Monitoring: mono Vs stereo cables

[Atardecer]

hey

Just wondering which most people use to hook up their monitors in the studio. I know u get an extra 3 db of gain by using stereo cables but other there any of issues to consider? Does it affect the stereo image in any way by using 2 mono leads? Is it better or worse or simply no different? I have tried both and i didnt notice any difference except of course for volume. Although, i dont really know what im supposed to be listening FOR. Just curious.

Regards

[qo]

I think you're talking about balanced cables vs unbalanced, rather than stereo/mono, right?

Some gear can take either balanced or unbalanced cabling. Other gear isn't so forgiving. You just need to read the relevant manual/specs to make that determination.

And, yes, if you only connect one of the hot leads of a balanced cable, you'll only get half the signal (which may or may not be out of phase with other signals in your setup, depending on which pin you've tapped). A balanced connection uses two signal leads, which are 180 degrees out of phase with each other, and one ground lead. The receiving gear flips the phase of one of the signals and sums the result with the other signal. This has the effect of cancelling out any noise that was picked up along the cable run.

The Mackie HR824, for example, works (or not, depending on your opinion of them ) with both balanced or unbalanced connections. It sounds like your monitors do too.

[Atardecer]

Thanks for the reply

Well, i'm not really sure if i'm talking about the whole balanced/unbalanced issue. I get more hum from my monitors when i use balanced cables and i can only assume that is freom the increase in gain. My monitors have both input options and i use balanced because my s/card outputs are balanced. I guess my question relates more to the nature of mono/stereo sounds. Does combining two stereo sources introduce any elements that, say, combining two mono sources would not?

I'm not really sure how to put it (and i dont really know what i'm talking about!). I guess I'd like a technical explanation on the nature of mono and stereo sounds in relation to each other and speakers (no less!).
Like in the opposite, if you output a mono sound source thru two speakers as opposed to using only one speaker. The former is not really true mono is it? So how do these things affect what you hear? I want to know if there is any particular reason i should use one or the other when i'm mixing in stereo - that is, irrespective of volume and earth/ground issues. To put it really stupidly, I use stereo sounds, so should i not use stereo connections instead of mono ones?
Does anyone have idea what i'm talking about because i dont think i do anymore!

[giles117]

You possibly have grounding issues if you are hearing hum with a balanced cable.