 3.5mm female port on them. Therefore, if you want to connect a smaller, portable, audio device to it, in most cases, it will have a 3.5mm a female port. This makes a male-to-male connector cable of this specification perfect for it.

 

With the invention of newer, faster, more versatile ports, the use of this cable and port has become limited and more niche. Consumer gadgets have almost entirely upgraded to the digital transmission of audio-video via HDMI or even USB-C cables and ports. Audio output equipment comes with USB-C ports now, while premium devices have switched to Bluetooth and Wireless technologies for audio output and input.

 

Bluetooth and wireless technology, while very convenient, do have their own flaws. Sometimes the battery is not charged, or they have difficulty pairing with a device, or the chip malfunctions. Audio also tends to lag with these. The lag is insignificant if you are a casual consumer who uses these things for entertainment. But if you regularly have to mix audio, or edit audio video, a cabled connection will give you a more accurate audio output.

 

If you are looking for a pure audio experience, it is better to have as much cabled connection as possible and RCA cables are the best cables to use. The 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable is classic and as long as devices have these analog ports, you can use them.

 

RCA connectors are old, but there is a reason why manufacturers are not doing away with ports on their devices. This article walks you through various setups where they are convenient to use. Read on to know more.

 

If you found this Article useful, here are some other Articles that may be of interest.

 

 

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text 2019-06-10 12:01
How to Choose the Correct Audio Cable Splitter for Headphones?

Audio cable splitters are saviors when more than one people want to see the same movie from a phone or want to listen to the same song. With the advancements in the technological world, there was a high demand for devices that can help people share music with their friends, headphones connected to the same phone or iPod or laptop. This way the audio cable splitters came to existence.

 

Basic Idea

 

As the name indicates, it is a small accessory that let you route sounds into different headphones simultaneously. The main aim of this accessory is to route the audio coming from a singular device without sacrificing the sound quality. Also known as dual headphone adapters, they make it easy to connect two or more headphones, speakers, or microphones to a single audio jack.

 

If you are wondering how is it possible to connect more than one headphone to a 3.5mm cable? Then the audio cable is your answer. And that’s not it. You can even connect 2.5mm audio jack to 3.5mm audio jack using 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. But let’s get back to audio cable splitters.

 

An audio cable splitter contains a singular plug with multiple audio jacks. With the help of it, you can connect multiple headphones or microphones. When it comes to choosing them, it is important to choose the right one for better sound quality.

 

First, let’s check out the difference between Microphone Splitter & Headphone splitter.

 

 

Microphone Splitter VS Headphone Splitter

 

When it comes to the functions of these splitters, it can be confusing for beginners. Their basic function is common. To split sounds. But when it comes to input/outputs, the headphone splitter splits the output sound. That types of splitters help to project the available sound in a phone, laptop, PC or iPod.

 

On the other hand, microphone splitter, having the features of an amplifier, splits the input sound as well. There is a resistance that affects the output and input of a microphone and headphone.

 

The headphone splitter can work without an amplifier, but the microphone splitter cannot function without an amplifier.

 

The headphone splitter is a “passive splitter’ since it does not demand a power source. On the contrary, microphone splitter is an “active splitter” as it requires a power source.

 

Important Things To Consider Before Buying Audio Splitter For Headphones:

 

As we all are aware, headphones are gaining popularity with each passing day in the market. You can choose a suitable splitter for your device based on the following things:

 

Dual Splitter VS Multi Splitter

 

When you choose the splitter, it is important to determine the type of splitter you want. There are dual as well as multi splitters available in the market. Based on the usage and number of persons using the device finalize the type of splitter.

 

Consider Audio Mixing

 

With some audio splitters, the users can manage the mixing and fade-ins. So, before considering the audio splitter with mixing features, make sure you have the right partner to share it with. It will be a nightmare if you shared such splitter with the wrong kind of people. Also, you can consider earphones splitters instead of headphones as they could be a good option for everyday use with good sound quality.

 

Headphones or Headsets?

 

The choice should be clear. Do you want a splitter that allows headphones only or one that permits a headphone and microphone? Though there are no specifications available for headsets splitters. The audio splitter for headsets just requires the right plug size which is 3.5mm to work effectively.

 

Here Are The Five Types Of Splitters You Should Consider:

6-Way Snowflake Shaped Headset Hub:

 

It’s a splitter with six ports for you. One of the ports has an audio source plugged into it. You can share five ports with your friends and family.

