Audio system equipment and equipment to reach between the contact transmission, communication, etc., must rely on its connectivity tools, which is the wire and connectors. It occupies a very important role in the entire audio system, now the professional audio system used in the connecting wire and connector types more, the following Shenzhen Yiho audio company will be common wire and connector types for a brief introduction:
A variety of commonly used professional audio wire classification:
1, professional audio line
Now the common professional audio line has two cores, Three-core, four-core, five-core, etc., this line due to the shielding effect is good, can be used to transmit high-quality audio signals; now the more professional microphone generally use more than three-core wire, this wire is strong anti-interference ability, you can do long-distance transmission. Of course, this wire can also transmit other signals, such as the transmission of computer lights DMX512 control signals.
2, coaxial cable
This coaxial cable is generally used in the video, there are also some as audio lines, due to the poor anti-jamming ability of this wire, coupled with the design is not mainly used to transmit audio signals, so it is not suitable for long-distance audio signal transmission.
3, centralized cable
is more than one signal line wrapped in the same protective tube, generally connected to the internal use of the system to reduce the number of independent wire. Now also used in such as television broadcast trucks, underground pre-buried and other special aspects. This kind of wire is generally have specialized manufacturers processing good, quality is more guaranteed.
4, optical fiber
Many CD, MD and other audio recording and playback equipment is often used on the transmission line, which transmits digital signals. With the popularity of digital, the future use of optical fiber in the audio system will be more and more.
5, MIDI line
Usually five-core wire, transmitting information about MIDI, this type of wire is now mostly used in keyboards, effects and other equipment. Usually can be procured to a variety of commonly used MIDI cables connected to the finished line; and transmission quality is also better; so here will not be detailed.
6, other types
There are some special wires, such as the original computer system used to connect to the network of multi-core network cable can now also be used to transmit audio and video, to achieve the computer automatic on-demand function.
A variety of commonly used professional audio connector classification:
1, XLR
Commonly known as the XLR connector (Cannon), such a connector is made up of three points, respectively, 1 - Ground Ground; 2 - Hot (+ level); 3 - Cold (- level), of course there are some devices in the provisions of the 3 is the hot end (+ level); 2 is the cold (- level). Level), this point to see the manual of the equipment. XLR plug-in connection is the most widely used in professional audio systems in a class of connectors, can be used to transmit various types of audio signals in the audio system, the general balanced input and output terminals are using XLR connectors to connect. In a sense, the use of XLR connectors is also a professional audio system is different from the civilian audio characteristics of one of the benefits are:
a, the use of balanced transmission mode, resistance to external interference is strong, conducive to the transmission of high-fidelity signals over long distances;
b, with a spring-locking device, a reliable connection, it is not easy to pull off;
c, the connector provides for the signal The flow direction of the connector, easy to prevent errors in the connection;
Cannon plug has a male and female plug points, the same socket has a male socket and female socket points. The contact point of the male plug is the pin, while the contact point of the female plug is the jack. In accordance with common international practice, the male plug or socket as the input of the signal; female plugs and sockets as the output of the signal. Common XLR connector see below:
2, RCA
In China is generally known as the Lotus connector (because some types of RCA connector looks like a lotus petal), such a connector is made up of two contacts, respectively, for the hot end (+ level); Cold ground (- level), the use of coaxial cable connection, of course, can also be used for multi-core audio cables, often used in the average household Audio equipment. Because of its length in 3.5 cm or so, so usually I also call it: 3.5 cm plug.
RCA plugs have a male and female plug points; common RCA connector see below:
3, TRS
generally called stereo connector, which is composed of three points of contact, respectively: the head end (+ level); ring end (- level); Ground (Ground), the use of small headphones or laptop computers and other equipment on the length of about 3.5cm, but most still used in professional audio equipment. But the most is still used in professional audio, its length is: 6.35cm, the current professional mixing consoles of high resistance input and insert jacks are mostly used in this plug, other audio equipment is also mostly used in this port. Common TRS connector see below:
4, TS
Commonly known as mono (sound) connector, such a connector is composed of two contacts, respectively, for the head end (+ level); ground end (Ground). The above two connectors, used in professional audio in its length of 6.35cm or so, so usually I also call it: 6.35 plug. Although the length of TS connector and TRS connector is the same, the appearance is also very similar, but the specific function can be different, TRS stereo connector can be used with three-core wire to do balanced way to transmit signals; but TS mono connector can only be used in an unbalanced way of signal transmission. Common TS connector see below:
5, speaker connectors
Now generally use 4P (4-core) professional connectors and 2P (banana plug) connectors, and some use TS mono connectors or other methods. Common speaker connectors see the following chart:
6, various types of adapters
This type of adapter can be easily used in a variety of different connectors between the conversion. The following chart is some common audio converter;
Audio system in the production of connecting wires
Currently, professional audio equipment, input and output signal mode is basically divided into: balanced mode (Balance) and unbalanced mode (Unbalance). Balanced and balanced, unbalanced and unbalanced between the port of course, you can directly feed the signal; in the higher demand occasions, balanced and unbalanced between the port, it is necessary to go through a special converter to connect with each other. But in the actual project, as long as the signal line is not too long, the interference is not too big, balanced port and unbalanced port can be directly connected to the normal transmission of signals.
