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Necessary to ground and XLR interconnect?

In building XLR cables, some designs call for floating a shield from the source end of the cable with no connection to the destination end. If I don't want to use any internal shield, is it necessary to attach anything at all to the negative pins? And if so, is it important to use the same gauge and type of conductors used in the signal wires, or can I go smaller and cheaper? These cables will connect a Wadia CD player directly to monoblocks. Thanks for your advice.
jafreeman

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jafreeman OP
693 posts
 
Thanks-so I should connect a shield to both ground pins, not one. But if I don't want to use a metal foil/braid shield, should I connect up the ground pins with a wire anyway, or would there be no point to that? My shield will be a non-metallic outer covering--Flexo Conductive carbonized braid.
jafreeman's avatar
jafreeman OP
693 posts
 
Nsgarch, thanks--I am connecting up a Wadia 861 to ARC Reference 210 amps, currently using Transparent Reference XLRs about 8 years old, and they have networks. I think I can do better--want to try Dueland 2.0 silver ribbons with oil-impregnated silk--no other shield is called for with these-Dueland philosophy is natural materials only. One ribbon to each (+) and (-). What should I use to connect up the ground pins, a nominal, round wire? I would isolate this from the ribbons with a Techflex carbonized braid.
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