It doesn’t matter whether you’re a musician or a roadie, an audio engineer or a record producer – or whether you mix sound in a church, club, or stadium: When the faders come up, you want dependable, true sound reproduction.

ShowMeCables might be best known for computer connectivity products, from Ethernet to fiber optic to low-loss coax cables. But through the years we have also built up a huge variety of professional audio cables. To save you time as you shop, below we summarize each of our nine types of pro audio products – what it is, how it’s used, and unique product features.

  1. XLR Audio Cables
  • Connector Type: XLR connectors are known for their three-pin design, typically featuring male (plug) and female (socket) connectors.
  • Common Uses: XLR audio cables are widely used in professional audio settings. They are primarily employed for connecting microphones to audio interfaces, mixers, and other audio equipment. They are also used for balanced audio connections, ensuring low noise and interference.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: You can find XLR male or female to: XLR, 3.5 mm mono or stereo, quarter-inch mono or stereo, speakON, and RCA. We also have 5 mm to dual XLR cables.
  1. Mini XLR Audio Cables
  • Connector Type: Mini-XLR connectors are smaller than standard XLR connectors and can have either three or four pins. Our mini-XLRs have a 3.3 mm outside diameter, while our XLRs are closer to 6 mm.
  • Common Uses: Mini-XLR cables are often found in consumer-grade audio devices, such as some portable microphones and headsets. They are used for compact audio connections.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: You will find mini-XLR male or female to: mini-XLR, XLR, quarter-inch stereo, and 3.5 mm stereo
  1. XLR Lighting Cables
  • Connector Type: XLR connectors used for lighting applications may have different pin configurations from audio XLR connectors, such as five-pin.
  • Common Uses: XLR lighting cables are primarily used in the entertainment industry to control stage lighting and DMX lighting fixtures. They transmit control signals for lighting systems.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: Nothing but some of the best here – DMX cable assemblies, which are designed to transmit digital signals over long distances with minimal signal loss or interference. The beefy plugs and jacks have strain relief, and the 110-ohm cable has a high-density OFC braided shield for EMI and RFI rejection.
  1. Quarter-Inch Instrument Cables
  • Connector Type: These cables use quarter-inch (6.35 mm) TS (tip-sleeve) connectors, which are typically mono (unbalanced).
  • Common Uses: Instrument cables are essential for connecting electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, and other musical instruments to amplifiers and audio equipment. They transmit the instrument’s audio signal.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: You’ll find quarter-inch plugs and jacks to both quarter-inch and XLR, in stereo and mono. Lengths run from a 6-inch Hosa guitar patch cable to 100-foot extensions.
  1. Quarter-Inch Speaker Cables
  • Connector Type: Quarter-inch (6.35 mm) connectors can be TS for unpowered speakers or SpeakON connectors for powered speakers.
  • Common Uses: Speaker cables are used for connecting amplifiers to passive speakers (unpowered) or powered speakers (with built-in amplifiers). They carry the amplified audio signal to the speakers.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: For standard male-to-male speaker cables, choose from 10 lengths of 3 feet to 100 feet. These high-current cables also pair quarter-inch with speakON connectors.
  1. SpeakON Cables
  • Connector Type: SpeakON connectors are commonly used in the pro audio industry, known for their secure locking mechanism and robust design.
  • Common Uses: SpeakON cables are used to connect power amplifiers to professional loudspeakers, particularly in large live sound setups. The locking mechanism ensures a reliable connection.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: Choose high-current speakON to speakON, or speakON to quarter-inch. The cable is 16 AWG oxygen-free copper (OFC) for lower resistance.
  1. MIDI Cables
  • Connector Type: MIDI cables use five-pin DIN connectors.
  • Common Uses: MIDI cables are vital for connecting musical instruments (e.g., keyboards, synthesizers, drum machines) and MIDI controllers to transmit control and performance data. They do not transmit audio signals but carry MIDI data.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: Whether you’re looking for a pro MIDI cable with all-metal plugs that are serviceable, or something more economical, we probably have the five-pin cable you need. You’ll also find dual MIDI cable and TRACKLINK MIDI to USB.
  1. Snake Cables
  • Description: Snake cables consist of multiple individual audio cables bundled together in a single jacket. They have various connectors at each end, such as XLR or quarter-inch.
  • Common Uses: Snake cables are used in live sound setups to simplify the connection of multiple audio sources (microphones, instruments) on stage to a mixing console at the front of the house. They reduce cable clutter and make setup more efficient.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: Our eight-channel, color-coded offerings pair XLR male or female to XLR, RCA, or quarter-inch stereo or mono. These Hosa cables are fully shielded to prevent EMI and RFI, and there is strain relief on the nickel-plated connectors.
  1. Stage-Box Snake Cables
  • Description: Stage-box snake cables combine a snake cable with a stage box, which typically has a panel of connectors (e.g., XLR, quarter-inch) on one end.
  • Common Uses: Stage-box snake cables are used in live sound and concert setups. The stage box is placed on stage, and various audio sources (microphones, instruments) are connected to it. The other end of the cable connects to the mixing console, providing a neat and organized solution for stage connectivity.
  • ShowMeCables Offerings: Our big selection of Hosa stage-box snakes offer a dozen combinations of XLR, quarter-inch, and RCA plugs. For instance, pair 16, 12, or 8 XLR sends to 4 quarter-inch returns, or 8 quarter-inch sends to 8 quarter-inch or RCA returns.

Our pro audio cable products are in stock and available with same-day shipping. In-stock products ordered before 5 p.m. ET ship the same day. Flat-rate UPS ground shipping is only $8.99.

Questions? Contact our U.S.-based customer service at +1 (888) 519-9505, email us or chat.