Cable question again. Mics, XLR, TRS.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 24 Sep 2003 5:32 pm

I searched the archives but missed.
Well, I am a 100% George L man. Love it.
What is the equivalent in balanced cable? I have heard to stay with Neutrick(sp?) connectors. But what cable or what brand ready made? Here again the price goes from $4.95 to $495.00, for 10'.

My application is band project studio. AW 2816, a couple of Neumann KM184's, Shure SM57's, Beta 58A's, and an Audio Technica large condenser mic. Some nice tube preamps,with Lexi and TC Electronics signal processors. A couple of rookie engineers, who would rather play and practice. We have a hodge podge of junk balanced cables right now. (All 1/4 single connector is George L.)

I know cables make a difference. Don't mind paying a fair price for a good product. The BS runs so deep from the sales guys, they could sell it like a feedlot. I just turn around and leave.

Thanks
Ron

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 25 Sep 2003 12:54 am

I've never went for the boutique cables (no implication for GL). Belden has made great cables for years but they don't have the sexy image. www.belden.com

As for balanced, the cabling is much easier. Noise is inherently reduced by design. So a decent, 14pF/foot, balanced audio cable works great. The only possible consideration is microphonics (bumping the cable and hearing it through the audio). I've never had this problem with the Belden.

I've used Switchcraft XLR connectors. The XLR is simply a better design, so boutique connectors aren't necessary.

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 25 Sep 2003 6:27 am

Belden and Mogami both make good mic cable. The quad(two of each color) style seem to be quiet and work well from both manufacturers. I don't think you can go wrong with either Neutrik or Switchcraft XLRs.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 25 Sep 2003 7:59 am

Ron, the capacitance issue is much less significant in a low-impedance, balanced situation. With guitar pickup impedances being so high, the cable quality is easily noticable. If you wanna really tweak there's this balanced cable by Vandenhul that's supposed to be about the lowest capacitance cable there it, but you'll pay for it. I use a few short runs of it in my mastering setup but I cant hear any difference. Really it seems like even the most high end recording experts are using Canare or Mogami much of the time for balanced cables.

------------------
Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis
http://home.earthlink.net/~bradsarno/

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 25 Sep 2003 1:18 pm

I mention Belden and Switchcraft since buying domestic is a bid consideration of mine.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 26 Sep 2003 7:47 am

Ron, If you can find Canare then get that. It's real tough and flexible, has good specs, and is super fast to prepare when you're making cables, and cheaper than Mogami. Quad cable is good for microphone hookups, but I wouldn't bother with it for just patching gear. It's almost twice the price. I've got lots of Belden too, but I find that the rubber jacket degrades over time and the cables get sticky, takes forever to prep, the jacket is stuck to the shield.... Neutrik is the way to go, again super fast and easy to work with, no tools required. Believe me!

Waisznor · Post by **Waisznor** » 26 Sep 2003 11:59 am

The connectors quality are a very important part . My experience is the same, I read about connectors on www.guitar.com from Sheryl Crow´s guitar tech Vegas:

"The two most common are Switchcraft and Neutrik. Both are well made. Their only differences being in the sound of them. You are probably beginning to doubt my sanity at this point, but it´s true - the differenz is audible. Take 2x10´ cables, one with Neutrik and one with Switchcraft. Listen to the differences and pick the one that suits your tastes. I find that there is more definition and gain to the mids and highs with Switchcraft.

Horst

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 26 Sep 2003 12:03 pm

"... since buying domestic is a big consideration of mine."

along with the others above, I see!

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 28 Sep 2003 9:00 am

I used to think people were crazy when they said that the connectors made a difference. Until an audiophile friend made me do some serious A/B sessions with various interconnects, speaker cables, RCA jacks, silver solder, etc. I hated to admit it, but the differences were audible. It forced me to use better quality jacks on my mastering console, cables, silver solder, better quality attenuators, etc.

I've always liked Neutrik but that's because of the design and ease of use. I've never compared the sonics with Switchcraft. But now I will have to give a listen!

Thanks for the tips.

------------------
Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis
http://home.earthlink.net/~bradsarno/

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 28 Sep 2003 10:57 am

Thanks for all the replies. You guys know and are not trying to sell me anything. That is what I like about the this Forum.

I will go with the Mogami because the specs are good, they use the Neutrik connectors and the cable comes in 10 colors. That should make things easier for me.

Thanks again!