How To Solder A 1/4" TRS Connector / Balanced Plug / Stereo Plug

On today's episode we venture into the unknown.
With the aid of several spy-cams, we peek through the window... well, more like the improvised hole on the public bathroom cubicle that is the life of the musician that studied electronics.
Join us and fascinate yourself with this wonderful yet contradictory creature, doomed to roam the earth carrying with himself nothing but broken cables and half-finished pedals, while fighting the enemy within through the power of narcotics and unrecognizable sounds.
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Stalk LonerJuan here:
Website: lonerjuan.com
Instagram: / lonerjuan
Soundcloud: / lonerjuan
Bandcamp: lonerjuan.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: / lonerjuan

[@OneMoreRedNightmare]

I found your channel through this video as I was looking for a "how to" explanation of how a trs plug is wired so I could replace it with an RCA. I needed a 3 way RCA splitter to send mono signal to 3 subwoofers (which don't match and aren't even the same size). I couldn't find one to buy, but I did find an AV/component adapter for an old ass TV and decided to DIY one. It probably won't work, and your video didn't answer my question but you are so entertaining I subbed anyways. Thanks so much, my dude, I hope you keep putting out content and rake in those sweet views. ❤

[@lonerjuan]

Thanks! Now I'm kinda curious about what kinda of an odd contraption of doom you're working on. And if you're converting from a mono plug to a single RCA, Sleeve (ground) goes to the outside of the RCA which is ground, and Tip goes to the center of the RCA. A 3 way splitter could be achieved by simply hardwiring the 3 RCAs together (tie grounds together and hot/signal wires together), which is a bit of a troglodite approach, but I've seen (and definitely done) worse. Just don't let anyone see it. Here's a couple warnings though: if it's a stereo TRS connection, i.e. both left and right channels are in use, shorting them might destroy whatever device is providing the signal. If it's only mono though (signal + ground), you're good to keep going mono. Also, splitting like this provides no guarantee regarding load/signal levels and sound quality might be affected, but it looks like you're beyond that point considering it's just 3 sub-woofers that don't even match.

[@OneMoreRedNightmare]

@@lonerjuan oh I left out one detail: the AV/component adapter had a trs plug at one end, the 3 RCAs were at the other. I did not want to damage the adapter just yet so I didn't get to look inside to how it was actually wired. Instead I used a trs extender cable and cut the male end off that to convert to RCA. That way if I fucked up I could just disconnect the tsr extender and throw it behind the bed where all the things that never happened belong. So technically I was only rewiring a normal tsr to RCA, not the actual AV/component adapter which could be wired totally different (the yellow RCA is specifically for video so I assumed it was specialer than the other plebian white and red, real big). Since I'm too puss-puss to cut it open right now I'm just going to mash together a bunch of spare RCAs because I've got probably 20 million of them. And yes I counted, why would I exaggerate about RCAs? Hmm? Thanks for the advice about the mono signal bad thing that could (and likely would) happen, I never would have thought of that so you spared me some hypothetical tears. Of subject, do you ever find any audio equipment "on the curb"? (I think you're from South America, but I'm the north one people sometimes throw away stuff but instead of putting it in dumpsters they leave it on the curb in case anyone wants it. They get rid of stuff, somebody passing by finds free treasure, the garbage man has one less thing to pick up, everybody wins. But I didn't know if they did that in other countries.) If not, do you have other ways you find audio equipment to salvage?

[@lonerjuan]

@@OneMoreRedNightmare I never got stuff from the street, most the stuff people get rid of here is beyond saving, and whomever picks it up either knows exactly what to do with it or is taking it to some junkyard/recycling place. I used to hold on to any junk I could find an excuse for, but it got to the point where having a comfortable space to work with what is actually useful was more valuable (I did hoard a lot a stuff for a while). I do know it's common practice in other countries to get rid of perfectly functioning stuff to get whatever's new now, but I always try to find someone who will at least pick it up, even for free, just to avoid creating more garbage.

