Neutrik NC5FXX Female 5-Pin XLR DMX Connector – Nickel Housing, Silver Contacts
Build and repair professional 5-pin DMX, lighting-control and equipment-specific signal cables with the Neutrik NC5FXX Female 5-Pin XLR Cable Connector, part of Neutrik’s internationally recognised XX Series.
The NC5FXX combines a rugged nickel-plated zinc die-cast housing, silver-plated brass contacts, solder termination, Neutrik’s unique female cage-contact design, an improved solid-metal latch, additional shell-ground contacts and an improved chuck-type cable strain-relief system.
For the entertainment industry, 5-pin XLR is particularly important across professional DMX lighting-control systems, making the NC5FXX an excellent connector for theatres, touring productions, festivals, production companies, film and television lighting, broadcast studios, AV companies and equipment-hire businesses.
Whether you are manufacturing new DMX leads, repairing venue lighting cables, maintaining touring inventory or replacing damaged connectors in a workshop, the NC5FXX provides the mechanical construction, serviceability and electrical performance expected from a genuine Neutrik professional connector.
Genuine Neutrik XX Series 5-Pin Female XLR
The NC5FXX belongs to Neutrik’s professional XX Series, developed as the successor to the established X Series of cable connectors.
Neutrik incorporates several female-specific features into the NC5FXX, including:
- Unique female cage-contact design
- Integrated solder barrier
- Improved solid-metal locking latch
- Additional ground-spring contacts
- Improved chuck-type strain relief
- Polyurethane cable-bending protection
- Protected internal shell thread
- Optional colour identification
These features make the NC5FXX particularly well suited to professional cable systems where connectors may be assembled, connected, disconnected, toured and serviced repeatedly.
Professional 5-Pin Female XLR Connector
The NC5FXX is a 5-pole female XLR cable connector with solder contacts.
Professional applications include:
- DMX512 lighting-control cables
- Professional 5-pin DMX systems
- Moving-light control
- LED fixture control
- Theatre lighting
- Touring lighting
- Festival lighting
- Architectural lighting control
- Film and television lighting
- Broadcast production
- Equipment-specific 5-pin control systems
- Specialist multi-pin signal applications
Always determine the actual equipment protocol, pin assignment and cable requirements before constructing a lead.
A 5-pin XLR connector describes the physical connector format—it does not by itself determine what signal or protocol the completed cable carries.
Strong Choice for Professional DMX Cables
One of the most important applications for the NC5FXX is professional DMX lighting-control cable construction.
Five-pin XLR is widely used throughout professional lighting systems to interconnect equipment such as:
- Lighting consoles
- Moving-head fixtures
- LED luminaires
- DMX splitters
- Nodes
- Dimmer systems
- Effects equipment
- Architectural controllers
- Touring lighting racks
Neutrik itself manufactures professional DMX data-cable assemblies using XLR connectors and specifies 120 Ω nominal characteristic impedance for those cables.
For reliable DMX systems, the connector and cable should therefore be considered together.
Use Proper DMX Data Cable
A professional Neutrik 5-pin XLR connector should be paired with cable designed for the intended data protocol.
For DMX applications, use suitable 120 Ω data cable rather than assuming any multi-core microphone or audio cable is automatically suitable.
Correct DMX cable construction should consider:
- Characteristic impedance
- Shielding
- Conductor construction
- Cable capacitance
- Termination quality
- Cable length
- Connector assembly
This becomes particularly important across:
- Long data runs
- Large touring systems
- Festival lighting
- Moving-light networks
- Large theatre installations
- Broadcast studios
Using high-quality connectors together with appropriate DMX cable creates a much more dependable control system.
Nickel-Plated Zinc Die-Cast Housing
Neutrik specifies the NC5FXX housing as:
Shell Material: Zinc die-cast ZnAl4Cu1
Shell Plating: Nickel
The silver-coloured body should therefore be described as a nickel-plated housing, rather than simply a “silver body”.
The rugged metal shell provides mechanical protection around the connector’s internal contact and termination system.
