S4 to KRK RP6 G2 - balanced?

[fullenglishpint]

Balanced needs 3 connections per channel since it basically inverts the signal and sends it down a second 'live' connection, using the 3rd as the ground. XLR has 3 contacts, balanced TRS needs 3 contacts.

[photojojo]

So on balanced stereo cables that only have two contacts is it really mono and they use the second channel for the ground?

[fullenglishpint]

So on balanced stereo cables that only have two contacts is it really mono and they use the second channel for the ground?

For a stereo signal to be balanced, believe it or not you need 6 contacts, 3 for left and 3 for right.

The standard unbalanced RCA connections from say a soundcard to a mixer use a live and a ground for each side so 4 contacts, a headphone cable uses 3 (Left live, Right live and ground).

EDIT: I don't think there is such a thing as a balanced stereo cable... the standard is a pair of XLRs.

[maxonemillionone]

For a stereo signal to be balanced, believe it or not you need 6 contacts, 3 for left and 3 for right.

The standard unbalanced RCA connections from say a soundcard to a mixer use a live and a ground for each side so 4 contacts, a headphone cable uses 3 (Left live, Right live and ground).

EDIT: I don't think there is such a thing as a balanced stereo cable... the standard is a pair of XLRs.

Then why would Native Instruments even advertise the Kontrol S4 as a BALANCED TRS? They aren't idiots and they damn sure are experts.

[Terreur]

maxonemillionone, because it is balanced TRS! The S4, which is why I got the KRK's in first place, have 2 Balanced TRS outputs, both being mono. So one functions as left and the other as right which creates... stereo .
Still, despite the outputs being mono, you'd need stereo plugs on both in order for the mono signal to become balanced. I know it's confusing as f*ck but that's why I started this thread. In order to have balanced lines you need stereo cables even though the signal going through them is mono o.O

(correct me if I'm wrong tho)

[fullenglishpint]

maxonemillionone, because it is balanced TRS! The S4, which is why I got the KRK's in first place, have 2 Balanced TRS outputs, both being mono. So one functions as left and the other as right which creates... stereo .
Still, despite the outputs being mono, you'd need stereo plugs on both in order for the mono signal to become balanced. I know it's confusing as f*ck but that's why I started this thread. In order to have balanced lines you need stereo cables even though the signal going through them is mono o.O

(correct me if I'm wrong tho)

Yep that's it, 3 lines per channel which is what you have in a stereo cable.

[loop]

So on balanced stereo cables that only have two contacts is it really mono and they use the second channel for the ground?

Do not confuse ground and negative - they are not the same. The negative is the optional wire - if present, the cable becomes balanced. The ground is the one which usually collects the interferences.

The signal travels on the Positive/Tip/Hot and the Ring/Sleeve/Negative/Cold wires. The ground is there for grounding only, not for transporting signal (in case the cable is used in balanced mode). If the there's no Ring, then the ground chain is used for both Negative transport and Grounding, which is why it captures interferences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_con...ve_terminology

[maxonemillionone]

maxonemillionone, because it is balanced TRS! The S4, which is why I got the KRK's in first place, have 2 Balanced TRS outputs, both being mono. So one functions as left and the other as right which creates... stereo .
Still, despite the outputs being mono, you'd need stereo plugs on both in order for the mono signal to become balanced. I know it's confusing as f*ck but that's why I started this thread. In order to have balanced lines you need stereo cables even though the signal going through them is mono o.O

(correct me if I'm wrong tho)

Pardon me I mis-interpreted stereo TRS cables as being the same as mono. Alas in another discussion the distinction was made that true balanced stereo TRS cables has a fourth ring upon the necking which brings me to the point that I should have never posted. Sorry

I'm writing an essay for my cousin so my family back home in California buy's me an APC40. That's why I sound all intellectual right now. I hate it >.>

[style121]

This is something I was reading up about too since it's also going to bother me about what cables to buy. I also have the Audio 4 DJ, and its only got RCA inputs and outputs, but with a ground connector. So how exactly would this work with gear you want to run without unbalanced cabling (RCA's)? Would I have to connect a ground wire to the terminal on the A4Dj, and then run it along the speaker cable to the ground on the equipment, assuming there is actually a grounding terminal on the equipment.

Very confused.