Hi Chris,
Balanced and unbalanced cables serve different purposes, and knowing when to use each is really important for getting the best sound.
Unbalanced cables (like standard guitar cables) have two wires: a signal and a ground. They’re great for short distances, like connecting your guitar to an amp. However, they’re more susceptible to noise and interference if the cable runs are long.
Balanced cables (like XLR or TRS cables) have three wires: positive, negative, and ground. They’re designed to cancel out noise and interference, making them ideal for long cable runs, mixers, and professional audio setups.
When to use what:
Guitar to amp: Usually unbalanced is fine if it’s a short run.
Guitar to mixer or long stage runs: Use balanced if your instrument or DI box supports it to minimize hum and noise.
Effects and pedalboards: Depends on distance—keep it short with unbalanced cables.
So, the main rule is: use unbalanced for short runs and simple setups, and balanced for longer runs or when you want to avoid interference in complex setups.
Hope that helps!