This is particularly valuable across:
- Touring
- Theatre
- Festivals
- Equipment hire
- Broadcast
- Film and television
- AV production
- Permanent installations
Silver-Plated Brass Contacts
The NC5FXX uses:
Contact Material: Brass CuZn39Pb3
Contact Plating: 2 µm silver over 2 µm nickel
This provides a more technically accurate description than simply saying “silver contacts”.
Neutrik specifies:
Contact Resistance: ≤3 mΩ
Rated Current: 7.5 A per contact
Rated Voltage: <50 V
These figures describe the connector itself.
The capabilities of a finished cable will also depend on:
- Cable
- Conductor size
- Wiring
- Equipment
- Application
- Assembly quality
The NC5FXX should not be considered a mains-power connector merely because it has a published current rating.
Unique Female Cage-Contact Design
One of the most important female-specific XX-series features is Neutrik’s cage design for the female contacts.
Neutrik states that this design provides:
- Low contact resistance
- High contact integrity
This is particularly valuable for professional data and signal connections that may be repeatedly plugged and unplugged throughout their working life.
For touring and hire inventory, where connectors can experience substantial mechanical cycling, maintaining dependable mating contact is an important part of cable reliability.
Integrated Solder Barrier
The NC5FXX female contacts incorporate an integrated solder barrier.
Its purpose is to help prevent solder from flowing into the contact mating area during assembly.
This is especially useful when constructing a 5-pin connector because technicians are terminating multiple contacts within a compact connector assembly.
Good soldering practice is still essential.
Avoid:
- Excessive solder
- Solder bridges
- Cold solder joints
- Overheating contacts
- Loose conductor strands
- Excessive stripped conductor
- Shield shorts
Every completed cable should be tested before use.
Improved Solid-Metal Latch
The NC5FXX features an improved solid-metal female latch.
Neutrik describes the latch as larger and easier to handle than the earlier design.
This provides a positive locking connection when mated with a compatible male 5-pin XLR connector.
That is particularly valuable for:
- Touring lighting systems
- Theatre
- Festival production
- Broadcast
- Equipment hire
- AV
- Temporary event infrastructure
A damaged or poorly operating latch should be inspected rather than forcing the connector into service.
Additional Ground-Spring Contacts
Neutrik incorporates additional ground-spring contacts to improve shell-ground continuity.
This is a more technically precise benefit than simply describing the connector as having “improved shielding”.
Overall system shielding and grounding still depend on:
- Cable design
- Wiring
- Shield termination
- Mating connector
- Connected equipment
- Installation
The connector forms one part of the complete signal system.
Improved Chuck-Type Strain Relief
The NC5FXX uses Neutrik’s improved chuck-type strain-relief system.
The manufacturer states that the XX-series system provides:
- Higher cable pull-out force
- Easier assembly
- Faster assembly
Effective strain relief prevents routine mechanical loading from being transferred directly to the soldered conductors.
This helps protect:
- Solder joints
- Conductors
- Cable shield
- Connector contacts
For touring and production cables that are regularly coiled, deployed and packed, good strain relief is extremely important.
Polyurethane Cable Gland
A polyurethane gland provides additional protection against bending stress where the cable exits the rear of the connector.
This is a common mechanical stress point because production cables are frequently:
- Coiled
- Uncoiled
- Pulled from cases
- Connected behind equipment
- Bent around fixtures
- Packed into trunks
- Transported between venues
Good bend protection helps distribute mechanical stress over a greater section of cable.
3.5mm to 8.0mm Cable Diameter
Neutrik specifies the NC5FXX for cable outside diameters from:
3.5mm to 8.0mm
This suits a wide range of professional data, control and signal cables.
Always check the actual outside diameter of the intended cable before assembly.
For larger cable constructions, Neutrik offers the BXX-14 large bushing/chuck accessory for approximately 8mm to 10mm cable O.D.
Correct cable diameter is important because the strain-relief system needs to grip the outer jacket effectively.
Maximum 1.0mm² / 18 AWG Conductors
The NC5FXX supports conductors up to:
1.0mm² / 18 AWG
This is an important 5-pin-specific specification.
Do not copy the 2.5mm² / 14 AWG maximum specification from Neutrik’s common 3-pin XX-series connectors onto the NC5FXX.
The additional contacts within the 5-pin insert mean the conductor-size specification differs.
