7. Cables

What good are the best individual components if you can't connect them? This is where cables come into play.

Different types of cables are needed for different signal connections.

In all situations where the signal is unamplified, you'll want to use shielded audio cables. Depending on the configuration (balanced or unbalanced, types of connectors), these are often referred to as microphone or instrument cables.

When the signal is amplified (i.e., cables going out of an power amplifier), shielding is not necessary. Instead, the cable should have a larger cross-section. These cables are called speaker cables.

Be careful with active speakers: the power amplifier is built into the enclosure, so the cabling from the amplifier to the speaker is already done within the loudspeaker cabinet. Since the signal from the mixer to the active speaker is still unamplified, you should use shielded audio or microphone cables here as well.

Audio cables come in two flavors: balanced and unbalanced. When it comes to shielding against interference, balanced cables have the upper hand. This makes them a smart choice, particularly for longer cable runs.

If you want to learn more about cable and connector types and the differences between unbalanced and balanced cables, our Online Guide on cables is here to help.