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How to Solder an XLR Connection

The XLR cable typically is used to carry audio signals, such as sound from a microphone. There are two types of XLR connector, male and female, and one of each on the end of a standard XLR. The male end connects to the output device, and the female end connects to the input device. XLR cables are capable of delivering phantom-power, from a powered device such as a mixing console to a passive device such as a microphone. If you want to make your own custom length cables or repair existing XLR connections, it's essential to solder the connection.

Things You'll Need

  • Wire cutters
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • 30-watt soldering iron
  • Solder
  • Sponge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a length of XLR wire to your personal preference with a pair of wire cutters. XLR wire is comprised of four individual wires, each wrapped in rubber insulation.

    • 2

      Strip approximately 13 millimeters of insulation from each end of the cable. Use wire-strippers to pull back the wire to expose four braided, rubber-insulated wires beneath, including two pale and two dark.

    • 3

      Untwist the braided wires using a pair of needle-nose pliers on both ends of the wire. Strip away 13 millimeters of insulation from the end of each individual wire to expose the bare metal and make soldering easier.

    • 4

      Use a 30-watt soldering to lightly fuse the two pale wire ends together. Put a small amount of solder on the end of the soldering iron and press it lightly against the tip of the four wires. Repeat this to solder the dark wires together to create two separate wires. Do the same at the other end.

    • 5
      Don't use a tinned tip to heat the pin. Only use a clean tip for heating.

      Clean any solder residue from the soldering iron with a damp sponge. Let the soldering iron cool for 20 minutes before touching it, or turn on a spare soldering iron with a clean tip.

    • 6

      Heat the back end of pin one of the female connector shield with a clean soldering tip. Pin one is the depressed pin; the other two are extended. If unsure, read the pin index on the connector shield. Solder the pale wires to the back of pin one. It doesn't matter which end of the XLR wire you connect to the connector.

    • 7

      Heat the back end of pin two. Solder the dark wires to pin two. Slide the female connector shield over the soldered wires. This completes the female end of the XLR connector.

    • 8

      Slide the female metal casing over the shield connector pins. It should fit snugly over the circular connector pin housing. Twist the shield until you hear a click.

    • 9

      Heat the back end of pin one on the male connector. Pin one on the male connector shield is not depressed, but fully extended like pin two and pin three. Solder the pale wires to pin one.

    • 10

      Heat the back of pin two, solder the dark wires to the back of pin two. Slide the male connector shield over the wires.

    • 11

      Slide the male metal casing over the shield connector pins as per the female end of the wire.

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