Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What is the difference between a balanced XLR mic cable and a balanced XLR speaker cable?
I need a speaker cable for my new amp, and don't want to accidently buy a mic cable. Until now, I've only ever used old style 1/4" jack cables (for my older valve amps), and I am certainly aware of the vast difference between a guitar cable and one of these.

The guage of the wires in the cable is very important. Mic cables usually have AWG 24 guage wire, much too small to handle the output of most amps. You want at leat AWG 18 guage, but preferably AWG 16 or even AWG 12 guage. Do you have a TE amp? BTW, the smaller the number, the fatter the wire.

If TE stands for Trace Elliot, then yes I do. If TE stands for anything other than Trace Elliot, then no I don't!

I thought you had a Trace Elliot as it is the only amp I can think of off-hand that uses XLRs for speaker connections.

I ended up making my own speakers cables from two XLR jacks, and a mains-voltage extension cable (240V, three core(earth/live/neutral)). If the extension cable can handle 10 Amps, I'm pretty sure it can handle the current of 300W @ 8Ohms. Works fine for everything I've tried so far, though I never turn it up past 2 or 3 on the output volume.

That's the best solution, make your own! You will have no trouble with those.

The difference is the same as with 1/4" cables:

microphone/instrument cables use a higher-gauge (thinner) wire, and are shielded.

speaker cables use a lower-gauge (thicker) were, and are not shielded.

All my 1/4" speaker cables use 6 or 7 gauge, clear-coated twin cable (same as my home hi-fi system), so I don't confuse them with my black plastic covered guitar cables.

That's a good tip, Mark!

I use lamp cord (that is obviously not shielded) for my DIY speaker cables, and it seems to work OK, and I don't get it confused with my instrument cables.