Audioquest Makenzie XLRs

@nrenter

Thanks.

I am a bit OCD... :) esp now that I know there is difference in pin outs. Which I had not even considered would be a possibility.

I just didn’t want to mess up my gear somehow.

I didn’t think changing the pins on the cables would be that straight forward, I just ran across an article that said to change the pins.

Ok. So just so I understand:

amp end... black to red and red to black for all speakers.

speaker end... black to black and red to red for all speakers..

What effect if any will this have on sound quality and sound behavior?

@bdp24 

Thank you for that information.  So I take it for every amp that meets a US vs EU standard the global solution is to switch speaker wire connections as mentioned above... or change the pin out?

Are there any XLR cables that are built reversed so one doesn't need to switch speaker cable connections?  Seems it would be an easy solution.

@lightfighter2018, if both your source and your amp conform to the AES standard, you should not have to switch your speaker cables. If either doesn’t, you won’t get the full benefit of balanced connection even if you use XLR connections. In that case, I would have cables made that do the Pin switching for you, rather than switching at the speakers. Take Five Audio in Ontario, Canada will build then for you, and their prices are reasonable.

@OP,
You can also PM Ralph Karsten (atmasphere), and get his take on this.
He knows the 'Balanced' standard and can give you the best route to take.
bob

Whoa...

We're mixing things up and (potentially) going to confuse the OP.

Quite simply, pins 2 and 3 are reversed on the pre-amp (w/ respect to what is normal in the US). In all reality, this should make absolutely no difference in what is "seen" by the amp, as the signal on pin 2 and 3 are, regardless of the "European method" or "USA type of PIN arrangement", a simple signal inversion IN THIS SITUATION. The suggestion to reverse the speaker cables is simply a hyper OCD suggestion (and is technically, not necessary). 

OP, you'd probably be better off if you ignored this thread, plugged-in some balanced XLR cables, and enjoyed the music.