TRS vs XLR Cable: What's the Difference?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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A TRS cable and an XLR cable carry a balanced audio signal, but they use different connectors. TRS uses a 1/4-inch jack with tip, ring and sleeve contacts, while XLR uses a 3-pin connector with a locking latch. XLR is the standard connection for microphones, and it is the connector that carries 48V phantom power.
What a TRS connector is
A TRS connector has tip, ring and sleeve contacts. Those contacts let a TRS cable carry a balanced mono signal: the tip carries the hot signal, the ring carries the cold signal and the sleeve is the ground. TRS plugs fit 1/4-inch jacks on audio interfaces, mixers, headphones and instruments. A TRS cable also carries a stereo signal on headphones, where the same contacts carry left, right and ground instead.
What an XLR connector is
An XLR connector has 3 pins inside a round metal shell, and the plug locks into the socket with a latch. The 3 pins carry the same balanced signal as a TRS cable: hot, cold and ground. XLR is the connector on microphones, and it is the connector that carries 48V phantom power from a mixer or interface to a microphone.
Balanced signal and noise rejection
Both TRS and XLR cables carry a balanced signal, which cancels noise picked up along the cable. The balanced design sends the hot and cold versions of the signal down separate conductors, and the receiving device cancels the noise that is common to both. That is why balanced cables suit long runs between a microphone and a mixer or interface.
Which connector to use
Match the cable to the sockets on your gear. Microphones take XLR, so a microphone cable is an XLR cable. Line-level gear with 1/4-inch jacks, such as an audio interface or a mixer, takes TRS for a balanced connection. If the sockets do not match, use an adapter cable with a TRS plug and an XLR connector, and check that the gear at each end expects a balanced signal.
What you need
Cable Matters 2-Pack Premium XLR to XLR
A 2-pack of 6 ft XLR male-to-female cables with 21 AWG oxygen-free copper conductors and copper braided shielding.
- Cables in pack: 2
- Oxygen-free copper
- Shielded
- Length: 6 ft
AuxLink XLR Cables
A 6-pack of 25 ft XLR male-to-female cables with gold-plated 3-pin connectors, oxygen-free copper and copper braided shielding.
- Cables in pack: 6
- Oxygen-free copper
- Shielded
- Length: 25 ft
Monoprice XLR Male to XLR Female Cable
A 6 ft XLR male-to-female cable with 16AWG conductors, gold-plated connectors and a braided shield, backed by a lifetime warranty.
- Shielded
- Length: 6 ft
- Lifetime warranty stated
Mogami Gold Studio 06 XLR to XLR
A 6 ft XLR male-to-female quad-conductor cable with gold-plated contacts and a lifetime warranty.
- Shielded
- Length: 6 ft
- Lifetime warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best XLR Cable, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Can I plug a TRS cable into an XLR socket?
No. A TRS plug and an XLR socket have different shapes, so a TRS plug does not fit an XLR socket. Use an adapter cable with a TRS plug and an XLR connector when the sockets differ.
Is XLR better than TRS for microphones?
For microphones, yes. XLR is the connector on microphones, it locks into place, and it carries 48V phantom power. TRS suits line-level gear with 1/4-inch jacks instead.
Can a TRS cable carry phantom power?
No. Phantom power travels over balanced XLR cables from a mixer or interface to a microphone. A TRS connection does not carry 48V phantom power, so use an XLR cable for a microphone that needs it.
Ranked XLR cables lists
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