In an audio system, in addition to amplifiers and speakers between the power transmission line, the signal connection line between other equipment should be as much as possible to use the balanced mode of transmission, which can improve the system's anti-interference ability to increase the effective transmission distance of the signal;
1, balanced and balanced between the signal line
1) XLR XLR male connector ←→ XLR XLR female connector: this line is the most used in the professional audio system, the production side of the XLR male and female between the 1, 2, 3 three contacts were connected, contact 1 to the shield, contact 2 to the hot end of the signal (+ pole), contact 3 to the cold end of the signal (- pole).
2) TRS stereo connector ←→ TRS stereo connector: the production side of the two TRS stereo connector respectively between the head end (+ level), ring end (- level), ground (Ground) three contacts are connected. This line should actually be used in the sound system, but many sound engineers due to the figure to save trouble, often with TS mono (sound) connectors instead of this, this is especially important to note, so that instead of signal transmission from the balanced transmission mode into unbalanced transmission.
3) XLR XLR male or female connector ← → TRS stereo connector: the production side of the card XLR XLR XLR connector point 1 (shielded ground) to the TRS stereo ground (Ground); XLR point 2 hot (+ pole) to the head of the TRS (+ pole); XLR point 3 cold (-pole) to the ring end of the TRS (-pole). This is also a balanced transmission method and is often used in professional audio systems.
4) XLR XLR XLR male ←→ XLR XLR male or XLR XLR female ←→ XLR XLR female: This kind of line is a little bit special, most of them are used in the amplifier and amplifier or amplifier and other peripheral equipment between the signal connection, the production of two connectors are also between the 1, 2, 3 three joints connected to the shielding layer, joint 1, joint 2, the signal hot (+ pole), joint 3, the signal cold (- pole). 3 to the cold end of the signal (- pole).
And one more thing, in order to prevent "loop interference", we can put a signal line in a XLR XLR connector's contact 1 (shield ground) or a TRS stereo connector ground (Ground) in special circumstances empty a to not connect, for example: a XLR XLR male to XLR XLR female balanced line, we have a XLR XLR male to XLR XLR female balanced line, we have a XLR XLR male to XLR XLR XLR female balanced line, we have to connect to the shield of the signal line. XLR XLR female balanced line, we can empty out the XLR XLR female connector inside the point 1 (shielded ground) to not connect, so that you can avoid some interference between the equipment; TRS connector principle is the same, any empty out a ground (Ground) point on the good. So a balanced line we originally made a **** to weld 6 soldering points, now empty a to weld 5 soldering points, but non-balanced line can not be used in this way.
2, unbalanced and unbalanced between the signal line
generally refers to the TS mono (sound) connector ← → TS mono (sound) connector, RCA Lotus connector signal line between, this is a kind of unbalanced transmission, the production side of the two TS mono (sound) connector (RCA Lotus connector) respectively, the header between the two (+ level), ground (Ground) two connectors are connected respectively.
3, balanced and unbalanced signal line between
XLR XLR XLR male or XLR XLR female connector ← → TS mono (acoustic) connector, this connection actually becomes an unbalanced signal transmission mode, the production of XLR XLR connectors, contacts 1 and 3 merged with shielded wires, and then docked TS mono (acoustic) connector ground (Ground); XLR XLR connector hot end (+ pole), and the ground (Ground). Junction 2 hot end (+ pole) to the TS mono (sound) connector head end (+ pole). In the professional audio system, this kind of cable is often used in the box karaoke system for microphone cable.
