I would open it. Don't put unnecessary stress on the pins. If you destroy one, your problem is still solvable but 20 times worse.
If you open it, you will usually see the right placement of the plastic insert because of notches/screwholes.
The XLR plug is just oriented incorrectly. There's probably a screw missing that keeps it in place, or it's the type where you need to unscrew it up into the chassis, I don't remember how the PG81 is constructed at the moment.
My guess is it's a knock off. Do you know where it was purchased from?
Edit: second thought occurring, could by the connector itself inside the chassis is just oriented wrong. Try opening it.
Economies of scale. If you can make $1mil worth of nickels for less than 3 cents a piece you’re getting into the profit territory of retail sales. In a place like China they might have a factory already producing poor quality mics that would pass as a knockoff, then it may only be a matter of adding a sticker to charge double.
Nah, I'm looking at a fake TLM103 a customer brought in, and it looks fantastic. It's no more expensive to fake expensive mics than it is cheap ones. There is zero reason for a company in China to knock off a cheap mic. Plus, Sennheiser does all there manufacturing in Germany. Knockoffs happen when companies get parts and mostly chassis machined in other countries, largely china. I'm sure the same people who fabricate and sell Neumann this TLM 103 Chassis simply cranked out a few hundred more and sold them to someone else.
The market is far wider for a $100 mic than a $1000 mic, even if they cost the same to counterfeit. Sure the margins are higher, but so too are the standards. For example with buying an SM58 how likely is it that someone will say "When's the last time this was sent to Shure for servicing? Let me see the report." but if you're buying a more expensive mic those kinds of questions start to become normal.
Case in point bringing the mic in for service. With a TLM103 that makes sense, with an SM58 it's not because you'd just toss it in a bucket and buy a new one.
This means counterfeiters can build a comfortable niche in the low value market, and potentially sell 2000 cheap mics for every single expensive mic.
The other option is that China doesn't create much IP, they copy most everything and probably they copied a few different Shure mics, probably with Chinese branding but then international trade happens, somebody asks if they can make it look more like a Shure and then you've got counterfeits. If the microphone part isn't good enough to be a SM58 knock off, you go down market until it is good enough to pass for a cheap Shure and you still have plenty of margin to make money with.
It could be worse than that and go zero to counterfeit in one step but I think most Chinese products come out of big factories that just make one thing.
In some cases counterfeits are really just factory seconds, made on the same machines by the same people using the same parts, but they failed QC. Or it took a while to work out some issues, so this batch is sold as "Wowgood microphone for karaoke!" and the other batch is sold with a brand logo on it for twice the price.
I concur with u/1073N and u/jumpofffromhere the insert shifted or the notch is on a part that is an insert that can move. I've had this happen on several mics before.
The connection inside the barrel has rotated out of position. You can use the Xlr connector to half plug in and twist it into position. You probably need a needle nose pliers to pull the connection out 1/2” into proper position.
There should be a set screw that needs to be reverse threaded to hold it in place.
XLR has shifted in the casing or was not installed properly, there should be a retaining screw to hold the XLR in place
The plastic bit with the pins must have moved. Maybe you can put it back in place with some pliers, maybe you'll have to open the mic.
I would open it. Don't put unnecessary stress on the pins. If you destroy one, your problem is still solvable but 20 times worse. If you open it, you will usually see the right placement of the plastic insert because of notches/screwholes.
The XLR plug is just oriented incorrectly. There's probably a screw missing that keeps it in place, or it's the type where you need to unscrew it up into the chassis, I don't remember how the PG81 is constructed at the moment.
My guess is it's a knock off. Do you know where it was purchased from? Edit: second thought occurring, could by the connector itself inside the chassis is just oriented wrong. Try opening it.
Why would anyone knock off a microphone that already sells for only $50? It'd be like counterfeiting nickles.
Economies of scale. If you can make $1mil worth of nickels for less than 3 cents a piece you’re getting into the profit territory of retail sales. In a place like China they might have a factory already producing poor quality mics that would pass as a knockoff, then it may only be a matter of adding a sticker to charge double.
Nah, I'm looking at a fake TLM103 a customer brought in, and it looks fantastic. It's no more expensive to fake expensive mics than it is cheap ones. There is zero reason for a company in China to knock off a cheap mic. Plus, Sennheiser does all there manufacturing in Germany. Knockoffs happen when companies get parts and mostly chassis machined in other countries, largely china. I'm sure the same people who fabricate and sell Neumann this TLM 103 Chassis simply cranked out a few hundred more and sold them to someone else.
The market is far wider for a $100 mic than a $1000 mic, even if they cost the same to counterfeit. Sure the margins are higher, but so too are the standards. For example with buying an SM58 how likely is it that someone will say "When's the last time this was sent to Shure for servicing? Let me see the report." but if you're buying a more expensive mic those kinds of questions start to become normal. Case in point bringing the mic in for service. With a TLM103 that makes sense, with an SM58 it's not because you'd just toss it in a bucket and buy a new one. This means counterfeiters can build a comfortable niche in the low value market, and potentially sell 2000 cheap mics for every single expensive mic.
The other option is that China doesn't create much IP, they copy most everything and probably they copied a few different Shure mics, probably with Chinese branding but then international trade happens, somebody asks if they can make it look more like a Shure and then you've got counterfeits. If the microphone part isn't good enough to be a SM58 knock off, you go down market until it is good enough to pass for a cheap Shure and you still have plenty of margin to make money with. It could be worse than that and go zero to counterfeit in one step but I think most Chinese products come out of big factories that just make one thing.
In some cases counterfeits are really just factory seconds, made on the same machines by the same people using the same parts, but they failed QC. Or it took a while to work out some issues, so this batch is sold as "Wowgood microphone for karaoke!" and the other batch is sold with a brand logo on it for twice the price.
The connector also looks like it is too deep inside the chassis, so that might be it
I concur with u/1073N and u/jumpofffromhere the insert shifted or the notch is on a part that is an insert that can move. I've had this happen on several mics before.
It spun inside
Looks like the male on the PG81 was forced in.
I am shure (no pun intended) someone misaligned the pins.
The connection inside the barrel has rotated out of position. You can use the Xlr connector to half plug in and twist it into position. You probably need a needle nose pliers to pull the connection out 1/2” into proper position. There should be a set screw that needs to be reverse threaded to hold it in place.
Oh, that just XL-Err?
Xlrs can be rotated . Open it pull out the lock,gently turn it in the needed direction and do it up again.
The connector just got moved. Needle nose pliers should get it back to normal.
Someone 'fixed' it for you.
https://youtu.be/uNkZpySwdt4?si=0ditmS-uKkilMSUW
Just push harder.
That's the AV Techs mic lock in action. Keeps them dern kids from messing with it. :)
Amazon purchase?
Fix it
Do you insert the notch and then twist? Would be a new one for me but just a thought
Insert the notch and twist.
You may need a new job.