Lautus XLR

We do the Lautus XLR cable options as a way of connecting unbalanced signal to (or from) an XLR.

If you need balanced (both legs) you should look at the Libran range (the clue is in the name: libra - balance).

The Proprius have a balanced input, but can be used unbalanced simply by one leg not "moving" - there is still a difference signal when you think about it.

Likewise, the Majestic has balanced outputs, but few understand or recognise TRS jacks as being balanced. That's because of lack of knowledge due to the "marketing men".

Back in the day of manual switchboards, the balanced telephone lines were plugged to the jack-fields using TRS jack plugs. And before broadcasting became all computer desktop, the analogue balanced signals were still routed using TRS jacks and jack-fields in the rack rooms, or even in the studio.

For short distances you don't need balanced. The balanced connection was meant for long distance connections, as when used with 600 ohm sources and 600 ohm receivers, the noise voltage due to pick-up was attenuated without affecting the signal.

(sidebar: the Majestic outputs true 600 ohm balanced)

The reason why balanced gets used even for short distances in the studio is one of economy only - so you only need one type of connector (or two if you count the TRS jack).

Now, what the average customer is unaware of is the complication balanced transmission and reception adds to the signal.

The hot side requires a non-inverting stage at both ends.

The cold side requires an inverting stage at both ends.

A non-inverting stage has common mode distortion and an inverting stage doesn't.

So, you get 2 x common mode with balanced compared to 1 x common mode unbalanced.

And people say that balanced and unbalanced sound different, and that's why.

So those who say balanced is better like 2 x common mode distortion? Perhaps they think more distortion is better?

If you don't need to add extra stages, which only muck about with distortion (no matter how low), why bother?

Unbalanced is therefore better for short distances.

So if you have your Proprius at the other end of the room to the Majestic, and the cable paths are long to clear all the things in the way, and must be routed around the edges, the cables are going to be long distance - and should be balanced.

But if the Proprius are stood right next to the Majestic, you're just adding internal stages for nothing.

But here's the clever bit! We don't advertise it because the average customer would need more education about common mode distortion, but if you connect an inverting output to an inverting input, there is no common mode distortion!

So I use an "R3" Lautus. That's a Lautus that connects the ring of the TRS to pin 3 of the XLR, and there's no common mode distortion on that link. It only works using a Majestic with the Proprius though.