The ground XLR pin, which is pin 1, is intentionally designed to be slightly longer than the other two pins. The primary reason for this design is to ensure that when an XLR cable is plugged into the microphone's XLR socket, the first pin that makes contact is the ground pin.
This feature is crucial as it helps protect the microphone circuitry from potential damage caused by static electricity. By establishing a ground connection first, any static discharge is safely directed away from the sensitive internal components of the microphone. This thoughtful design is implemented in all RØDE microphones to enhance their durability and reliability.
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