Cables & Connections Calculators
Cable length, signal loss, impedance, balanced vs unbalanced and cable gauge calculators.
Cable Length Calculator
Calculate the maximum cable length before signal degradation for XLR, TRS, TS and other audio cable types. Free online calculator.
Signal Loss Calculator
Calculate audio signal attenuation in dB over a cable run based on cable type, length and frequency. Free online audio calculator.
Cable Impedance Calculator
Calculate the characteristic impedance of audio cables from conductor diameter, spacing and dielectric constant. Free online tool.
Connector Calculator
Reference guide for audio connector pinouts, wiring diagrams and signal levels covering XLR, TRS, TS, RCA and more. Free online tool.
Balanced vs Unbalanced Calculator
Compare noise rejection and maximum cable run lengths for balanced versus unbalanced audio connections. Free online comparison tool.
Snake Calculator
Calculate audio snake requirements from channel count, cable run length and connector types for live sound and studio installations.
Patch Bay Calculator
Calculate patch bay size, normalling configuration and total cable requirements for professional recording studio wiring projects.
Cable Gauge Calculator
Calculate the required cable gauge (AWG) for speaker cables based on your cable length, speaker impedance and acceptable power loss.
Cable Loss Calculator
Calculate signal loss over audio cable runs including resistance loss, capacitance effects, noise floor impact, impedance and recommended maximum lengths.
Patch Cable Calculator
Calculate total patch cable length and count needed for a pedalboard or rack setup.
10 free calculators in Cables & Connections
Audio Cables and Connections
Audio cables are the unsung workhorses of every audio system. Whether you are connecting microphones, instruments, speakers or digital devices, choosing the right cable type and gauge is essential for maintaining signal quality and minimising noise.
Balanced connections (using XLR or TRS connectors) carry the signal on two conductors with opposite polarity, allowing the receiving device to reject any noise picked up along the cable. This makes balanced cables suitable for long runs of 100 metres or more. Unbalanced connections (using TS or RCA connectors) are more susceptible to interference and should be kept as short as possible.
Speaker cables have different requirements from signal cables. They must carry significant current, so the wire gauge (measured in AWG) must be appropriate for the cable length and speaker impedance. Using too thin a cable causes power loss, reduced damping factor and degraded bass response.