Side-by-Side Comparison
Jack Connectors
Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. XLR 4-Pin
Comparing 2 standards across 14 specifications. 14 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series)
XLR 4-Pin
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).
4-pin XLR uses the same connector shell as standard 3-pin XLR but carries entirely different, incompatible signals depending on the equipment: intercom headsets, balanced headphone outputs, or 12V DC power -- with no universal standard or keying to prevent connecting the wrong device to the wrong port.
Specification Comparison Table
14 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
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 / Power Interconnect (XLR4) |
|
Conductors / Contacts
|
— | 4 Pins |
|
Signal Format
|
— | Broadcast Intercom / Balanced Headphone / 12V DC Power |
|
Intercom Pinout
|
— | Pin 1: Mic Gnd | Pin 2: Mic Signal | Pin 3: Phone Return | Pin 4: Phone Signal |
|
Balanced Headphone Pinout
|
— | Pin 1: L(+) | Pin 2: L(-) | Pin 3: R(+) | Pin 4: R(-) |
|
DC Power Pinout
|
— | Pin 1: 0V / Gnd | Pin 4: +12V DC (Pins 2 & 3 Unused) |
|
Primary Applications
|
— | Broadcast television intercom headsets, audiophile balanced headphones, field video DC power |
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