7.5 A per Contact
Neutrik specifies:
Rated Current: 7.5 A per contact
Rated Voltage: <50 V
Again, this differs from the common 3-pin NC3FXX and NC3MXX connectors, which have different electrical ratings.
For Shopify product data, it is important to maintain the correct specifications for each pole count rather than applying generic XX-series figures across the complete connector range.
Professional Solder Termination
The NC5FXX uses solder contacts.
This makes it suitable for both:
- New cable manufacture
- Cable repair
Professional users may keep NC5FXX connectors in workshops for:
- DMX cable construction
- Venue repairs
- Touring maintenance
- Hire-company servicing
- Custom control cables
- Production-company inventory
Correct assembly workmanship is essential.
A genuine Neutrik connector cannot compensate for poor soldering or incorrect wiring.
Theatre Lighting
Five-pin XLR is particularly relevant throughout professional theatre lighting infrastructure.
Potential NC5FXX applications include DMX cabling between:
- Lighting desks
- DMX splitters
- Nodes
- Moving lights
- LED fixtures
- Dimmers
- Effects units
- Stage infrastructure
- Touring equipment
For theatres maintaining substantial cable inventories, field-repairable connectors can help extend the life of otherwise serviceable DMX cable.
Keeping replacement NC5FXX connectors in the technical workshop can also minimise downtime during rehearsals and performances.
Concert Touring and Live Events
Touring lighting cable is exposed to significant mechanical handling.
Throughout a production it may be repeatedly:
- Deployed
- Connected
- Disconnected
- Coiled
- Packed
- Loaded
- Transported
- Unpacked
- Reinstalled
The NC5FXX’s rugged nickel-plated metal shell, improved strain relief and polyurethane cable gland make it particularly suitable for professionally manufactured touring DMX cables.
Potential applications include:
- Concert touring
- Music festivals
- Theatre tours
- Arena productions
- Corporate events
- Awards shows
- Temporary lighting installations
Film and Television Lighting
Film and television lighting systems increasingly incorporate DMX-controlled LED fixtures and sophisticated control networks.
Potential applications include:
- Studio lighting
- Location lighting
- LED fixtures
- Moving lights
- Television entertainment
- Film stages
- Virtual production
- Broadcast lighting
- Effects systems
Location equipment is continually packed and transported, making serviceable connectors particularly useful.
If the cable remains in good condition but the connector becomes damaged, the connector can often be replaced without discarding the complete lead.
Broadcast Studios
Broadcast facilities may use 5-pin XLR throughout professional lighting-control infrastructure.
Applications can include:
- Studio lighting
- Entertainment television
- Live music broadcasts
- Production stages
- Outside broadcast
- Temporary lighting systems
The NC5FXX provides a field-serviceable connector suitable for facilities that maintain their own cable inventory.
Festival Production
Festivals may operate extensive DMX networks across multiple stages and installations.
Potential applications include:
- Main-stage lighting
- Secondary stages
- Site lighting
- Architectural installations
- Special-effects control
- Temporary event lighting
A dependable 5-pin connector becomes particularly important where hundreds of control connections may be installed and removed over a short event period.
Corporate AV and Exhibitions
Professional lighting control is also used throughout:
- Corporate events
- Conferences
- Exhibitions
- Product launches
- Brand activations
- Awards events
- Temporary installations
AV and exhibition companies maintaining their own lighting inventory can use NC5FXX connectors for both custom cable manufacture and workshop repairs.
Five-Pin vs Three-Pin DMX
Three-pin XLR remains common on some lighting equipment.
However, 5-pin XLR is the more appropriate format around professional standardised DMX infrastructure.
Where a system needs to transition between 3-pin and 5-pin equipment, use a correctly wired adaptor designed for that purpose.
Always:
- Confirm the equipment pinout
- Use suitable DMX cable
- Maintain the correct data pair and shield
- Test the completed system
Do not simply rewire connectors based on physical appearance.
Other 5-Pin XLR Applications
Five-pin XLR is not used exclusively for DMX.
Depending on the equipment manufacturer, 5-pin XLR may also appear on:
- Communications equipment
- Intercom
- Control systems
- Specialist audio equipment
- Equipment-specific interfaces
Pinouts can vary considerably between these applications.
