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[Tony Mamoh]

I just tried doing a continuity test on a suspected defective TRS Male to XLR Female connector (adapter cable??). In my opinion, the correct continuity should be:

Tip --> 1 (on XLR Female)
Ring--> 3 (on XLR Female)
Sleeve ---> 2 (on XLR Female)

However, I have a Live Wire Solutions Cable Tester LWSCT (a US product) with instructions embedded on the packet which has a slightly different 'rule'

I have attached photo of the product packaging.

For clarity, I am using a balanced TRS and a balanced XLR .

Can someone help me reconcile the differences in expected results from what I believe is correct vs what the cable tester 'instructions ' suggest.

Below is what the cable tester suggests:

TRS to XLR balanced
1 sleeve. Pin 1, Pin 3
2 Tip Pin 2
3 Ring. Pin1, Pin 3 (shorted with sleeve)

I'm always keen to learn so will gladly refer to any website that provides more knowledge and/or basis for what the product manufacturer says.

[Art Welter]

In my opinion, the correct continuity should be:

Tip --> 1 (on XLR Female)
Ring--> 3 (on XLR Female)
Sleeve ---> 2 (on XLR Female)

Below is what the cable tester suggests:
TRS to XLR balanced
1 sleeve. Pin 1, Pin 3
2 Tip Pin 2
3 Ring. Pin1, Pin 3 (shorted with sleeve)

Tony,
Tip or pin 2 are "+" (positive) by standard convention, Pin 1 is and always has been shield in a properly wired XLR, and should never be connected to "+" in a "normal" application.

The correct XLR to TRS wiring is:
Pin 1 (Shield) Sleeve
Pin 2 (+) Tip
Pin 3 (-) Ring

Pin 1 (Shield) and Pin 3 (-) may be connected in T/S wiring.
Pin 1 can be "lifted" (disconnected) for balanced operation using T/S connectors.

Prior to the AES14 Standard adopted in 1975, whether Pin 2 or 3 was "+" was determined by the particular manufacturer.
Those of us that preferred Pin 2 as "-" (like Ampex since 1950...) lost that convention round, and confusion persisted for at least another decade after, change does not come easily.

Art

[John L Nobile]

Those of us that preferred Pin 2 as "-" (like Ampex since 1950...) lost that convention round, and confusion persisted for at least another decade after, change does not come easily.

Art

Good to know that it wasn't just me.

[Art Welter]

Good to know that it wasn't just me.

Ain't just you and me, XLR polarity convention still can be problematic:

The Countryman Type 85S is a two-channel version of the classic Type 85 FET direct box. The 85S is wired Pin 2 positive (the AES14 Standard adopted in 1975) while the one-channel Type 85 is still Pin 3 positive.

The RTA-420, a good back electret condenser microphone ideal for measurement systems on a budget, is also still Pin 3 positive.

Always budget for a few XLR polarity reverse cords...

[John L Nobile]

Always budget for a few XLR polarity reverse cords...

I still have some that I made from the old days. Also worked well for overheads/snares when the board didn't have the polarity switch.

[Tony Mamoh]

Tony,
Tip or pin 2 are "+" (positive) by standard convention, Pin 1 is and always has been shield in a properly wired XLR, and should never be connected to "+" in a "normal" application.

The correct XLR to TRS wiring is:
Pin 1 (Shield) Sleeve
Pin 2 (+) Tip
Pin 3 (-) Ring

Pin 1 (Shield) and Pin 3 (-) may be connected in T/S wiring.
Pin 1 can be "lifted" (disconnected) for balanced operation using T/S connectors.

Prior to the AES14 Standard adopted in 1975, whether Pin 2 or 3 was "+" was determined by the particular manufacturer.
Those of us that preferred Pin 2 as "-" (like Ampex since 1950...) lost that convention round, and confusion persisted for at least another decade after, change does not come easily.

Art

Thnaks for the wonderful education! I also believe the PIN numbers you have outlined are for the female XLR?  Since the PIN numbers are inverted for the male.

For the male XLR; Pin 2 is - (cold), while pin 3 is + (hot)

[Mac Kerr]

Thnaks for the wonderful education! I also believe the PIN numbers you have outlined are for the female XLR?  Since the PIN numbers are inverted for the male.

For the male XLR; Pin 2 is - (cold), while pin 3 is + (hot)

No.  The shield-pin 1, hot-pin 2, cold-pin3 standard applies to both male and female connectors. On the back of the connector they are in different locations on male and female, but the number scheme still applies.

Mac

[Mike Caldwell]

I just tried doing a continuity test on a suspected defective TRS Male to XLR Female connector (adapter cable??). In my opinion, the correct continuity should be:

Tip --> 1 (on XLR Female)
Ring--> 3 (on XLR Female)
Sleeve ---> 2 (on XLR Female)

However, I have a Live Wire Solutions Cable Tester LWSCT (a US product) with instructions embedded on the packet which has a slightly different 'rule'

I have attached photo of the product packaging.

For clarity, I am using a balanced TRS and a balanced XLR .

Can someone help me reconcile the differences in expected results from what I believe is correct vs what the cable tester 'instructions ' suggest.

Below is what the cable tester suggests:

TRS to XLR balanced
1 sleeve. Pin 1, Pin 3
2 Tip Pin 2
3 Ring. Pin1, Pin 3 (shorted with sleeve)

I'm always keen to learn so will gladly refer to any website that provides more knowledge and/or basis for what the product manufacturer says.

Follow this link for equipment interconnect cable wiring.

https://www.rane.com/note110.html

[Tony Mamoh]

No.  The shield-pin 1, hot-pin 2, cold-pin3 standard applies to both male and female connectors. On the back of the connector they are in different locations on male and female, but the number scheme still applies.

Mac

Thanks Mike. My mistake. The number scheme is same....its the positions on the make and female connectors that are swapped for hit and cold. Really appreciate your putting me in line!

[ProSoundWeb Community]