Is it true that you can use an xlr microphone in a speaker if you plug it into the line out port?

Sean775

Sean775

Mar 19, 2015
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New Jersey, USA
#1
I always thought line out was just for attaching the speaker to a larger system, but according to a customer service worker from Guitar Center, you can plug a mic into the line out port and your voice would be projects through the speaker. I just wanted to make sure this was true; I'm terrible with microphones and related equipment.
 
#6
Sean775 said:
I always thought line out was just for attaching the speaker to a larger system, but according to a customer service worker from Guitar Center, you can plug a mic into the line out port and your voice would be projects through the speaker. I just wanted to make sure this was true; I'm terrible with microphones and related equipment.
Click to expand...

The XLR out on your amp is for sending a balanced signal to a mixing board for live performance through a PA or recording.

You'll notice in the pics below, there is an XLR out on the amp, and the same exact output on a microphone. And there are two different ends on the cable. Both the line out on the amp and the microphone connection are outputs.
amp rear.jpeg
microphone.jpg
cable.jpg
 
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#9
Sean775 said:
I always thought line out was just for attaching the speaker to a larger system, but according to a customer service worker from Guitar Center, you can plug a mic into the line out port and your voice would be projects through the speaker. I just wanted to make sure this was true; I'm terrible with microphones and related equipment.
Click to expand...

Do you mean line IN? Are we talking about a powered speaker??
 
#10
two fingers said:
The XLR out on your amp is for sending a balanced signal to a mixing board for live performance through a PA or recording.

You'll notice in the pics below, there is an XLR out on the amp, and the same exact output on a microphone. And there are two different ends on the cable. Both the line out on the amp and the microphone connection are outputs.
View attachment 2746433 View attachment 2746434 View attachment 2746435
Click to expand...

He is referring to a speaker, not an amp.
 
#13
If we talk about an active speaker than yes, you can connect an XLR cable from your amp XLR line out to the XLR input of the active speaker.

Actually, electronically speaking, they are design to work like that.

Notice the XLR line output is not a DI. The DI has mic level signal and is pretty much lower than a line level. But they both use XLR connectors and both are useable to get signal to the board.
 
#14
Sean775 said:
I always thought line out was just for attaching the speaker to a larger system, but according to a customer service worker from Guitar Center, you can plug a mic into the line out port and your voice would be projects through the speaker.
Click to expand...
Kanye and KISS (3).jpg
 
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#19
There are probably plenty of powered speakers with line outs that are parallel to the mic in, so I could see this working in some cases.
To just state it as a generic rule like that... no way.
 
#20
Unless it's an acoustic guitar amp or a monitor speaker with an XLR input, chances are you can't plug a mic directly into it. Some amps have an XLR DI line out so that you can connect an XLR cable (the same cable traditional microphones use), to the mixer so that you don't have to mic your bass amp directly, but microphone monitoring through your bass amp isn't usually a function. This maybe where the confusion lies. Also, line out doesn't take signals in, only sends them out. The line out is so you can connect your amp to a mixer. If you plugged a guitar, mic or anything into the output, expecting it to produce sound like a speaker should, nothing would happen.

If you really wanted to, though I WOULDN'T recommend it, you could use an XLR to 1/4in jack adapter to connect your mic to the input. I wouldn't recommend this because it will generally sound bad. It could handle it, but the speaker isn't designed for it, so you voice won't sound as good as if you were connected to a PA.

Don't feel down hearted for not knowing this, everyone starts somewhere. Just do a bit of research on the amps your buying before you get it. :thumbsup:

Actually, my friend was duped by something similar when we first started out, but instead of outputs, it was inputs. He had an amp that didn't have any line outs, and no mics were available. The guy organising it (also his guitar teacher), said he had a machine that went into the input, came back out of the input (that's the weird bit), and puts the sound through the mixer. I was confused when he said this to me, I said to him, nothing comes out of the input. Anyway, everyone always sang his praises, saying he had 30 years experience in music and was a lecturer at a university for music. Turns out, my friend didn't know what a multi fx pedal was... and the guy had set it for him. He wanted to have a classic rock sound, and because he didn't have any other choice because of time, he was stuck with a badly set flanged sound, like an alien. Didn't work, sounded crap. He didn't know what sound he would get until he started to play. He still takes his advice which annoys me. There are many other stories of my friend being duped by this guy, but that's for another rant...

Moral of the story, learn who the right person to ask is about things like this, and make sure the info given adds up.
 
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