Mic Cables

  • Thread starter Thread starter lemon2476
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lemon2476

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Hi,
I'm looking for some good mic cables at a good price. Does anyone have any recommendations for stores, websites, or brands?
Thanks
 
Build your own. I get my stuff from parts express.com.
 
mic cables really won't make a difference any audiophile hear will notice. just get something that works and keep in mind that almost everything made these days is made to break.
 
Cheaper is better?

I've heard many atime that cables are cables. There's not a big difference between them and sometimes cheaper is just fine.
Would anyone agree or disagree?
Thanks
MG Eddie said:
mic cables really won't make a difference any audiophile hear will notice. just get something that works and keep in mind that almost everything made these days is made to break.
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Cheap-ish mic cables are OK, but you do get what you pay for. I have found cheap cables break very easy and have bad connectors (not in spec). The best cables i have are the ones I have made, Beldon or Eurocable and name brand connectors.

Alan.
 
Cheap-ish mic cables are OK, but you do get what you pay for. I have found cheap cables break very easy and have bad connectors (not in spec). The best cables i have are the ones I have made, Beldon or Eurocable and name brand connectors.

Alan.
 
One suggestion is to always check the used cable box at Guitar Center. They often use really good cables for stuff like "Guitarmageddon", and then sell them at massively reduced prices. I picked up 8 20' B.L.U.E. Kiwi quad cables there for $10.00 each! I couldn't build them myself for that price, and Kiwi quads are among the most bullet proof cables on the planet.
 
Seismic Audio cable--search it. I've gotten many cables from there, and at good prices. Free shipping, too.
 
witzendoz said:
Cheap-ish mic cables are OK, but you do get what you pay for. I have found cheap cables break very easy and have bad connectors (not in spec). The best cables i have are the ones I have made, Beldon or Eurocable and name brand connectors.

Alan.
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Exactly that. There's no AUDIO difference between cheap and expensive cables but there are differences in terms of longevity and handling quality. This might not be so important in a semi permanent studio but when you're doing live work and coiling/uncoiling your cables several times a week, the reliability issue can be important.

I'd like to +1 the post suggesting that you teach yourself how to solder and make your own cables. XLRs are probably the easiest soldering you can do (with TRS a close second) and this means you can have cables exactly the length you need and also do repairs if something gives way in the connector. A hundred metre reel of nice mic cable (one that coils nicely) and a box of Neutrik connectors will serve you well.

Oh...and there's a mis-spelling above. It's "Audiophool" not "Audiophile".h
 
Point 1: Audiophools don't use mic cables, they use "interconnects." Of course, they understand that a three-foot-long line-level cable carrying already recorded and mastered music is absolutely critical (and they also ensure that the components at either end of these critical cables have unbalanced -10 ins and outs). Interconnects are almost as important as (a) power cables and (b) making sure all speaker cables are the same length.

Point 2: As already noted, it depends on the application. Live sound: bulletproof; Pro studios: .22-proof at least; Home studios: BB-proof.
 
I'm and absolute nut for supple mic cables with extreme "coil-ability"

I want to be able to throw them from the coil and have an almost ruler straight line to my target with one hand

I usually want neutrik, no screw ends, although there are other brands with the same setup

I don't want to deal with a foil shield (I know, I know, I'm asking for trouble, but I'm more concerned with fast fixes in the heat of the moment)

I absolutely, positively, do NOT want to deal with a french braided ground
 
I'm sure most cables are fine, though I usually only use Hosa's for the recording tasks (guitar/mic cables). For outputs, RadioShack cables can work for all I care.
 
pipelineaudio said:
I'm and absolute nut for supple mic cables with extreme "coil-ability"

I want to be able to throw them from the coil and have an almost ruler straight line to my target with one hand

I usually want neutrik, no screw ends, although there are other brands with the same setup

I don't want to deal with a foil shield (I know, I know, I'm asking for trouble, but I'm more concerned with fast fixes in the heat of the moment)

I absolutely, positively, do NOT want to deal with a french braided ground
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^^^^

THIS! THIS! THIS!

Barring somebody trying to use bell wire or something, the cable and connectors make no difference to the sound quality.

However, handing qualities for coiling (over under style of course) the the ruggedness of the connectors make a huge difference to longevity and the "user experience". Once you've coiled any "good" cable, you'll never want to go back.
 
And here I was thinking that the standard answer to this question was "not Monster"....:D
 
I would recommend doing a search on amazon. Read the reviews and check out the overall rating of the product and seller. I can almost guarantee itl be cheaper than buying from official music websites
 
In the time it takes to do that research you could teach yourself to solder the buy a hundred metres of cable and some Neutrik connectors.

Seriously, soldering XLRs and TRS connectors is easy, cheaper than buying pre-made, you get the exact length you need and it's satisfying a bit like knitting or something.

If you're into audio, it really IS worth the effort.
 
Bobbsy said:
Seriously, soldering XLRs and TRS connectors is easy, cheaper than buying pre-made, you get the exact length you need and it's satisfying a bit like knitting or something.
Click to expand...

I use it as a form of meditation , I will go to the studio and solder up a pile of leads and connectors with some good music on and just chill out.

Alan.
 
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