3-pin XLR male and female, balanced, phantom-power capable
XLR Balanced Microphone & Line
The standard for microphone and balanced line runs. Locking, balanced, hum-rejecting, and the only family in the factory that carries phantom power.
Stock lengths
1.5 ft patch · 3 ft · 6 ft · 10 ft · 15 ft · 25 ft · 50 ft
Accession prefix
MET-YYYY-CBL-X-NNNN
The Job
What This Line Is For
- Microphone to preamp, interface or console
- Balanced line between stage box and control room
- Powered speaker and monitor feeds
- Broadcast and podcast multi-mic positions
The Build Sheet
Wiring Standard
- Pin 1 = shield and chassis, pin 2 = hot (+), pin 3 = cold (−)
- Pin 1 bonded at both ends on standard microphone runs
- Shield lifted at the receive end only for documented hum cases, and labeled as such
- Male shell to the source, female shell to the destination
A lifted shield is a documented decision, not a habit. Any XLR built with a lifted pin 1 is labeled on the sleeve and flagged in its accession record so it never enters general stock unmarked.
The Materials
Bill of Materials
- 22–24 AWG twisted pair, 90%+ coverage braided shield, flexible PVC or rubber jacket
- Locking latch shell with rubber or metal boot and internal chuck
- Silver-bearing solder on the pin cups
- Colored shrink bands for channel identification on multi-mic runs
The Test
Bench Test Standard
- Pin-to-pin continuity, 1-2-3 straight through
- Polarity verification with a cable tester
- Shield isolation from pins 2 and 3
- Phantom power pass at 48 V, plus a 15 lb pull test at the boot
The Numbers
Cost to Build
| Build | Length | Materials | Bench time | Cost to build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLR microphone | 10 ft | $12–18 | 22 min | $18–27 |
| XLR microphone | 25 ft | $20–30 | 28 min | $28–42 |
| XLR stage run | 50 ft | $34–50 | 35 min | $46–68 |
- — Materials are the bulk cable, connector pair, solder, boot and label for one finished unit at current supplier pricing.
- — Labor is measured build time at the bench, including test and labeling — not a billed rate.
- — Totals are internal cost-to-build planning ranges, not price lists, quotes, or guarantees. Supplier pricing moves.
The Record
Accessioning This Unit
Every finished unit in this line is numbered MET-YYYY-CBL-X-NNNN and filed with the following fields before it leaves the shop.
Accession number
MET-2026-CBL-X-0184
The permanent identifier printed on the sleeve and filed in the register.
Family & length
XLR balanced, 25 ft
Makes inventory countable by family and length without opening a bag.
Build sheet
Pins 1-2-3 straight, shield bonded both ends
Records how the unit was actually wired, including any documented deviation.
Test result
Pass — continuity, polarity, shield, 48 V, 15 lb pull
Proof the unit left the bench working, with the measured readings attached.
Builder & date
Bench 2, 2026-04-11
Accountability and pattern detection when a batch starts failing.
Materials batch
Spool 7, connector lot C-22
A bad spool or connector lot can be traced to every unit built from it.
Assignment
Live Room A, position 3
Where the cable lives, so a failure in the room maps to a record, not a guess.
Service history
Reterminated 2026-08-02, retested pass
Repairs are part of the record; a twice-reterminated cable is a retirement candidate.
The Sequence
Where This Line Sits on the Bench
01 Cut to Spec
Bulk cable is pulled from the spool and cut to the ordered length with a 2" service allowance at each end.
02 Strip & Dress
Jacket, shield and conductor insulation are stripped to the connector's spec, shield combed and twisted into a drain.
03 Tin & Terminate
Conductors are tinned and soldered to the correct pin, or crimped where the connector is designed for crimp.
04 Strain Relief & Assembly
The chuck or boot is seated on the jacket, the shell is closed, and the assembly is torqued by hand — never pulled tight by the wire.
05 Electrical Test
Continuity on every conductor, shield-to-conductor isolation, polarity check, and a pull test at the boot.
06 Label & Accession
Heat-shrink labels are applied at both ends with the length, family and accession number, then the record is filed.
07 Coil, Bag & Shelve
Over-under coiled, tied, bagged, and shelved by family and length in the cable locker.
Bench Safety & Scope
What This Shop Does Not Claim
- Soldering involves molten metal, hot tools, flux fumes and fine particulates. Ventilate the bench, wear eye protection, and let iron tips cool in a stand.
- The Cable Factory builds audio signal and microphone cables. It does not build, modify, or certify AC mains power cables, speaker cables carrying amplified mains-derived voltage above manufacturer rating, or anything requiring electrical code inspection.
- Cables built here are tested to the shop's own bench standard. That is a documented internal quality practice — not UL, ETL, CE, or any third-party certification, and not a warranty of fitness for a particular use.
- Connector and cable brands referenced in a build sheet are described for identification only. Naming a manufacturer's part is not an endorsement, partnership, or claim of affiliation.
- Costs shown are internal planning ranges for building a unit, not published prices, quotes, or projections of revenue or margin.
The Cable Factory is an internal fabrication and documentation practice at Node Zero. Build sheets, test standards, and cost ranges describe how the shop works; they are not certifications, warranties, safety approvals, legal advice, or price commitments. Anyone building cables should follow the manufacturer's specifications for their own parts and applicable local electrical rules.