[@OneMoreRedNightmare]

@@lonerjuan it took me a long time but I'm starting to realize the value of usable space over the junk I want to fill it with. And how much time it wastes moving it around and walking over it. I will force it on someone who I think will use it whether they know it or not before wasting stuff. I'm killing two birds with one stone because I convince myself I'm being helpful but I'm also freeing myself of the guilt of "to hoard or not to hoard" because it's packaged with the useful stuff I just forced in them. But also you know where it is if you change your mind and want it back. Up here in the REAL America we just can't let shit go.

[@Princeton_James]

Hey brother you were so helpful last time. I have a question: I'm using Mogami W2697 with Amphenol KS3PC 3.5mm TRS to make a simple Aux cable. I've tried everything and L and R channels keep on coming out of both speakers. Everything works fine except there is no channel separation it all comes out at once. Any advise? Thanks.

[@lonerjuan]

I would start by grabbing a multimeter and testing that none of the lines are shorting each other. Working on such a small connector may lead to even the slightest hair from the cable shorting, so I'd test that and work from there. If that isn't it, knowing what's getting plugged into what may be the clue.

[@adarkimpurity]

*Inhales solder fumes... "Smells good!" ... "I'm shakey I don't know why..." *drinks whiskey and anti-depressants

[@lonerjuan]

Well I never posted myself as any kind of a row model... and they're called fun-pills!

[@adarkimpurity]

@@lonerjuan the vid was great! Go with that format; satirical self-help ;D

[@lonerjuan]

@@adarkimpurity Thanks! Will do.

[@adarkimpurity]

@@lonerjuan ElectroBoom would be proud :)

[@lonerjuan]

@@adarkimpurity Haha, that means the world to me.

[@VirtusLenon]

You're awesome!

[@lonerjuan]

No, you are awesome!

[@tomcatt9875]

i love this guy !

[@lonerjuan]

You shouldn't! He's a bad influence.

[@inmemoryofin]

Best video of all time 😂

[@lonerjuan]

That's very kind of you!

[@Zarabozo]

I loved the BTF reference. 😂

[@lonerjuan]

Awesome! I didn't even notice at first myself! The thing is embedded in my brain apparently.

[@gafyndavies]

The best tutorial on the internet. No doubt. 😂

[@lonerjuan]

Thanks! And although I really appreciate the compliment, this probably means you've never seen the Proper Opposum Pedicure tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z361dmWBaN1gd7s

[@gafyndavies]

@@lonerjuan You're right I hadn't.... but now I have - I'm gonna have to take some time out now and really assess my life.

[@lonerjuan]

@@gafyndavies I know the feeling, I was you once. It gets better, trust me. All the best in your journey.

[@gafyndavies]

@@lonerjuan Thanks. Btw... I soldered my cable. It looks like shit, but it works fine 🤩

[@lonerjuan]

@@gafyndavies That's what it's all about, horrendous shit that works until it don't. The beautiful adrenaline of the DIY world, like the time my bassist fixed my cable with the metal part of the back of a Zolben pack and it stayed like that for a month.

[@Caryl.Grundy]

Thanks man! loved it hahahaha Greetings From Bolivia

[@lonerjuan]

Alright! Thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed it.

[@jakemoss4985]

I think speakon is the ticket. The Ohmage is 8 and 4 however the amp at 2000w is a 2 ohm min with class 2 wire. I don't see what type you mentioned. Thanks for the reply mate!

[@lonerjuan]

No problem, let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

[@dailymusic549]

İs it possible to use Trs cable with amp? Is amp need to Support the Trs?

[@lonerjuan]

It'll work just fine with a TRS, although the cable connected to the ring would be useless since guitars only need ground and live wire. I used a TRS because as I said on the video, it was was all I had available during the semi-lockdown that was going on, and I didn't want to break one of my good cables, haha.

[@jakemoss4985]

Ha Ha! So good and helpful! I am trying to wire up XLR and 1/4" box to an 18" Subwoofer and have never done that so any recommendations welcome.

