Shortest low profile male XLR connector

[mattiagreyfox]

Hello,

 

I am searching for a low profile male 3 pin XLR connector that is less than 3.5 cm in length overall, cap included, ideally in Europe but not too fussed if it can be found elsewhere willing to ship to Europe

 

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

Mattia

[Display Name]

Not shorter than 35mm though. 
 

Switchcraft have one that’s 35,6mm. 

https://www.switchcraft.com/aaa-series-xlr-low-profile-3-position-male-black-with-black-backshell/aaa3mblp/

You can get it from Mouser in EU. 
 

And cable techniques have European resellers for their short ones that’s 35mm. 

https://www.cabletechniques.com/lopro-xlr-mini-xlr

https://www.cabletechniques.com/resellers

 

Beside those there are many no name brands available from Amazon et al. 

[mattiagreyfox]

Thanks a lot for the reply
What about this Canford one?
https://www.canford.co.uk/Products/41-0202_CANFORD-LOW-PROFILE-XLR-3-Pin-male-cable-connector
It says "Depth from the back of the male connector to the panel connector is 21.5mm" but I am not sure what that means, I assume that's not the full length and that at the end we're still looking at 3.5 cm?

[rich]

1 hour ago, mattiagreyfox said:

Thanks a lot for the reply
What about this Canford one?
https://www.canford.co.uk/Products/41-0202_CANFORD-LOW-PROFILE-XLR-3-Pin-male-cable-connector
It says "Depth from the back of the male connector to the panel connector is 21.5mm" but I am not sure what that means, I assume that's not the full length and that at the end we're still looking at 3.5 cm?

get the cable techniques version. its available from Wendys broadcast in the uk
https://www.wendysbroadcast.co.uk/broadcast-audio-products/?get=low-profile-connectors&ct=c&deptid=26
 

the caps on these are held in with two grub screws, and you have a reasonable range of adjustment of where the cable leaves the side of the cap.

as long as you suitable sized cable, and probably heatshrink to make sure the cable is gripped securely in the cap, you should be fine. 

 

i'll post a picture in a moment of one of these next to a ruler to help you out.

dont use a low profile connector with a push in end cap. that just feels like you are asking for trouble.

[Paul F]

I'm disappointed with the Switchcraft ones. I've had two of the screw-on rings break. It's a surprisingly cheap design for Switchcraft. I will try the Cable Techniques  ones next time I need some.

[Tobi A]

Yes the switchcraft ones don’t have any strain relief, any tension on the cable is directly on the solder joints. 

[mattiagreyfox]

Thanks all for the replies, much appreciated

[Paul F]

I found this item on Aliexpress. I ordered one. It is all metal construction, including the cap. A set screw holds the cap in place. It can be set at any angle except 'straight up' because that's where the set screw is. It is the same height as the Switchcraft.

 

The set screw is ridiculously small. The included hex wrench sort of fits in the set screw, but it is so tiny that I'm never sure if I have the set screw in or if I am turning it. But it does work. But then where do I store the wrench and remember where I stored it? It is not a size you will find in a regular hex wrench set and it is so small it is easily lost in a drawer. It needs its own little box with a label on it.

 

Once again, not a perfect solution, just different.  I'll probably go with these the next time I need to make cables. I'll probably put a bigger set screw in.

 

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807990041503.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.6faa18028yghnr&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

[DanieldH]

I have 2 different  yet similar products from Aliexpress.

 

This is a Neutrik mod. The set screw is bigger and works with most bit kits I have around. The price is significantly more (currently 15-20?€$). These are also available in XLR4 and 5, m/f and TA3/5 variants. However the Neutrik MXX shell does not lock well with the FX-SPEC locking nut that you find e.g. on a Wisycom MTB40s.

That is why I'll probably assemble this to my internally cabled boom:

 

Unfortunately, these also have the tiny set screw like the product @Paul-F has. They cost even less than Pauls, but the metal and overall quality appears to be trustworthy. 

[Constantin]

Unless you actually are in the UK buying from there has become somewhat more complicated…

 

Remote Audio also makes decent lo-profile XLRs (but I would say that as I sell them in Germany), but I am not sure at the moment if they fit your size requirements. 
 

Any reputable audio shop in Europe probably makes their connectors, albeit usually with a fixed cable angle. For example, Kortwich makes really good and really small connectors and I‘m sure many others do, too

[Paul F]

The Jelen set screw looks larger.

 

Do you know why the Jelen has the four tongs on the cap? The cap seems so deep. What is it doing?

 

Can the cap be rotated to any angle?

 

I ordered the Jelen for comparison.

[DanieldH]

Yes, the Jelen screw is bigger.

The tongs hold the part with the pins in place.

I ll check later, but as far as I remember they can be fixed freely, 360°.

The cap can indeed turn freely 360° but you can not lock the screw to the "bay" where the cable goes trough. The screw aligns with the XLR's lock, so you'll have around 350° of possible positions.
Basically the same is the case with the Jiefei model.

On the pic, there is also a Rean TA3m mod, most likely from the same source as the Jelen XLR. It's cap has only 3 positions it can enter the shell, but quite some flexibility within these, so you end up with maybe 3*30°

 

Jelen and Jiefei are or where only some shop names within the AE universe. These things are or have been sold in various shops and are unbranded afaics.

BTW Cable Techniques lists some EU usual suspects as well as UK ones with EU stores as resellers. If the connectors are not listed on these web-shops, I bet you can at least have them preordered or even get a few from a workshop stash.

[Paul F]

I got the Jelen today. It's nice, just longer. I prefer the AVSSZ because it is shorter (about 5mm) and has a larger hole, big enough for the Canare cable that I use. While the Jelen has a normal size set screw, the cable hole is too small.

 

Below - the first picture shows the Switchcraft unit, which is difficult to use because of the two-piece top that requires you feed the cable out of the cap as you try to put the cap and screw-ring in place. It's messy. There is no way to add strain relief.

 

The AVSSZ is the shortest, all metal, has a large enough hole for the cable I prefer, and has enough room to solder, place the cable at the angle desired, and even room for a zip-tie strain relief. There is enough clearance all around that I don't feel I need to put heatshrink sleeving over the solder points.

 

AVSSZ - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807990041503.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.6faa18028yghnr&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa