On an XLR connector, pin 1 (ground) is intentionally made slightly longer than pins 2 and 3. This design ensures that the ground connection is established first when plugging the cable into a microphone or device.
Establishing the ground connection first helps protect the microphone’s internal circuitry from static electricity. Any static discharge is safely routed to ground before the signal pins make contact, reducing the risk of damage to sensitive components.
This protective design is standard across RØDE microphones to maximise durability and reliability.
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