 

Dual Headphone Jack:

 

This dual headphone jack splitter has a Y shape with a 3.55mm male jack that can connect to any port.

 

 

5 Jack Audio Splitter:

 

With the 5 Jack audio, you get to share it with multiple people without any sacrifices on sound quality.

 

3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Adapter:

 

It consists of a male plug connected by a 7 inches long cable to a 3.55mm female port.

 

3.5mm Y-Splitter Cable Adapter:

 

It does not support microphone usage but can be great for headphones. They comprise of a 3.55mm male plug that supports any smartphone or computer which is then split in Y shape into two female ports.

 

Conclusion

 

Based upon the product usage, you can easily finalize an audio splitter which helps you share content with your colleagues or friends.

 

 

If you found this Blog useful, here are some other Blog post that may be of interest.

 

 
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text 2019-04-26 06:44
Why are RCA Cables Necessary in The Wireless Age?

Wireless headphones, wireless chargers, wireless speakers and a whole bunch of other wireless things are here to stay now. 'Cutting the cord' is the trend.

However, certain products are simply not there yet.

 

If we talk about televisions, even modern day ones that literally roll out of sight, they have to use cables for power, for additional I/O needs, etc.

 

The new age televisions that roll out of sight, or stick to walls like posters, still have to have some way of connecting other devices to them. So, we are nowhere near getting rid of cables altogether yet. The cables themselves have evolved over the years. There are of course cables that are simply audio, like the much controversial 3.5 mm headphone cable. Then there are also solutions for managing both the audio and video, together.

 

So, if we have come this far, why do televisions still have the dated red, yellow and white ports? What is the use of them?

 

Well, those are RCA ports, to which RCA cables connect for audio and video. The yellow connector at the end of the cable is for composite video, the red one, for the right audio channel, and lastly the white one for the left audio channel of stereo sound.

 

The main purpose of these audio video cables in terms of a traditional television set is to connect a video input device, making the TV itself the audio output device. So if you were to connect a video game console to a standard TV, the console would be the input for the video, the TV would display it, and the TV speakers would provide the sound.

 

But this is the most basic setup, and standard RCA audio video cables are not as updated as one may need them to be. They cannot provide the display in extremely high resolution, which we have come to expect nowadays. RCA audio cables are, however, the analog solution you need if your display lacks the fancy multi-channel HDMI port. You will always find RCA ports saving the day.

 

RCA cables cannot combine multi-channel audio in one cable. Therefore, there is one cable for each channel you may want to add to your set up, including a certain number of subwoofers if that's your requirement. Anything over four channels and a subwoofer might be too overwhelming for a home setup. However, audio feedback largely depends on the size of the room, the materials it has and how the sound absorption is.

 

One of the requirements of this is when you have limited HDMI ports on your display. The things that you need to connect to a display have increased over time. You probably have a satellite DTH box, a gaming console, a DVD player, a variety of speakers, and lastly a streaming box or stick. When all put together, it requires a minimum of two HDMI ports, a few audio video ports, of various kinds and perhaps even some spare USB ports for a flash drive or an external hard drive.

 

Another requirement that you might have is to set up a high-end home theatre in your house. And here's how you can do it:

 

  • The main element of a home theatre setup isn't just a large screen. Proper surround sound is an essential part of the whole experience. You can add multiple speakers, via RCA cables, connect an array of subwoofers and enhance the sound.
  • Adding speakers to a display also has another advantage. If one speaker were to malfunction, you can simply replace that particular channel without having to replace your whole setup. This increases the longevity of a very expensive home theatre system.

RCA Cables were first seen in the 1940s which were introduced by Radio Corporation of America. They didn't have the idea that their product would last till date.

 

They might not be the best but they do the work.

 

And in case you were wondering how to connect the RCA cables to HDMI or vice versa, then we have covered that in the next section.

 

HDMI is used for digital signal whereas RCA cables are for analog signaling. To convert the RCA signal to HDMI or vice versa, there needs to be an active signal converter.

 

How to convert or connect HDMI to RCA?

 

  • You can find HDMI cable with RCA connectors on the other end. These look pretty and seems like a perfect solution for a complicated problem, but these cables don't work at all.
  • There are companies selling HDMI to RCA converters which will do the work you want them to but only if the HDMI signal isn't encrypted.
  • Then you can also go with HDMI to RCA converters which come with built-in decryption. With these, the problem of HDMI signal encryption goes out of the question.

 

This article is originally posted here; https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/why-rca-cables-necessary-wireless-age-1719831.html

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