# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Jack Connectors

Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. XLR 3-Pin

Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series)
XLR 3-Pin
Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) →

Coaxial cables transmit high-frequency radio frequency (RF) and television signals under MIL-C-17 standards through a concentric center conductor, dielectric insulator, metallic shield, and outer jacket, categorized into 75-Ohm video/broadband series (RG-6, RG-59, RG-11) and 50-Ohm wireless/RF series (RG-58, RG-8X, LMR-400).

View full Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) spec sheet →
XLR 3-Pin →

Standard 3-pin XLR audio connectors use Pin 1 for chassis ground/shield, Pin 2 for the positive (hot) signal, and Pin 3 for the negative (cold) signal. 48V phantom power is supplied equally across Pins 2 and 3 relative to Pin 1.

View full XLR 3-Pin spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

13 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series)
XLR 3-Pin
Governing Standards
MIL-C-17 / SCTE (Society of Cable Telecom Engineers) / ANSI/TIA-568 —
RG-6 / RG-6 Quad Shield (75Ω)
Center Conductor: 18 AWG (1.02 mm) | Outer Dia: 6.86 mm (0.270") | Satellite TV, Cable DOCSIS 3.1, HDTV Antennas —
RG-59 (75Ω Legacy / CCTV)
Center Conductor: 20–22 AWG (0.81 mm) | Outer Dia: 6.15 mm (0.242") | Baseband analog CCTV, short-run composite video —
RG-11 (75Ω Long-Distance Drop)
Center Conductor: 14 AWG (1.63 mm) | Outer Dia: 10.3 mm (0.405") | Heavy low-loss underground long-run drops —
RG-58 (50Ω RF / Two-Way Radio)
Center Conductor: 20 AWG (0.90 mm) stranded | Outer Dia: 4.95 mm | CB Radio, amateur VHF/UHF, Wi-Fi pigtails —
LMR-400 (50Ω Ultra Low-Loss)
Center Conductor: 10 AWG (2.74 mm) solid copper-clad aluminum | Cellular towers, 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi antenna masts —
Impedance Matching Rule
Never mix 50Ω and 75Ω systems; impedance mismatch causes high Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) and RF reflections —
Connector Family
— Circular Audio Interconnect (Cannon XLR)
Conductors / Contacts
— 3 (Pins 1, 2, 3 + Shell)
Signal Format
— Balanced Analog Audio / AES3 Digital
Standard Balanced Pinout
— Pin 1: Ground/Shield | Pin 2: Hot (+) | Pin 3: Cold (-)
Phantom Power Support
— 48V DC (+/- 4V) IEC 61938 P48
Primary Applications
— Professional studio microphones, PA live sound, mixer connections, stage snakes

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. 2.5mm TRRS → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. 2.5mm TRS → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. 3.5 mm TRRS → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. 3.5 mm TRS → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. 6.35 mm (1/4") TRS → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. 6.35mm TS → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. RCA → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. XLR 4-Pin → Compare Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. XLR 5-Pin →