There are many terms and nicknames used when referring to a cable and its connectors. Hopefully this page will supply you with a brief tutorial on how to choose the cable and its appropriate connector for your application.
Balanced vs Unbalanced:
Balanced audio is a method of minimizing unwanted noise from interference in audio cables.
This is also a balanced cable with 4 conductors instead of two. The theory here is that 4 versions of the same signal will do a better job of canceling out noise than 2, therefore providing double the noise rejection. This works by twisting the conductors together to make TWO pairs.
Unbalanced cable
Traditional unbalanced cables use two lines to transmit the audio signal - a hot line which carries the signal and an earth line. Although they are also shielded, unbalanced lines are more susceptible to interference and are often used for less professional applications.
There is only ONE center conductor in this cable that lies within a braided shield. There are different percentages of shielding in different cables with 100% being best. Unbalanced cables include instrument (1/4"), RCA, etc.
Plugs vs Jacks and Male vs Female
Connectors have either a male or female gender. Plugs are classified as male whereas Jacks are female.
This is a plug (male)
These are jacks (female) also known as inlines or extensions
Most connectors can be wired either balanced or unbalanced but almost all of them have conventional purposes. Here are some examples:
This is your standard 1/4" mono plug. Some common names you will hear are guitar plug, 1/4" phone, 1/4" mono, and 1/4" TS. The technical term would be 1/4" TS because the cylindrical part that goes into your device is divided into 2 parts: the TIP and the SLEEVE. This plug is unbalanced. Applications include: Guitars, Instruments, Inserts, Monitors, Speakers, etc.
This is your standard 1/4" TRS plug aka 1/4" Stereo. As you can see the plug part is divided into 3 sections: TIP, RING, and SLEEVE. This is a balanced connector since it needs 2 conductors (tip and ring) and a shield (sleeve). Each conductor can act as a left and right channel.
Applications include: Monitors, Headphones, Mic cables (1/4" to XLR), Inserts, etc.
This is a TT-Bantam connector. It is a balanced plug that measures 4.4mm or 0.173" in diameter. This is primarily used in patch bay connections.
This is a standard RCA or phono plug. Its size is in between a 1/4" and 3.5mm plug. Since it has only a TIP and SLEEVE it is unbalanced.
Applications include: Consumer end audio (dvd, tv, video games) and the downsizing of connector size on a cable (1/4" TS to RCA).
This is a 3.5mm stereo plug, or 1/8" plug. If you look closely you will notice that like the 1/4" TRS plug, it too has a Tip, Ring, and Sleeve. The 3.5mm also comes in a mono version.
Applications include headphones, film cameras, and connector downsizing.
This is a female XLR connector. It is balanced traditionally as it needs 2 conductors and a shield. However in certain circumstances it can be wired unbalanced.
Applications include: Microphone use
This is the male version of a XLR connector.
This is a Speakon connector. The Speakon is used to carry an audio signal that is carrying a load from an ampifier to a speaker.
Some cables utilizing this connector are: Speakon to Speakon, Speakon to 1/4" TS, and Speakon to banana.
This is a conventional banana connector. It has a positive and negative (ground) pin.
**Speaker wire is neither balanced or unbalanced since there is no shield**
