Is it a problem using TS cables for monitors VS TRS cables

Posted on Sep 09, 2010 09:50 pm
Bluesdues
Member Since: Apr 26, 2006

I have a set of TS cables and just don't know how important the difference is.

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Rob Stemple
The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007

Sep 09, 2010 11:49 pm

TS = Unbalanced, so short distances.

TRS = Balanced, so longer distances.

Bluesdues
Member
Since: Apr 26, 2006

Sep 10, 2010 01:23 am

Cool these are short distance for monitors.

Tim N
Uh, at least one more time . . .
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2007

Sep 12, 2010 08:27 pm

Balanced cables offer other advantages besides long runs, like far less likelihood of noise, hum, and ground loop issues, and I think you'll get 6dB extra level output as well (I probably didn't phrase that correctly). You're unlikely to have problems, but if I had monitors with balanced ins that were connected to a balanced source, I definitely would use balanced cables. If the source is unbalanced, than there is no advantage to using the (more expensive) balanced cables.
Not enough is generally written about balanced vs. unbalanced cabling. Maybe Massive Master or someone else can chime in here with some sage advice. I currently use a balanced patchbay to route balanced signals wherever possible; from what I've read and understand, if you can run balanced, you should.

pjk
Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Sep 14, 2010 10:20 am

From my research:

Balanced can drive longer because it sends 2 signals down the cable, 1 normal on HOT wire, 1 inverted on COLD wire, and the ground. In the receiving device, balanced jack re-inverts the COLD signal and merges it to the HOT signal, thereby making the signal phatter, and also removing any noise picked up in the cable.

Balanced also removes noise picked up along the way by the re-inversion at the end, thereby nulling out any 'new' noise from the cable section.

For short runs, this is usually not an issue. 50 ft runs and above I would try to run balanced more, but for 10ft or so, I don't think there's any noticeable difference, in general operation.

So I wouldn't sweat it.