XLR, Jack and Speakon Cables Explained
Live sound runs on three main cable types. Here's what XLR, jack and Speakon cables do and where each one belongs in your rig.
Cables are the least glamorous part of a rig and the most common cause of a dead channel. Most live sound runs on three connector types: XLR, jack and Speakon. Knowing which is which, and what each carries, means you pack the right leads, troubleshoot faster when something cuts out, and read an input list without confusion.
If you are planning a setup, the guide to what to include on your stage plot helps you account for the connections you need.
XLR: the Workhorse of Live Audio
XLR is the three-pin connector you see on microphones and most balanced audio links. It carries a balanced signal, which rejects noise over long runs, so it handles everything from a vocal mic to the feed from a DI box to the desk. XLR locks into place with a small clip, so it does not fall out when someone knocks a cable, which is part of why it dominates live sound.
Most of the cables snaking around a stage are XLR. Carrying a few spare XLR leads of different lengths covers the majority of connection problems you will meet at a gig.
Jack: Instruments and Some Signals
Jack connectors, the quarter-inch plugs on the end of a guitar lead, carry the signal from instruments to amps, pedals and DI boxes. A standard instrument jack is unbalanced, which is why long jack runs pick up noise and why a DI box converts that signal to balanced XLR for the trip to the desk. Balanced jack connectors, called TRS, also exist and turn up on some keyboards and desk connections.
Keep spare jack leads for your instruments and pedalboard, since a failed guitar lead silences you completely until you swap it.
Speakon: Power to the Speakers
Speakon is a chunky locking connector with one job. It carries the amplified signal from a power amp to passive speakers. It handles the high current that speaker connections demand and twists to lock so it cannot pull out under load. If you run powered speakers with built-in amplifiers, you may never touch a Speakon, but a passive PA relies on them.
Never confuse a Speakon speaker cable with a signal cable, since they carry very different things and are not interchangeable.
Pack Spares and Stay Organised
The cheapest insurance at a gig is spare cables, and a dead lead is the easiest failure to fix if you have a replacement. Keep a few spare XLR and jack leads in your gig kit at all times.
To map how your rig connects, the Dashplan Stage Plot Builder lets you lay out inputs and gear so nothing is missed on the night. Cables and connectors are tracked gear too, and the Dashplan Gig Manager helps you log expenses against your income.
Learn the three connectors and the stage stops being a tangle of mystery leads, becoming a system you understand and can fix.
Plan your rig in the Dashplan Stage Plot Builder.
Try Dashplan free
Band management software for working musicians. No credit card required to get started.