Which type of cables contains one hot wire, one cold wire for reverse audio signal, and a ground shield?

Balanced signal cables are designed with a specific configuration that includes one hot wire, one cold wire for the reverse audio signal, and a ground shield. This setup allows balanced cables to effectively cancel out noise and interference that can be picked up along the cable run, which is particularly beneficial in professional audio applications where signal integrity is critical.

The hot wire carries the audio signal, while the cold wire carries the same signal out of phase, helping to neutralize any unwanted interference. The ground shield serves as a protective layer, further minimizing the effects of electromagnetic interference. This configuration not only enhances the quality of audio transmission over longer distances but also ensures that the sound remains clear and true to the source.

In contrast, unbalanced signal cables typically consist of just a single signal wire and a ground. Analog signal cables can be either balanced or unbalanced, but they don’t specifically refer to the configuration needed for noise cancellation. Digital signal cables, on the other hand, are structured for transmitting digital data rather than audio signals, making them unsuitable for the context of the question regarding audio transmission.