[@lonerjuan]

Well I did make another (silly?) video for the XLR connection, it's here on this channel. Other than that, what's is plugged to what? Is the subwoofer self-powered, meaning you're sending a balanced audio line to it, or is it just a passive box receiving speaker level signal? Soldering the connectors is virtually the same, but the order of the wires might vary.

[@jakemoss4985]

@@lonerjuan It will be a passive sub with 1800W speaker. I will use a Peavey amp that is 3000W. I would like to orient so I can have 2 in parallel.

[@lonerjuan]

​ @Jake Moss Are you 100% positive parallel is the way to go? I'm asking simply because I don't know the ohmage of either the cabs or the amp. Also the amp will usually tell you a power specification for say 4ohms, then another for 8 and another for 16 (usually half of the 8 Ohm rating), but you gotta be sure not be out of ohmage (impedance) range. The other thing is that power outputs are generally Speakon connectors, not XLR or TRS. I don't know specifically which Peavey amp it is, but looking at their different ranges it's all either Speakon or Terminal Blocks. TRS and XLR are not designed to carry that much power.

[@Princeton_James]

Is this the same cable I would use for an RCA cable? I also have the red, white and shield but i just dont know where to solder them to.

[@lonerjuan]

RCA connectors are generally used with a different type of cable, the thin twin type you use on domestic video/audio devices, though they are often used in other applications as well. You probably wouldn't be using them in a balanced audio line though, which is the way I connect here, more like the Tape output of a console or AUX connections, which are not balanced. And to answer your question, this cable would be a bit annoying to use with RCA connectors, since you'd have to split it at some point to connect one RCA to white (usually left) and the other one to red (usually right), while also splitting the shield between both. It really depends on application though.

[@Princeton_James]

@@lonerjuan Thank you. I have this GLS bulk cable: www.amazon.com/GLS-AUDIO-Microphone-300ft-Signal/dp/B000RTPBWQ/ref=pd_d_sim_b2b_1/131-7021771-3516900?pd_rd_w=DOA0v&pf_rd_p=c1143869-a7d7-4cfd-bf9c-0da7305c3e64&pf_rd_r=GBNC379YG1N7R4QNTH0Z&pd_rd_r=441a84ca-5c09-4f97-962e-581d9c1ca4a8&pd_rd_wg=aA4Ur&pd_rd_i=B000RTPBWQ&psc=1#customerReviews Can I use your method above to connect 1/4" TRS to Male XLR? Thanks. I'm new to this and am going to try my first project this weekend.

[@lonerjuan]

@@Princeton_James Absolutely! That's exactly the type you usually come across. Hope it all goes well, let me know if anything comes up.

[@Princeton_James]

@@lonerjuan Thanks so much for your help!

[@AppleSlizerd]

I have a stereo plug (3 pin) that I would like to solder onto a mono cable. Is that possible? Or do I have to buy a balanced cable, cut it open and solder that onto the plug?

[@lonerjuan]

No need for a balanced cable, you simply wire the hot lead to the tip and ignore the ring. Shield goes to ground (sleeve) as usual. Any questions just let me know.

[@AppleSlizerd]

@@lonerjuan thank you. Maybe a dumb question (I'm new to this) but which is the ring?

[@lonerjuan]

@@AppleSlizerd The one between the tip of the connector and the large sleeve. Usually inside the connector you'll have a long, flat piece of metal, that's connected to the sleeve. Then two smaller pieces, of which the one towards the center is the tip and the one a bit to the outside is the ring. If you plan on doing this often, you should probably get at least a cheap multimeter so you can check what connects to what, and also to check if you soldered everything right.

[@AppleSlizerd]

@@lonerjuan Thank you. Excellent tips which helped me get it to work! You have earned yourself a subscriber 😃

[@lonerjuan]

@@AppleSlizerd Awesome! Thank you very much!

[@Synth2000]

lol :) impossible not to subscribe thx for the laughs!

