RapcoHorizon EXMN-20 20' Excellines Mic Cable

A Dependable General-Purpose XLR Mic Cable Built for Stage, Studio, and Installed AV Use

The RapcoHorizon EXMN-20 is a 20-foot balanced XLR microphone cable from the Pro Co Sound Excellines series — a workhorse mic cable line that has earned a reputation in professional audio for delivering reliable, clean signal transfer at a price point that makes stocking multiples practical. Built on a 24 AWG tight-twisted conductor pair with spiral shielding, terminated with Neutrik XLR connectors on both ends — female on one end, male on the other — the EXMN-20 is a straightforward, well-made balanced mic cable suited for boardroom AV systems, podium microphone runs, stage performance use, studio patch applications, and any situation where a general-purpose XLR cable is the right tool. Pro Co Sound backs the entire Excellines line with a limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials — a level of manufacturer confidence that reflects the quality of construction in this cable.

24 AWG Tight-Twisted Pair and Spiral Shield — What These Specifications Mean for Signal Quality

The cable construction of the EXMN-20 is built around two 24 AWG oxygen-free conductors in a tight-twisted pair configuration. Tight twisting of the conductor pair is the primary mechanism for common-mode noise rejection in a balanced cable — the tighter and more consistent the twist, the more effectively the cable rejects electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference that couples equally into both conductors and is cancelled by the balanced differential input of the receiving device. The spiral shield wraps around the twisted pair to provide additional EMI and RFI shielding, with coverage rated at 90% — protecting the signal from external noise sources without adding the rigidity of a braided shield construction. The result is a flexible, noise-resistant cable that performs cleanly in the typical interference environments of live performance venues, conference rooms, and recording spaces. Capacitance is rated at 21 pF/ft at 1 kHz — a specification that keeps high-frequency signal loss minimal across the 20-foot run, maintaining the full frequency response of the microphone from low end through the top of the audio band.

Neutrik XLR Connectors — The Industry Standard for Reliable Balanced Audio Connections

Both ends of the EXMN-20 are terminated with Neutrik XLR connectors — the female XLR at one end for connection to a microphone or device output, the male XLR at the other end for connection to a mixer, preamp, audio interface, or other balanced input. Neutrik's XLR connectors are the professional audio industry's benchmark for balanced audio connection hardware — known for their precise pin alignment, robust metal housing, positive latching mechanism, and long service life under repeated connect/disconnect cycles. Using Neutrik connectors on the Excellines cable ensures that the termination quality matches the cable construction quality, producing a complete assembly where both the cable and the connectors contribute to reliable, low-noise signal transfer rather than allowing a lower-quality connector to become the weak link in the signal chain.

Matte PVC Jacket and Physical Construction

The EXMN-20 uses a matte PVC outer jacket with an outside diameter of 0.230 inches — a flexible, durable jacket construction that lies flat on stage and in equipment racks without excessive stiffness or memory coiling. The matte finish reduces glare under stage lighting and gives the cable a clean, professional appearance in installed AV environments where cables are visible. The 20-foot length is the most practical general-purpose mic cable length for the majority of stage and AV applications — long enough to reach from floor stands, podiums, and desktop mounts to the nearest stage box, wall panel, or mixer without excess coil, and short enough to manage cleanly without the cable management burden of longer lengths.

Where the EXMN-20 Fits — Applications and System Context

The Excellines EXMN-20 occupies the practical center of the professional mic cable market — above entry-level cables that use lower-quality connectors or thinner shielding, and below the premium touring-grade cables designed for the most demanding road use. It is the right cable for boardroom and conference room AV installations where reliable, quiet balanced audio is needed from a podium or tabletop microphone to a ceiling-mounted or rack-mounted audio processor. It is equally at home on a club or theater stage where a working musician or sound engineer needs a dependable mic cable that will perform consistently night after night without requiring constant replacement. For studio use, the EXMN-20 serves well as a patch cable and mic cable for sessions where the cable is handled moderately rather than subjected to the extreme abuse of heavy touring. Pro Co Sound's Excellines cables are trusted in professional studios and live venues worldwide — the EXMN-20's 20-foot length is the most commonly stocked variant in the series.