Before constructing a non-DMX cable:
- Identify the equipment.
- Check its documentation.
- Confirm the pin assignment.
- Choose the correct cable.
- Build the cable accordingly.
- Test before connecting equipment.
More Than 1,000 Mating Cycles
Neutrik specifies the NC5FXX for a mechanical lifetime of:
More than 1,000 mating cycles
This makes it suitable for repeated connection and disconnection across:
- Touring
- Theatre
- Venue patching
- Equipment hire
- Broadcast
- AV
- Film and television
Actual service life will also depend on cable construction, assembly quality, handling, contamination and maintenance.
Insertion and Withdrawal Force
Neutrik specifies:
Insertion Force: ≤20 N
Withdrawal Force: ≤20 N
A connector that suddenly requires excessive force to mate or disconnect should be inspected rather than forced.
Check for:
- Bent contacts
- Foreign material
- Mechanical damage
- Contamination
- Incorrect mating parts
IP40 Protection
The standard NC5FXX has a protection class of:
IP40
It should therefore not be advertised as waterproof or weatherproof.
For outdoor events:
- Keep connectors protected from rain
- Keep connections out of standing water
- Use appropriate weather protection
- Consider the rating of the entire system
The rugged metal body does not make the standard NC5FXX a sealed outdoor connector.
Operating Temperature
Neutrik specifies an operating temperature range of:
-30°C to +80°C
The completed cable may have a different practical range depending on:
- Cable jacket
- Conductor insulation
- Solder
- Mating connectors
- Connected equipment
Always consider the complete assembly.
Electrical Performance
The NC5FXX is specified with:
Contact Resistance: ≤3 mΩ
Capacitance Between Contacts: ≤7 pF
Insulation Resistance: >10 GΩ initially
Dielectric Strength: 1.5 kV DC
Rated Current: 7.5 A per contact
Rated Voltage: <50 V
For data applications such as DMX, the cable’s transmission characteristics remain equally important.
Protected Internal Shell Thread
The NC5FXX includes a protected internal shell thread.
This helps reduce the chance of thread damage during assembly and servicing.
When assembling the connector, begin the thread carefully and never force incorrectly aligned components.
Colour Coding and Cable Identification
Neutrik supports optional coloured XX-series rings and bushings.
These can be useful for identifying DMX cables according to:
- Cable length
- Universe
- Stage
- Department
- Venue
- Production
- Ownership
- Signal type
Neutrik also offers a transparent coding-ring option for customised identification.
Large lighting departments and hire companies may find systematic colour coding particularly useful when handling substantial cable inventories.
NC5FXX vs NC5FXX-BAG
Both connectors are female 5-pin XX-series XLR connectors with silver-plated contacts.
The main visual difference is the housing finish:
NC5FXX: Nickel-plated housing / silver contacts
NC5FXX-BAG: Black KTL-coated housing / silver contacts
Choose NC5FXX where the traditional nickel Neutrik finish is preferred.
Choose NC5FXX-BAG where a black connector body is preferred for dark touring and stage cable assemblies.
Female and Male Pairing
The NC5FXX can be paired with the Neutrik NC5MXX male connector for a matching nickel-housing 5-pin XLR cable assembly.
It can also mate with other compatible 5-pin XLR connectors where the electrical application and pin assignment are correct.
If a matching black cable assembly is required, the corresponding NC5FXX-BAG / NC5MXX-BAG versions provide black housings with silver-plated contacts.
Equipment-Hire Companies
Hire inventory often receives particularly heavy handling.
The NC5FXX is useful for:
- Building new DMX cables
- Repairing damaged leads
- Workshop spare stock
- Touring packages
- Custom cable manufacture
- Production preparation
Standardising on professional connector families can also simplify:
- Workshop inventory
- Spare parts
- Technician training
- Accessories
- Cable identification
Schools and Performing Arts Centres
Schools, universities and performing arts centres increasingly operate substantial DMX lighting systems.
NC5FXX connectors can be used within:
- School theatres
- Performing arts centres
- Auditoriums
- Drama departments
- Music venues
- Lighting-control systems
- Technical-production training
Cable manufacture and repair should be completed by suitably skilled personnel using appropriate test equipment.