[@lonerjuan]

Awesome! Made my day sir, I will drink to your health tonight.

[@PTDMUZIK]

Funny and helpful

[@lonerjuan]

Hey thanks! Being helpful while making an ass of myself must mean I'm being efficient with my time.

[@Gadgetdad007]

Can I connect the cable without having to use solder.

[@lonerjuan]

Not with regular connector and cables. There are solderless variants, but the low reliability to price ratio has kept them far from becoming popular. Personally, I'd never hop on stage with something that's held there just because I pushed and it seemed to stay there. Now if you mean sodlering without adding solder, say on a used connector by just taking advantage of the remaining solder that was left, it would work on principle, but the results would be rather sketchy.

[@pighater951]

😃😃 🤣🤣😂 a lil wonky the leads a lil short 🤣😂👍👍☺️☺️👍😁😁🤭💪

[@lonerjuan]

It's all because of the fumes...

[@tomcat8983]

Dude, I got the same keyboard.

[@lonerjuan]

Well that cheap piece of crap is one of the best investments I've made. I literally smacked half the keys out of it on one of those occasions when you get pissed and grab the first thing available to teach it who's boss. After ashamedly searching for all the keys around the room, I put them back in place and the thing kept trucking.

[@tomcat8983]

@@lonerjuan I've managed to bust the legs off mine. But I've got a wood block glued on holding it up. Just like new! Hey, thanks for your video. It did teach me the proper way to solder a cable in a very entertaining way. Most excellent! Gonna subscribe now.

[@lonerjuan]

@@tomcat8983 Awesome! I'm happy to be of any sort of help.

[@tomcat8983]

@@lonerjuan Yes Sir!

[@distortimus7631]

I cut it twice and it's still to short

[@lonerjuan]

Do as I, keep cutting until it stops mattering and you get to the drinking part!

[@distortimus7631]

@@lonerjuan hahaha you read my mind

[@distortimus7631]

WTF was that intro ahahahahahahahahahahha

[@lonerjuan]

I only I knew...

[@alicomando1195]

How many times he swears!

[@lonerjuan]

He needs to be corrrrected...

[@rawdelicious]

Isn’t this a regular stereo soldering? In the following vid they bridge the ring with the shield which to me sounds like a balanced cable. kzbin.info/www/bejne/moqQm4iNpJeZn6csi=3sg3UtCZk9_ey3t6 What I am trying to say is this is an unbalanced stereo cable and not a balanced mono cable as the title suggests. Oh, wait! At the end of the title it says ’Stereo’. Ok then, but isn’t the wiring in the connector different between unbalanced stereo and balanced mono?

[@lonerjuan]

The wiring of a balanced mono line or an unbalanced stereo line are physically the same, as long as you respect the order of the wires on both ends of the line. Both a balanced line as well as a stereo line require 3 conductors, ground and either L/R or Hot/Cold. What differentiates them both in practice is what's plugged on either end, since it's the outputs and inputs and the associated circuit what will decide if it's either processed as two different signals with a common ground (stereo), or a pair of identical signals, one of which is flipped 180º in phase in order to cancel out ambient noise (balanced). Oh and about the ring and the shield, he doesn't connect them together. He connects the braided shield of the cable to ground on the plug, and what goes to the ring tab is the black connector, which is often associated to ground when you have a simple pair of cables (e.g. on the back of home speakers), but in reality it can mean whatever you want it to mean and sadly there's no real convention about that. I usually treat red as hot/right channel and black as cold/left channel, and most people I know do the same. I've only seen the ring bridged to ground when someone makes a mono cable using TRS connectors, but it can lead to confusion and I see no point in that. Just leave the ring as usual and if the line is mono, nothing will make use of that conductor and that's that.

[@LaZapadaBackline]

deja de hacerte el lindo y subí el video en español totooooo

[@lonerjuan]

Están ambas dos, la versión en criollo es esta: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmKon51tgrOais0