4, speaker wire
In the professional audio system amplifier and speaker connection, speaker wire resistance should be as low as possible, should be done to choose thick, short some of the wire and reasonable wiring. Speaker wire is common multi-core, 50-core, 100-core, 200-core double jacketed wire, commonly known as gold and silver wire; also used for indoor fixed speaker line and outdoor mobile cable speaker line. Speaker cable is a high level high current signal transmission line, used for amplifiers and speakers between the connection. Selection should be based on the need to choose a different core wire speaker wire, and check whether there is a broken or short-circuit phenomenon.
Nowadays, professional speakers generally use four-core professional connector, amplifier is also generally used four-core professional connector or 2P terminal, in the production, the speaker four-core professional connector 1 + (+ pole) and 1- (-pole) and amplifier output (+ pole) and (-pole) correctly connected to the line. There are also some speakers or amplifiers using TS mono connectors and terminals, the principle of its connection is the same. Positive pole to positive pole, negative pole to negative pole, if connected to the reverse speaker will be inverted, which will affect the sound quality and stability of the speaker, while avoiding short-circuiting when connecting, otherwise it will damage the amplifier equipment or speakers.
Overall the above is that we often use in the system connection line type, perhaps before we did not pay much attention to the signal line and speaker line connection, to signal line for example: in fact, it is just like the blood vessels in the body as important! And from the stability and long-term considerations, we must use high-quality wires and high-quality plugs, because, high-quality connectors and wires have the following three characteristics:
1, has a good frequency difference in the conductive properties
Ordinary audio use of connectors and wires are mostly ordinary copper, in general, to meet the requirements of the signal distortion caused by the wire is not easy to detect. Professional high-grade audio equipment on the connection wire requirements are very strict. The most basic requirement is a low impedance, its DC resistance and ordinary wire is not a particularly big difference, but its AC impedance and impedance with the frequency of the degree of change is much lower than ordinary wire. As the audio signal contains rich harmonic components, the higher the number of harmonics, the weaker the energy, the easier the conductor resistance is consumed, and these high harmonics is the sound signal timbre structure of the details of the part, such as the use of ordinary wire transfer, it is easy to loss and loss of details on behalf of the timbre of the high harmonics, so that the timbre of the lack of hierarchy, sense of detail.
2, high purity connectors and wires have good high-frequency penetration
The use of high-purity connectors and wires, increase the transmission line diameter and surface area, reduce wire resistance, is conducive to the transmission of high-frequency signals. Due to the skin effect of the wire, high-frequency overtone signals in the transmission from the inside of the wire to the outside of the surface layer of the agglomeration flow, the higher the signal frequency, the more pronounced the skin effect, so that the wire on the high-frequency overtone signals, the impedance of the impedance increases. The larger the surface area of the wire, the more conducive to the transmission of high-frequency overtone signals. At the same time, in order to ensure that the wire diameter and surface area is large enough, the common high-fidelity wire is the use of high conductivity OFC (oxygen-free copper) multi-core wire textile and become. The higher the purity of oxygen-free copper, the better the conductivity, of course, the higher the price. OFC hi-fi wire purity is generally used "N" to indicate, such as the purity of oxygen-free copper up to 99.99%, that is, 4 nine, known as the 4N line, such as up to 7 nine known as the 7N line and so on. General hi-fi line up to 4N or more can be up to 8N.
Of course; as we all know, the resistivity of gold and silver in the metal for the smallest, the best conductivity, but if the use of gold and silver as the production of audiophile line material, the price is very expensive, which is the majority of people can not accept.
Note: "OFC" is the abbreviation of English "OxygenFree Copper", which means "Oxygen-Free Copper".
3, smaller inter-wire electrostatic capacity
The existence of inter-wire electrostatic capacitance of the wire has a greater impact on the loss of low-frequency signals. Therefore, for low-frequency signal transmission of multi-core wire used in the dielectric material dielectric constant to be small, in order to reduce its electrostatic capacitance. Ordinary wire insulation are made of rubber or PVC, not only the dielectric constant is large, but also with the frequency change, causing low-frequency loss is large. High-fidelity wire is best used in polypropylene PP, polyethylene PE, fluorine plastic, natural rubber and other materials made of wire insulation, excellent electrical performance, dielectric constant is small and basically does not change with the change in frequency.
Of course, we use high-quality wires and high-quality plugs in the audio equipment connection; we also need to ensure that the quality, trouble-free to weld them well. The reasoning in between is not detailed here;