Cable Repair and Workshop Stock
A damaged connector does not necessarily mean the entire cable needs to be discarded.
Where the cable itself remains electrically and mechanically serviceable, a technician can often remove a damaged connector and replace it with a new NC5FXX.
After repair, the cable should be tested for:
- Continuity
- Correct pin assignment
- Shorts
- Shield integrity
- Reliable connector mating
For DMX cables, suitable data-cable testing is preferable where available.
Installation Considerations
When assembling an NC5FXX:
- Confirm the cable O.D. is within 3.5–8.0mm.
- Confirm conductors do not exceed 1.0mm² / 18 AWG.
- Slide the boot and strain-relief components onto the cable before soldering.
- Prepare the cable carefully.
- Confirm the correct application pinout.
- Maintain appropriate conductor geometry for data cable.
- Make clean solder joints.
- Avoid excessive solder around the female contacts.
- Prevent shield strands from shorting against adjacent pins.
- Assemble the chuck strain relief correctly.
- Avoid cross-threading the shell.
- Test the finished cable before use.
Product Specifications
Brand: Neutrik
Model: NC5FXX
Series: XX Series
Connection Type: XLR
Connector Type: Cable connector
Gender: Female
Number of Poles: 5
Termination: Solder contacts
Housing Material: Zinc die-cast ZnAl4Cu1
Housing Finish: Nickel plated
Contact Material: Brass CuZn39Pb3
Contact Plating: 2 µm silver over 2 µm nickel
Insert Material: Polyamide PA66
Boot / Gland: Polyurethane
Strain Relief: Polyacetal POM chuck-type system
Locking System: Solid-metal latch lock
Cable Outside Diameter: 3.5–8.0mm
Maximum Conductor Size: 1.0mm² / 18 AWG
Insertion Force: ≤20 N
Withdrawal Force: ≤20 N
Contact Resistance: ≤3 mΩ
Capacitance Between Contacts: ≤7 pF
Insulation Resistance: >10 GΩ initially
Dielectric Strength: 1.5 kV DC
Rated Current: 7.5 A per contact
Rated Voltage: <50 V
Mechanical Life: >1,000 mating cycles
Protection Class: IP40
Flammability: UL 94 V-0
Operating Temperature: -30°C to +80°C
Standard Compliance: IEC 61076-2-103
Solderability: IEC 60068-2-20 compliant
Why Choose the Neutrik NC5FXX?
The NC5FXX is an excellent choice where professional cable construction requires:
- Genuine Neutrik quality
- Professional 5-pin female XLR connectivity
- Strong DMX and lighting-control suitability
- Rugged nickel-plated metal housing
- Silver-plated contacts
- Unique female cage-contact system
- Integrated solder barrier
- Improved solid-metal latch
- Improved shell-ground continuity
- Professional chuck-type strain relief
- Polyurethane cable-bending protection
- Solder termination
- Field serviceability
- More than 1,000 specified mating cycles
- Optional colour identification
For professional lighting technicians and production companies, it is a particularly strong option for building and maintaining reliable 5-pin DMX cable inventory.
Why Buy Neutrik NC5FXX from GigLife?
GigLife supplies professional connectors, cables, adaptors, tapes, consumables and technical accessories specifically for the entertainment and production industries.
With more than 25 years of hands-on live entertainment industry experience, GigLife understands that a connector becomes part of a cable that may be plugged, unplugged, coiled, toured, repaired and depended upon show after show.
Products are selected by people who work in production and understand the requirements of:
- Lighting technicians
- Audio professionals
- Theatre technicians
- Touring crews
- Production companies
- Film and television departments
- Broadcast facilities
- Festivals
- AV companies
- Schools and performing arts centres
- Conference venues
- Exhibition contractors
- Equipment-hire businesses
Whether you are building DMX cables, repairing venue lighting stock, preparing a touring package or maintaining workshop inventory, GigLife supplies professional components chosen by people who understand the job.
Orders are dispatched from Brisbane, with Australia-wide shipping available.
GigLife is proudly by the professionals… for the professionals.
