UGREEN 20712 5m 3-Pin XLR Male-to-Female Cable
Overview
UGREEN 20712 provides 5m of reach for a conventional balanced analogue XLR link. The cable is passive and contains no active electronics, so the source, destination, cable routing and gain structure determine the result.
What it does well.
Key features
Highlights
- Length: SKU 20712 is the 5m member of the cable family.
- Connectors: one locking full-size 3-pin XLR female and one full-size 3-pin XLR male.
- Signal: passive balanced analogue microphone- or line-level connection when the complete equipment path uses compatible wiring.
- Construction: copper conductors, insulation, internal filler, copper shielding, flexible outer jacket and metal connector shells.
- Power behavior: no power source inside; it can only pass phantom power already supplied by suitable equipment through a correctly wired XLR chain.
Connector map and signal direction
Know every end
The cable is passive, but the connector genders establish the normal equipment path. Never connect outputs together simply because the plugs fit.
- XLR female cable end: latches onto a male 3-pin XLR output, commonly a microphone output or mixer line output.
- XLR male cable end: plugs into a female 3-pin XLR input, commonly a mixer/interface microphone input or powered-speaker line input.
- Pin 1: normally shield/ground in a standard balanced analogue XLR audio connection.
- Pins 2 and 3: normally carry the two signal polarities of the balanced pair; the connected equipment must follow compatible wiring.
- Direction: no active one-way electronics are present, but practical signal flow must always be from a source output toward a compatible receiving input.
Use scenarios
Where it makes sense
The 5m length is useful when equipment cannot be positioned close together. Plan the route so the cable is not stretched, coiled tightly around mains leads or placed where the XLR latches can be struck.
- Microphone on a stand to a mixer, audio interface, recorder or microphone preamp across a 5m route.
- Mixer or audio-interface balanced line output to a powered speaker, monitor controller, processor or other compatible XLR input.
- Stage box, patch panel or existing XLR cable extension where the additional connection remains protected and the combined run is suitable for the environment.
- Camera or field recorder only when it has a standard full-size 3-pin XLR female input and supplies the microphone gain or power required by the microphone.
- Phantom-powered condenser microphone chain only when the microphone, source equipment, connector wiring and operating procedure all support phantom power.
Setup and usability guidance
Connect with confidence
Make every XLR connection with channel gain and monitor level down. If phantom power is involved, follow the equipment manual and avoid hot-plugging.
- Identify the male output on the microphone/source and the female input on the mixer, interface, recorder or powered destination. Confirm both are full-size 3-pin XLR analogue audio ports.
- Mute the channel, lower gain and monitors, and switch phantom power off before connecting or disconnecting when phantom power is part of the system.
- Push the cable female end onto the source male connector until the latch engages. Insert the cable male end fully into the receiving female input.
- Route the cable with broad bends and strain relief. Separate long parallel runs from mains leads, lighting controls and power transformers where practical.
- Power the system in the order recommended by the equipment manuals, enable phantom power only if required, then raise gain while monitoring the signal and noise floor.
Compatible devices and systems
Match the physical and electrical interface
The cable is format-specific. A matching XLR shape is necessary, but signal type, level, pin count and equipment role must also be correct.
- Dynamic microphones with standard 3-pin XLR male outputs and compatible microphone inputs.
- Condenser microphones in a properly configured phantom-powered 3-pin XLR chain; the mixer/interface supplies the phantom power.
- Mixers, audio interfaces, microphone preamps, recorders and cameras with full-size 3-pin XLR analogue ports.
- Powered speakers, studio monitors and processors with compatible balanced XLR line inputs and outputs.
- Not a direct fit for mini-XLR, 4-pin or 5-pin XLR, 6.35mm, 3.5mm, RCA, USB, speakON or optical ports.
What this product does
Capabilities
- Extends a compatible full-size 3-pin XLR balanced analogue path by 5m.
- Carries microphone- or line-level audio when the source and destination use compatible balanced wiring and levels.
- Provides a locking female connector that helps prevent accidental separation from a latched male XLR source.
- Uses internal shielding intended to reduce interference pickup along the analogue route.
- Can pass phantom power supplied by suitable connected equipment through a correctly wired XLR microphone chain.
What this product does not do
Clear boundaries
- It does not generate phantom power, microphone gain, line gain or headphone volume.
- It does not convert analogue audio to USB, HDMI, optical, Bluetooth or another digital format.
- It is not a miniature XLR adapter and does not change pin count or connector gender beyond the ends already fitted.
- It is not specified here as a DMX lighting-control, AES3 digital-audio or passive-speaker-power cable.
- It cannot guarantee silence or remove hum, clipping, radio interference or noise created elsewhere in the system.
What to do
Good practice
- Latch the female XLR connector fully and press its release tab before unplugging; grip the connector shell rather than the cable.
- Mute and lower gain before connection. Switch phantom power off before plugging or unplugging, then wait as directed by the equipment manual.
- Keep the cable in broad curves, secure long runs to prevent trips and provide strain relief at stands, panels and equipment racks.
- Use balanced XLR inputs and outputs with compatible levels. Label long installed runs so source and destination are easy to identify.
- Inspect pins, latch, shells and jacket before important recordings or events, and test the complete chain at working gain.
What not to do
Avoid these mistakes
- Do not pull a microphone stand, mixer or speaker by the cable, and do not defeat the connector latch by twisting or forcing it.
- Do not hot-plug a phantom-powered microphone with monitors loud; the resulting transient can damage speakers or hearing.
- Do not connect a male output to another output through improvised gender changers or assume every XLR-labelled port carries analogue audio.
- Do not use the cable for mains electricity, passive-speaker current, DMX or another protocol without the required electrical rating.
- Do not run a long section tightly beside mains distribution, dimmer packs or motors when a separated route is available.
Warnings and limitations
Important safety and performance notes
Balanced wiring improves common-mode noise rejection only when the source, cable and destination all maintain the balanced pair. It is not an active noise-cancellation system.
- Phantom power comes from a mixer, interface, recorder or supply. Confirm that the microphone and every connected device tolerate the selected phantom setting.
- Turn phantom power off and allow the circuit to discharge before connection changes. Keep speaker and headphone levels low during power-up.
- A damaged or contaminated XLR pin can short contacts or create intermittent audio. Remove the cable from service if pins are bent, loose or corroded.
- The 5m route can create a trip or snag hazard. Secure floor crossings with suitable cable covers or safe venue-approved methods.
- This cable is for low-level analogue audio paths, not amplifier speaker outputs or electrical power.
Troubleshooting and buying checklist
Solve common connection problems
Test one link at a time with phantom power and monitor levels handled safely. Substitute a known-good short XLR cable to separate cable faults from microphone, preamp and routing faults.
- No signal: verify source-to-input direction, channel selection, gain, mute state, phantom requirement and that both connectors are fully seated.
- Low level: confirm the destination is using a microphone input for a microphone signal, not an unsuitable line input without enough gain.
- Hum or interference: separate the run from mains equipment, test all devices on an appropriate power arrangement and inspect shield continuity with qualified test equipment.
- Crackle when moved: check the latch, strain relief, pins and equipment socket. Replace the cable if movement reveals an internal break.
- Before buying: verify full-size 3-pin XLR male output to female input roles, balanced analogue audio, required 5m length and any phantom-power procedure.
Technical specifications
Model details
Brand and SKU
UGREEN 20712
Product family
Full-size 3-pin XLR balanced analogue audio cable
Length
5m
Connector A
Full-size 3-pin XLR male
Connector B
Full-size 3-pin XLR female with locking latch
Signal type
Passive balanced analogue microphone or line audio when used with compatible equipment
Conductor
Insulation and filler
Shielding
Copper shielding layer
Outer jacket
Flexible black jacket, approximately 6mm outer diameter in the family specification
Connector shells
Black metal housings with strain relief
Power / software
None; passive cable. Phantom power must come from connected equipment
Package contents
- 1 × UGREEN 20712 5m full-size 3-pin XLR male-to-female audio cable