Guitar and Audio Cables Explained: TS, TRS and XLR (and Why Yours Buzzes)

Why cables have three names and why it matters

Your guitar sounds fine in your head. Then it buzzes through the amp. Your microphone crackles when you wiggle the plug. You have three different leads in a drawer and you're not sure which one goes where.

Most cable confusion comes from one thing: TS, TRS, and XLR look almost identical at a glance but carry audio very differently. Matching cable to use case stops the hum before it starts.

TS — the standard guitar lead

TS stands for Tip–Sleeve. It's the classic 6.35mm (¼ inch) mono plug: one black ring between the tip and the barrel. If you're connecting an electric guitar or bass directly to a practice amp, TS is correct.

TS carries an unbalanced signal — the audio travels down one wire with a shield around it. That's fine for runs under about 6 metres in a home or small stage context. Past that, the unbalanced signal picks up electrical interference from phone chargers, fluorescent lights, and power boards, which is where the hum creeps in.

A 6.35mm TS guitar cable is the single cable every electric guitarist needs. If you also run pedals, right-angle patch cables sit flat between pedals on a board and put far less stress on your pedal sockets than straight plugs do.

TRS — balanced and stereo

TRS adds a Ring between the tip and sleeve: two black rings on the plug. Those extra conductors let it do two different jobs depending on the device.

Balanced mono: TRS can carry a balanced signal the same way XLR does. The signal travels twice — once normal, once phase-inverted — and any interference picked up along the way cancels out at the destination. Useful for longer runs: a keyboard to an interface, a monitor output to a mixing desk. Stereo headphones: The ring also carries the second stereo channel. That's why headphone sockets are TRS — left on the tip, right on the ring.

TRS use case	What it connects	Maro tip
¼" stereo	Headphones to an amp or mixer headphone out	Check the plug physically — stereo ¼" looks the same as mono
Balanced mono	Keyboard, mixer insert, studio monitor	Prefer balanced over longer runs to reduce hum
XLR-to-TRS	Microphone to a device with no XLR input	Match the female end to your mic, the TRS end to the device

XLR — the microphone standard

XLR is a three-pin circular connector with a locking clip. Like balanced TRS it carries a balanced signal, but the locking mechanism means it won't fall out mid-performance — important when a cable yank would cut the singer's mic on stage.

XLR is the standard for microphones, PA systems, and stage monitors. An XLR microphone cable connects a dynamic mic to a mixer or PA — this is the connector every school PA desk and venue is set up for. If you're connecting a mic to a device that has a TRS input instead (a portable recorder or some audio interfaces), you need an XLR-to-TRS cable to bridge the two connector types.

Why yours buzzes: a quick diagnosis

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Constant hum that changes near chargers or screens	Unbalanced cable picking up interference	Shorten the run, or switch to balanced TRS or XLR
Crackle when you wiggle the plug	Worn or failing cable	Replace the cable
Hum disappears when you touch the strings or chassis	Ground loop	Put all gear on one power board

Maro tip: If touching the metal parts of your guitar silences the hum, the cable is usually fine — you've got a ground loop. If the hum stays no matter what you touch, the cable or the jack socket is the culprit. Swap the cable first; it's the cheaper fix to eliminate.

Buying the right cable once

The leads bundled with cheap instrument packages are typically thin-shielded and crimped rather than soldered. They work for a while, then crackle, then fail. A properly shielded cable from a music-specific brand costs a little more and lasts for years.

For most players starting out: