A Practical Guide to Balanced and Unbalanced Audio
The two ways audio signals travel down cables, and why balanced connections resist noise.
Tomas Lindqvist
At a glance
- Balanced lines carry the signal twice, in opposite polarity, and cancel noise at the input
- Connectors XLR and TRS connections are usually balanced
- Unbalanced connections use two conductors and pick up more noise over distance
- Adapters converting formats incorrectly can cause level and noise problems
Why it matters
Why it matters: Unbalanced cables pick up hum and interference over distance, which explains many mysterious studio noises.
Best practice
- Use balanced connections for long runs
- Keep unbalanced cables short
- Use direct boxes to convert instrument signals
- Keep audio cables away from power cables
- Test cables when noise appears
Common pitfalls
Watch out for:
- Long unbalanced runs
- Cheap adapters in signal paths
- Audio and power cables bundled together
- Assuming a connector shape means balanced
When to call in a specialist
Bottom line Bring in help when installations pick up noise.
Where this comes from
- Audio Engineering Society — Educational resources
- European Broadcasting Union — Technical recommendations for production
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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