In broadcast audio, what does 'wet' mean?

• A. 30VDC has been applied to the XLR
• B. Audio signal present at the XLR
• C. Power is on in the frame
• D. There is no signal at the XLR

Answer: (A)

Wet means there is DC power present on the XLR signal lines—phantom power is being supplied along with the audio. In broadcast gear, microphones and some devices can be powered through the XLR connector, so when the line is described as wet, you’re indicating that the line carries both power and audio. A reading of about 30V DC on the XLR pins is a concrete example of that power being present, which is why this description fits. The idea isn’t just that audio is present, or that the frame’s power is on, or that there’s no signal; it specifically denotes the presence of DC power on the line itself.