Aside from the obvious differences in the physical connectors, is there an advantage to one over the other?
Specifically, I am looking to connect powered near-field monitor speakers to my USB audio interface.
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XLR connectors have a lock, so they are less likely to be unplugged by accident. Also, when connecting or disconnecting them, they are less likely to cause short circuit or produce noise because of their design (the TRS design may cause that). In general, the connector is more robust.
In your scenario, check if your monitors and interface support balanced signals, and if they support it, you can use a XLR cable that will carry the "control" signal on the third wire and will protect your signal from interference. If you use a TRS connector, be sure to use a three-conductor TRS connector to carry a balanced signal.
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3Also, an XLR connector is designed to connect pin 1 (the ground) first when connecting, and last when disconnecting. With a TRS the tip of the plug first connects to the sleeve, then the ring and finally the tip of the jack.– someMay 26 '11 at 4:36
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TRS connections were used a lot in mixers as outputs because they took up less space compared to xlr. Although trs connections are most likely less preferred, they keep the overall cost down for mixers.– jaybersNov 3 '15 at 16:48
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In TRS balanced audio connections, the ground mates last and the socket grounds the plug tip and ring when inserting/removing. This causes bursts of hum, cracks, pops, and may stress some outputs as they will be short circuited briefly, or longer if the plug is left half in.– PupJan 17 at 19:15