Audio Cable Types: XLR, TRS, TS, RCA and 3.5 mm
XLR, TRS, TS, RCA and 3.5 mm audio cables compared: what each carries, balanced vs unbalanced wiring, line levels, TRRS pin orders and which adapters work.
The cable and connector reference
Which cable, which connector, how far?
A plain reference to the cables behind every network, screen and speaker: Ethernet and fiber, HDMI and DisplayPort, USB-C and Thunderbolt, serial and SCSI, audio, coax and power. What each one carries, how far, and what will not work.
Read this site in your language
- DeutschWelches Kabel, welcher Stecker, wie weit?
- FrançaisQuel câble, quel connecteur, sur quelle distance ?
- Español¿Qué cable, qué conector, hasta qué distancia?
- PortuguêsQual cabo, qual conector, até onde?
- ItalianoQuale cavo, quale connettore, fino a che distanza?
- NederlandsWelke kabel, welke connector, over welke afstand?
- PolskiKtóry kabel, które złącze, na jaką odległość?
- SvenskaVilken kabel, vilken kontakt, hur långt?
- SuomiMikä kaapeli, mikä liitin, kuinka pitkälle?
- TürkçeHangi kablo, hangi konnektör, ne kadar uzağa?
- 日本語どのケーブル、どのコネクタ、どのくらいの距離？
Start with the cable in your hand
Six sections. Each opens with the guide that covers the essentials, then goes standard by standard.
Ethernet
Cat5e to Cat8, distances, T568A and T568B, crimping, shielding, fire ratings, PoE, patch panels and planning a wired home or office.
14 guides
Fiber
Singlemode and multimode, the OM grades and their reach, LC, SC, ST and MPO connectors, SFP modules, DAC cables, and when fiber beats copper.
5 guides
HDMI & video
HDMI versions and cable ratings, DisplayPort, ARC and eARC, long runs and HDBaseT, VGA and DVI adapters, and KVM switches.
8 guides
USB & Thunderbolt
Why USB-C cables differ, every USB speed name decoded, Thunderbolt and USB4, charging wattage, cable lengths, hubs, docks and Lightning.
7 guides
Serial & SCSI
RS-232 pinouts, null modem cables, USB-to-serial adapters, RS-422 and RS-485, SCSI and SAS, parallel printer and telco cables.
8 guides
Audio, coax & power
XLR, TRS and RCA, optical and coaxial digital audio, speaker wire gauge, RG6 and RG59 coax, BNC and SDI, analogue video and IEC power cords.
7 guidesNew guides
BNC Connectors and SDI Video Cables: 50 vs 75 Ohm
BNC connectors come in 50 and 75 ohm versions. Learn which to use for SDI video, CCTV and test gear, the SDI data rates, and how to convert BNC to RCA.
Cat7 and Cat8 Cables: What They Are and Who Needs Them
Cat7 is ISO-only with GG45 or TERA connectors; Cat8 is a 30 m data-centre cable. Learn what each standard says and what to buy for home or office.
Composite vs Component Video: RCA Cables Compared
Composite and component video both use RCA plugs, but carry different signals. Compare resolution, connectors, S-Video and SCART, and adapters for old gear.
Crossover vs Straight-Through Ethernet Cables
Crossover or straight-through? How T568A and T568B pinouts decide it, why Auto-MDI-X made crossovers rare, and when a rollover console cable is still needed.
Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a: Which Ethernet Cable to Buy
Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a compared: bandwidth, 10 Gbps reach, shielding and when each category is the right choice for home or office cabling.
How to Crimp an RJ45 Connector Step by Step
Step-by-step RJ45 crimping: the right plug for solid or stranded cable, T568A or T568B pinout, the 13 mm untwist limit, testing, and why a cable fails.
The label on a cable is a promise. The standard says whether it can keep it.
Start with Ethernet categoriesEthernet cables and network wiring
Cat5e to Cat8, distances, T568A and T568B, crimping, shielding, fire ratings, PoE, patch panels and planning a wired home or office.
Cat7 and Cat8 Cables: What They Are and Who Needs Them
Cat7 is ISO-only with GG45 or TERA connectors; Cat8 is a 30 m data-centre cable. Learn what each standard says and what to buy for home or office.
Crossover vs Straight-Through Ethernet Cables
Crossover or straight-through? How T568A and T568B pinouts decide it, why Auto-MDI-X made crossovers rare, and when a rollover console cable is still needed.
Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a: Which Ethernet Cable to Buy
Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a compared: bandwidth, 10 Gbps reach, shielding and when each category is the right choice for home or office cabling.
Fiber optic cabling
Singlemode and multimode, the OM grades and their reach, LC, SC, ST and MPO connectors, SFP modules, DAC cables, and when fiber beats copper.
Fiber Connector Types: LC, SC, ST, MPO, UPC vs APC
Compare LC, SC, ST and MPO fiber connectors, and learn why UPC and APC polish must never be mated. Includes cleaning and selection advice.
Fiber vs Copper Ethernet: When Fiber Makes Sense
Fiber vs copper Ethernet compared: distance, interference, lightning between buildings, speed headroom, and the handling trade-offs against Cat6 and Cat6a.
Fiber Optic Cable Types: Singlemode and Multimode
Singlemode and multimode fiber compared: OS2, OM1 to OM5, jacket colours, reach at 1G, 10G, 40G and 100G, and how to choose for a building or campus.
HDMI, DisplayPort and video cables
HDMI versions and cable ratings, DisplayPort, ARC and eARC, long runs and HDBaseT, VGA and DVI adapters, and KVM switches.
DisplayPort 1.2, 1.4 and 2.1: Versions and Cables
DisplayPort 1.2, 1.4 and 2.1 compared: bandwidth, DSC, MST, DP40 and DP80 cable certification, and DisplayPort over USB-C.
HDMI Cable Types: Standard to Ultra High Speed
HDMI cables are certified by speed, not version. Compare Standard, High Speed, Premium High Speed, Ultra High Speed and Ultra96, and how to verify a label.
HDMI ARC vs eARC: Audio Return Explained
ARC returns stereo and compressed 5.1 over HDMI 1.4; eARC adds uncompressed multichannel PCM and lossless formats like Dolby Atmos. Here is what each needs.
USB, USB-C and Thunderbolt
Why USB-C cables differ, every USB speed name decoded, Thunderbolt and USB4, charging wattage, cable lengths, hubs, docks and Lightning.
Lightning to USB-C: Cables, Adapters and Speeds
Lightning vs USB-C explained: why iPhone moved to USB-C, the EU common charger dates, iPhone 15 transfer speeds, and which adapters work with older gear.
Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 vs USB4: Speeds and Cables
Thunderbolt 4 vs USB4 explained: bandwidth, PCIe, displays, charging and cable lengths, plus how Thunderbolt 3 and 5 compare and which cable to buy.
USB-C Charging: 60 W, 100 W and 240 W Cables
USB-C cables carry 60 W, 100 W or 240 W depending on the e-marker chip and USB Power Delivery. Learn which cable your phone or laptop needs.
Serial, SCSI and legacy cabling
RS-232 pinouts, null modem cables, USB-to-serial adapters, RS-422 and RS-485, SCSI and SAS, parallel printer and telco cables.
Null Modem Cables: Wiring, Adapters and Pinouts
A null modem cable crosses TX and RX to join two computers directly. Covers DB9 and DB25 pinouts, adapters versus cables, gender changers and loopback testing.
Parallel Printer Cables: IEEE 1284, DB25 and Centronics
IEEE 1284 parallel printer cables explained: DB25 and Centronics 36 connectors, cable length limits, modes, and when a USB-to-parallel adapter works.
RS-232 Pinouts: DB9 and DB25 Explained
Complete RS-232 pinout reference for DB9 and DB25 connectors: DTE and DCE pin assignments, voltage levels, cable limits, and the TTL mistake that damages boards.
Audio, coax and power cords
XLR, TRS and RCA, optical and coaxial digital audio, speaker wire gauge, RG6 and RG59 coax, BNC and SDI, analogue video and IEC power cords.
Audio Cable Types: XLR, TRS, TS, RCA and 3.5 mm
XLR, TRS, TS, RCA and 3.5 mm audio cables compared: what each carries, balanced vs unbalanced wiring, line levels, TRRS pin orders and which adapters work.
BNC Connectors and SDI Video Cables: 50 vs 75 Ohm
BNC connectors come in 50 and 75 ohm versions. Learn which to use for SDI video, CCTV and test gear, the SDI data rates, and how to convert BNC to RCA.
Composite vs Component Video: RCA Cables Compared
Composite and component video both use RCA plugs, but carry different signals. Compare resolution, connectors, S-Video and SCART, and adapters for old gear.