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MSA-1 Cable -- Special Applications:
This page offers practically every possible connector option we have to offer in our MSA-1 Audio Cable. We have set it apart from our main audio cable ordering page because experience has taught us that certain connector combinations, while sometimes needed by a customer for an unusual application, are liable to draw orders in error if made available on the main selection menu. Accordingly, here we include all of the odd things we have available: female 1/4" connectors, XLRs wired unbalanced, and so on, but we do so with a caveat: these unusual connector options are excluded from our normal return policy and will be returnable only if defective.
The MSA-1 cable can be used either as a stereo analogue cable, to wire two-channel devices together, or as a "Y" cable, to wire a single channel from one output to two inputs, or vice versa; these cables can be ordered in the second table below. If ordering a Y cable, please read the instructions very carefully; it is important to specify each connector you will need, and to understand how these connectors will actually be wired. For example, although we can and will put XLR connectors on this cable for you, each of the two cables in MSA-1 is an unbalanced, single-conductor-and-shield cable, so we CANNOT wire the cable in a proper balanced configuration. If you need a balanced Y cable, see our Balanced Audio department.
Lastly, on occasion we are asked for phase-splitting cables from a TRS or XLR, where a balanced signal is run into two unbalanced outputs, one carrying the "plus" side of the balanced line and the other carrying the "minus." These can be ordered in our third table below.
Wiring Notes:
Unless we are otherwise instructed by you, the standard wiring will be:
- For a 1/8" or 1/4" stereo plug at the two-channel end: Left channel (white) to tip, right channel (red) to ring, both grounds to sleeve.
- For an RCA or 1/8" or 1/4" plug, mono (TS) at a single-channel end: signal to tip, ground to sleeve.
- For a 1/8" or 1/4" plug, stereo (TRS) at a single-channel end: signal to tip, ground to sleeve, ring unconnected.
- For any female connector: same wiring as male.
- For an XLR at a single-channel end: Pin 1 ground, pin 2 hot, pin 3 unconnected.
- For an XLR at the balanced end of a phase-splitting cable: Pin 1 both grounds, Pin 2 red ("plus") center conductor, Pin 3 white ("minus") center conductor.
Y-Cables:
Cables ordered in this table carry only one channel of audio; they may be used to split or combine unbalanced analogue audio signals. Bear in mind that while Y-cables work just fine in many applications, there will be situations where they do not, e.g., where device impedances or line levels are significantly different. If you need a balanced Y cable, do not order here; go to our balanced audio department.
NOTE:Unless otherwise instructed, we will strip the outer jacket, on a Y cable, from about six inches of cable. If your application requires a longer split than that, you must send us a note with your order to let us know how long a split you need. When writing, please do not tell us how far apart the jacks are; instead, tell us how many feet of jacket you would like stripped at the two-connector end.
Phase-Splitting Cables:
WARNING: This is an odd application; if you don't know what it is, you don't want it. A phase-splitting cable has a balanced audio connector (TRS or XLR) at one end, to connect to a balanced device, and has two unbalanced connectors at the other end. One of these unbalanced connectors carries the "non-inverted" or "plus" side of the balanced line, and the other carries the "inverted" or "minus" side.