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The XLR connector is a rugged electrical connector design. XLR plugs and sockets are used mostly in professional audio and video electronics cabling applications. Home audio and video electronics normally use RCA connectors. The name XLR is taken from the part code assigned to the connector by its manufacturer, Cannon (now part of ITT); the connector is colloquially known as a cannon plug or canon. Many companies now make XLRs.
1 Patterns of XLR connector
The most common is the 3-pin XLR3, used almost universally as a balanced audio connector for high quality microphones and connections between equipment. The XLR5, with five smaller pins than the XLR3, is the standard connector for DMX digital lighting control. XLR4s with four pins are used for ClearCom and Tecpro intercom systems and the older AMX analog lighting control.
Many other types exist, with various pin numbers. Most notable are two now obsolete 3-pin patterns manufactured by ITT Cannon. The power Cannon had red insulation, and was intended as a mains power connector, but has been superseded by the IEC mains connector. The loudspeaker Cannon had blue or white insulation (depending on its gender), was intended for connections between audio power amplifiers and loudspeakerA loudspeaker is a device which converts an electrical signal into sound. Dynamic loudspeakers A Dynamic Cone Loudspeaker The traditional design is in two parts, a fibrous semi-rigid cone and attached to the apex of the cone is a coil of fine wire (usualls, and was superseded in professional audio applications by the Speakon connector developed by NeutrikNeutrik are a Liechtenstein based company that specialises in making professional audio connectors such as XLRs. They compete with Cannon and Switchcraft..
2 XLR3 connectors
Left to right: Cannon XLR3-12C (line), Switchcraft X3F (line), Neutrik NC3MP panel, Neutrik NC3FP panel
EIA Standard RS-297-A describes the use of the XLR3 for audioAudio can mean: sound that can be heard electronic or other signals of frequencies audible to humans (about 20--20,000 Hz) broadcasting or reception of sound high-fidelity sound reproduction sound recording and reproduction in general "I hear" in the Lati signal level applications. Some audio equipment manufacturers reverse the use of pin 2 (properly the normal input) and pin 3 (inverting input). This reflects their usage since before any standard existed. Pin 1 is always earth, and many connectors connect it internally to the connector body.
An XLR3M (male) connector is used for an output and an XLR3F (female) for an input. Thus a microphone will have a built-in XLR3M connector, and signal cables such as microphone cables will each have an XLR3F at one end and an XLR3M at the other. At the stage boxA stage box is a shoebox sized enclosure that has typically 16-24 female Canon connectors mounted on it as a termination of the multicore cable that runs to the sound desk or audio mixer. All of the microphones and musical instruments connect to the stage end of a multicore cableA multicore cable or snake (in the audio recording and entertainment fields) is a compact cable, typically about the diameter of a coin, which contains typically 16-24 individual microphone cables all housed by one common outer rubber jacket. The inner mi, the inputs to the mixing desk will be XLR3F connectors, while the returns to the stage will be XLR3M connectors. Similarly, on a mixing desk, the microphone inputs will be XLR3F connectors, and any balanced outputs XLR3M connectors.
At one time XLR3 connectors were also used extensively on loudspeaker cables, as when first introduced they represented a new standard of ruggedness, and economic alternatives were not readily available. The convention was that a 2-conductor loudspeaker cable had XLR3F connectors on both ends, to distinguish it from a 3-conductor shielded signal level cable which has an XLR3F at one end and an XLR3M at the other. Either pin 2 or 3 was live, depending on the manufacturer, with pin 1 always the 'earthy' return. This usage is now both obsolete and dangerous to equipment but is still sometimes encountered, especially on older equipment. For example, some loudspeakers have a built-in XLR3M as an input connector.
