Heads up! All Neutrik 6 pin XLR are not the same physical configuration

[emrr]

Wow, who knew?  Okay, someone did.  Neutrik hardly document it in any clear manner.  If you look at the individual mechanical drawings, you see it.  This is the only text relating to it I find anywhere, buried in their FAQ section:

http://www.neutrik.us/en-us/support/faq/why-does-my-6-pole-xlr-not-fit-into-the-neutrik-6-pole-xlr

So far I haven't found the info on that page anywhere else on their site, nor is it in the 29 page XLR catalog.  There you only find a footnote which says "Switchcraft compatible" with no explanation. 

 

[mjrippe]

Well, I knew but only from experience.  There is a Blue modded U47 here that had a broken 6 pin connector in the base of the mic.  I ordered a Switchcraft replacement, installed it, and the Neutrik plug on the cable wouldn't fit.  No wonder the old one was broken!  Ordered a Switchcraft plug for the cable and forgot about it until now.  Seems the locator key on the shell is just far enough out of alignment that the two don't work together.

 

[emrr]

Yep, the inserts will mate when they are out of the shells, so even a basic dummy run won't show the mismatch. 

 

[Bowie]

I know there's also an issue with some of their combo XLR/TS combo jacks not releasing certain manufacturer's 1/4" plugs (the plug becomes physically stuck inside the panel-mount jack).  Various gear manufacturers have had to give free warranty service because of this.
Neutrik's solution is to use only Neutrik plugs.  :-\

 

[Pip]

Yes once you leave the world of 3 pins things can be different, the 4 pin XLR on some camera equipment comes to mind.

 

[emrr]

To repeat myself, neutrik make both types, so you can order all neutrik parts and still get it wrong. 

Neutrik 1/4" plugs, now that someone mentioned it:  I frequently see neutrik plugs fail to work correctly when inserted into Switchcraft instrument jacks on passive guitars or basses. Usually the symptom is low output, which occasionally switches to regular output levels.  I've always assumed poor contact from metric/English differences.  Change to a Switchcraft loaded cable, problem goes away 100% of the time. 

 

[mjrippe]

To repeat myself, neutrik make both types, so you can order all neutrik parts and still get it wrong. 

Neutrik 1/4" plugs, now that someone mentioned it:  I frequently see neutrik plugs fail to work correctly when inserted into Switchcraft instrument jacks on passive guitars or basses. Usually the symptom is low output, which occasionally switches to regular output levels.  I've always assumed poor contact from metric/English differences.  Change to a Switchcraft loaded cable, problem goes away 100% of the time.

Just wanted to emphasize that first point!

And yes, I've seen the 1/4" plug problem too.  A client said the input jacks on the Fender Bassman I just serviced were funky.  He brought it back and I tried to make the signal cut out by moving the cable, turning the plug, yanking, etc.  No luck.  So I tried another cable with a cheap Chinese plug and there it was - cutting in and out every time the cord moved.  I agree it is probably a metric vs imperial thing...