Detail 01
Both ends are female
It joins a male XLR cable end to a male RCA cable end. It will not plug into a jack on its own.
Product detailSKU #1273887987147
American Recorder TechnologiesXLR Female to RCA Female Adapter Nickel
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A nickel XLR female to RCA female adapter. Bridges an XLR cable to an RCA cable for consumer gear hookups, unbalancing the connection in the process.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Feeding a mixer XLR output into an RCA input
- Connecting powered speakers to consumer playback gear
- Patching an XLR cable into a home stereo amp
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Plugging a microphone straight into an RCA input
- Long runs where you need balanced noise rejection
- Anyone needing level matching between pro and consumer gear
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Balanced to unbalanced
RCA is unbalanced, so the XLR's noise-cancelling advantage is lost past this point. Keep the cable run short.
Detail 03
Passive, no transformer
No isolation and no level conversion. Ground hum between two pieces of gear passes straight through.
Detail 04
Mic level versus line level
A microphone's output is far too quiet for an RCA line input. This adapter cannot make up that gain.
Detail 05
Nickel contacts
Standard plating, fine for typical indoor use. Less corrosion resistance than gold on connections left in place.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Adapter only — no cables included
- 02Check whether your source is mic level or line level first
- 03Hum after connecting usually means a ground loop, not a bad adapter
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Can I plug a microphone into my stereo with this?
Not usefully. Mic level is far below line level, so you would get a very quiet signal. You need a preamp or a mixer between them.
02Does this convert balanced to unbalanced?
It connects them, but passively. There is no transformer, so you lose balanced noise rejection and get no ground isolation.
03Which way does the signal flow?
Either way electrically. In practice it is used to take an XLR output into an RCA input. Match your source and destination levels.
04Why do I hear hum after using this?
Unbalanced connections between separately powered gear commonly create a ground loop. A transformer isolator or a shared power outlet usually fixes it.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Gray
