JavaScript is required to use the Windy City Wire site Low Noise Definition | Windy City Wire

Low Noise

Definition

Low noise describes a cable constructed to minimize signals generated by the motion of its own components, reducing handling noise in coaxial and microphone circuits.

Detailed Explanation

Low noise cable addresses triboelectric noise, the unwanted electrical charge generated when the layers of a cable rub against one another as the cable flexes and moves. Special construction, often including a conductive layer between the dielectric and shield, drains this charge before it becomes audible interference. Without such measures, simply moving a cable could introduce noise into a sensitive signal.

In commercial and professional audio and instrumentation, low noise cable is used in coaxial and microphone circuits where handling movement would otherwise introduce noise into low-level signals. By suppressing motion-induced noise, the cable preserves clean signal quality in applications where even small disturbances are noticeable. This makes low noise construction particularly valuable for worn microphones and cables that are handled during use.

The conductive layer that drains triboelectric charge is what distinguishes low noise cable from ordinary constructions, and preserving that layer through proper handling is part of keeping the cable performing as intended over its service life.

Preserving the cable's special construction in handling and termination is essential to keeping its low noise advantage intact.

At Windy City Wire, the focus on shielded, low-noise audio cable supports the demanding circuits where motion-induced noise must be controlled. Supplying cable engineered to drain triboelectric charge helps keep microphone and instrumentation signals clean, even as cables flex and move during a presentation or performance.

Applications / Use Cases

  • Microphone cable for live and studio audio
  • Coaxial instrumentation circuits
  • Low-level signal runs subject to movement
  • Suppressing handling and triboelectric noise
  • Worn microphone cables that flex during use

Related Terms

  • Low Loss
  • Microphone Cable
  • Shield
  • Line-Level
  • Lapel Mike Cable