What is the cable used in the public address system? We know that the cable is a wire or multi-wire cable, which conducts electricity. As we all know, the electric cable is made of copper, aluminum or other materials has good conductivity, but it is not as good for audio transmission. The wires of the cable are sometimes arranged in parallel (pairs) and sometimes stacked in tandem (multiple layers). The gauge (or diameter) of the wire is a crucial factor affecting the capacitance of the small capacitance of the audio signal. The selection should be based on what kind of machine you will use, how far away you can install it and how much power it can withstand. Public Address or PA system cable is a two-wire insulated cable which is used to connect together the components of Public address systems. The cable used in public address systems is different from Speakers Cables such as shielded and unshielded microphone cables, instrument cables, and intercom lines.
3 Types of cables are used in public address system
Public Address System that have microphones and speakers installed in a variety of locations around a building often require the use of cables to connect the speakers to the audio source. The three main types of cable used in these systems are similar in appearance and each can be used for any number of applications, but they all work in a different way and differ in price.
The three types of cables used in public address systems are:
1. Speaker Cable
The most common cable used in a public address system is speaker cable. This cable has a function to transmit the audio signal from amplifier to the speakers. The speaker cable is made from copper wire or aluminum wire (aluminum is cheaper than copper and lighter in weight) which are covered with insulation or shielding. Speaker cables are divided into two types:
Unbalanced Speaker Cable
This type of speaker cable is widely used for amateur PA systems, small PA systems, and home theaters. The unbalanced speaker cable has two wires inside that are not shielded by any materials, so it has a high probability of experiencing interference noise such as hum or buzz. Unbalanced speaker cable is usually used at a distance of less than 5 meters (or 15 feet).
Balanced Speaker Cable
This type of cable is widely used in professional PA systems because it has very little possibility of experiencing interference noise. The balanced speaker cable contains two wires inside which are shielded by another wire that serves as an insulator.
2. Microphone Cable
Microphone cable is the lifeblood of any sound system. It carries the audio signal from the microphone to the mixer where it can be amplified and sent to loudspeakers. Microphone cable (or mic cable) is a specialized shielded cable used in audio applications. Microphone cables are designed to carry a low-level audio signal (the output voltage of which is typically in the millivolt range) with minimal noise, distortion, or loss. They are available in both balanced and unbalanced forms. Most microphone cables use a standard 3-pin XLR connector on each end, with pin 1 carrying ground and pins 2 and 3 carrying positive and negative voltages respectively. Microphone cables are also available with other types of connectors, such as TRS and RCA connectors, but are less common for these uses.
3. Analog RCA or XLR Audio Cable
This is a very basic and inexpensive cable that can be used to connect the output of a mixer to the input of an amplifier. It is also the cable used to connect the output of one amplifier to the input of another amplifier. If connecting mixers together, you will need a pair of cables – one for left and one for right. The same goes for connecting amplifiers together. If you are only sending a mono signal, you can just use one cable.
Not all speakers have an XLR connector on them. This cable will convert the XLR connector on your mixer or amplifier into an RCA connector that can be used with any speaker with RCA inputs.