Wow! Very wee aren't they?
Strangely. even having been involved with audio all my life I had never had hands on a mini XLR until CPC sent me two sets yesterday.
I am doing a power supply mod to two Berry mixers (will give C&V when finished) and standard XLRs would be too clumpy. I had imagined 'minis' to be about the size of a DIN plug? Not! They are smaller in diameter than my left little finger. These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!
Dave
Mini XLRs
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Mini XLRs
Yes, they are very wee indeed... not a big fan, but they have their uses in things like headphones and portable recorders.
- Hugh Robjohns
Moderator -
Posts: 34415 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Contact:
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Mini XLRs
Hugh Robjohns wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:59 pm Yes, they are very wee indeed... not a big fan, but they have their uses in things like headphones and portable recorders.
I hope these will be reliable Hugh, they will be carrying about 650mA 50Hz per pin. I would have preferred something like a 3 pin male and female locking DIN line connector but thought they would be a bit of a pain to find?
Dave.
Re: Mini XLRs
Plenty at CPC. I like the screw threaded Lumberg DINs...

https://cpc.farnell.com/lumberg/sv30/pl ... dp/CN16845

https://cpc.farnell.com/lumberg/kv30/so ... pd-mi-acce
But there are also latching and bayonet types.

https://cpc.farnell.com/lumberg/sv30/pl ... dp/CN16845

https://cpc.farnell.com/lumberg/kv30/so ... pd-mi-acce
But there are also latching and bayonet types.
- Hugh Robjohns
Moderator -
Posts: 34415 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Contact:
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Mini XLRs
Mini XLR's 
I inherited some of Mike Skeets kit, and it’s got them all over it, including mic leads, and adaptors, I’ve spent loads of time rewiring things,I just find them irritatingly inconvenient. He liked them because they are space saving, and they improve the look of complex mic rigs, all right, I must admit they do that at least.

I inherited some of Mike Skeets kit, and it’s got them all over it, including mic leads, and adaptors, I’ve spent loads of time rewiring things,I just find them irritatingly inconvenient. He liked them because they are space saving, and they improve the look of complex mic rigs, all right, I must admit they do that at least.
That’s another thing
Re: Mini XLRs
I always liked the Lemo circular connectors. They're not cheap so probably overkill for a Berry mixer but they are extremely reliable and available in a very wide range of sizes and configurations.
They also make a cheaper range with plastic shells which seem fine.
Just checked a couple of data sheets for the mini XLR connectors and they have no problems with 650mA as the Cannon ones are rated at 3A per contact and the Rean ones claim 5A per contact.
They also make a cheaper range with plastic shells which seem fine.
Just checked a couple of data sheets for the mini XLR connectors and they have no problems with 650mA as the Cannon ones are rated at 3A per contact and the Rean ones claim 5A per contact.
- James Perrett
Moderator -
Posts: 12248 Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2001 12:00 am
Location: The wilds of Hampshire
Contact:
JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration. JRP Music Facebook Page
Re: Mini XLRs
These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!
You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.
Re: Mini XLRs
MOF wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 10:58 pmThese are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!
You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.
Ah! My trick with DINs and D subs was to run silicone sleeving over each pin as I wired it. Also I did not try to solder the wire TO the pin bucket. 'Tin wire, flood bucket, heat bucket, poke in wire, sleeve.'
Dave.
Re: Mini XLRs
ef37a wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:08 amMOF wrote: ↑Sat Jan 22, 2022 10:58 pmThese are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!
You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.
Ah! My trick with DINs and D subs was to run silicone sleeving over each pin as I wired it. Also I did not try to solder the wire TO the pin bucket. 'Tin wire, flood bucket, heat bucket, poke in wire, sleeve.'
Dave.
Ha! Pretty much my approach to minute plugs and sockets.
- Folderol
Jedi Poster -
Posts: 15265 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Contact:
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Mini XLRs
Whatever floats you boat! My technique relies on a 'dry' solder iron tip and I touch it to the side of the 'flooded' pin then poke the wire in PDQ. Still a bloody fiddle mind!
I now have to gear up for the job. No good first thing in the morning. Too bleary. No good after about 8pm, knackered. So round about 'pre lunch' is favourite.
BTW I use a mini vice but always use the opposite gender connector to hold the actual 'job'.
Dave.
Cubase, guitars.