What Is Star Quad XLR?

Star quad XLR Microphone cables are a premium XLR configuration that use the same 3 pin connector we are all familiar with, but with a different wire than the standard option. This wire has an additional two conductors compared to standard XLR cables and they are wrapped in a spiral formation. You could think of it as a "twisted quad" as opposed to a twisted pair.

What's the advantage of Star Quad XLR Cabling?

The advantage to star quad microphone cables is a significant reduction in magnetic interference that results in a cleaner signal in many common situations when compared to standard XLR. Although regular XLR cables are protected from electromagnetic interference due to their shielding and the noise-cancellation inherent to the balanced XLR standard, star quad (sometimes called quad core) wire offers an additional 20 db of potential noise reduction.

Should I use Star Quad XLR Cables?

Whether or not you should use star quad microphone cables depends entirely on your situation. If your cables are in a highly noisy environment, perhaps sharing an enclosure with power cables or other active electronics for example, then you may benefit from the reduced noise. If your microphone is running straight into an audio interface in a low-noise environment over a short distance, then star quad may be overkill.

Panel-Mount Star Quad XLR Microphone Cables

Since racks and enclosures tend to have active electronics in them, star quad is a great option for panel-mount XLR cables.

Should I use Standard XLR or Star Quad?

If you're looking for a microphone cable that will be placed before your preamp (weak signals) then star quad should be considered. If you're carrying a stronger signal, let's say at line level, from your preamp to your compressor or EQ, then star quad may be unnecessary and standard XLR may be more appropriate.

Where can I find Star Quad XLR Cables?

If you're looking for star quad XLR cables, visit our custom cables page and request a quote for custom star quad XLR cables:

Where can I find Standard XLR Cables?

If star quad is unnecessary in your use case, consider our standard Panel-Mount XLR product line that we offer in various configurations: