Xlr Microphone

What is the difference between XLR male and XLR female connections on a microphone?

Nothing except what the designer chose to use..

“Plugs” are male
“sockets” are female

you can have a socket or plug on the end of a lead,
and likewise as you have noticed on the equipment end.

XLR connectors on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector

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