Read that article I posted.

From the manual of your Mackie MR-5 monitors:

There are three types of input connectors: XLR (balanced), 1/4-inch (balanced), and RCA (unbalanced). Since all three of them are connected together electrically, do not connect more than one signal at a time to the input jacks.
• The XLR connector and 1/4-inch TRS (tip-sleeve-ring) connector accept a balanced signal while the RCA connector accepts an unbalanced signal. A balanced signal provides better noise rejection and is the preferred method, especially if using a cable longer than 20 feet (6 meters).
• The 1/4-inch TRS jack can also accept an unbalanced signal from a 1/4-inch TS (tip-sleeve) plug.
Unbalanced cables for your monitors will be more prone to noise.

Shielding is not quite the same thing.

Here is a good explanation for guitar cables vs speaker cables: http://www.fender.com/news/why-instr...terchangeable/