Instrument cables are shielded and use much smaller wires and speaker cables are unshielded and use huge wire gauges. A speaker cable has no use for shielding because the signal from the amp is huge and the impedance of the speaker is very low to the point that outside interference and RF noise won’t be a bother.
Subsequently, are bass and guitar cables the same?
Do you need to buy a specific cable for bass guitar? In short: There is no real difference between bass and guitar cables. Some manufacturers will argue very subtle differences due to differences in capacitance, but these will only make the slightest difference, not noticeable to most people’s ears.
Simply so, are guitar and speaker cables the same?
Beside above, can I use a guitar cable instead of a speaker cable?
Guitar cables are designed for low noise and capacitance, and tiny amounts of current. If you use them for a speaker cable, large losses in power transmission occur.
Can I use a TRS cable as an instrument cable?
TRS cables will work with a guitar in most cases, but because they are a balanced cable, and a guitar has an unbalanced output they will make no difference to your sound. If you have a spare TRS cable lying around then give it a go, it shouldn’t cause any damage.
Can you use a speaker cable as an instrument cable?
If you use a speaker cable as an instrument cable, the large conductors handle the weak signal just great. But there’s a catch—speaker cables aren’t shielded. Since they normally carry strong, already-amplified signals, any noise they pick up is inconsequential, making shielding unnecessary.
Is a TRS cable a speaker cable?
TRS. TRS is the abbreviation for “Tip, Ring, Sleeve.” It looks like a standard 1/4″ or 1/8″ plug but with an extra “ring” on its shaft. TRS cables have two conductors plus a ground (shield). They are commonly used to connect balanced equipment or for running both left and right mono signals to stereo headphones.
What gauge is instrument cable?
Generally, instrument cable center conductors are in the range of 18 to 24 AWG, with strands of 32 to 36 AWG.
What is instrument cable?
Instrumentation cables are multiple conductor cables that convey low energy electrical signals used for monitoring or controlling electrical power systems and their associated processes. The functions of measurement and control are vital in manufacturing and processing applications.