Topic: Cables Balanced and Unbalanced
How are they different and, when to, and not to use each one for amps and mixers?
Re: Cables Balanced and Unbalanced
That's a helpful starting point on balanced versus unbalanced cables! While minimizing noise is a key factor, I've found other considerations like cable length and impedance matching can also heavily influence the signal quality, especially in complex audio setups. Understanding these nuances is crucial for achieving optimal sound.
Re: Cables Balanced and Unbalanced
Unbalanced connections use the ground as a 0-point reference for voltage. So there is 1 "hot" wire and 1 ground. The voltage that makes up the audio is there difference between the ground and the hot wire. If any voltage happens to make its way onto the ground wire, either by external interference or because your GPU is leaking voltage to the ground wire (unfortunately common with PCs), you get noise.
- cutesweety
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Re: Cables Balanced and Unbalanced
Balanced cables have three conductors and are designed to reduce noise over long distances, making them ideal for connecting mixers to amps or audio interfaces. Unbalanced cables have two conductors and are best for short runs, like connecting guitars or pedals. Using a balanced cable for long connections helps avoid hum and interference, while unbalanced works fine for short distances and simpler setups.
Music lover and guitarist interested in learning, practicing, and sharing chords and tabs. 
- SophieBuckland
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Re: Cables Balanced and Unbalanced
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!
Guitarist and song‑tinkerer who lives for finding the right chord, exploring open tunings, and jamming along with both timeless classics and new material. Always happy to share tabs, learn from others, and keep the music flowing.
- SallyBlake
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Re: Cables Balanced and Unbalanced
Balanced vs unbalanced really comes down to distance and noise control. If you’re running a short guitar cable into an amp, unbalanced works perfectly and is the standard. But once you start dealing with longer runs, like going from a stage box to a mixer or connecting gear across a room balanced cables become the safer choice because they cancel out interference. In simple terms: short = unbalanced is fine, long = go balanced if the gear supports it. Keeps your signal clean and avoids all the hums and buzzes that can creep in.
Guitarist and chord-crafter, lost in riffs and lyrics from dawn to dusk. I live for the journey—from first strum to final note.