help making my own decent quality XLR cables.

  • Thread starter Thread starter wes480
  • Start date Start date
wes480

wes480

New member
Ok, first of all....if this is going to end up costing me the same as monster cable, then....forget it. hehe. But, average monster is about the quality I am looking for...something I know isn't going to kill my gear...(aardvark, marshall mics...typical homerecer)...but at the same time isn't going to be too good for it.

I am building a kinda studio in my basement...and I am going to need to get a decent amount of mic cables, to make easy access to all the rooms.

Nothing will be longer than about 20 feet.

I have looked around at some prices for XLR wall plates...and cable...and ends and such...but, i don't know how quality these parts are...

where can I get pretty high quality cable, and how much do you think it might take me to do a 20 footer...? I will be making about 20 of them...so, bulk will hopefully help me out

-Wes
 
Check out Markertek.com

They have Canare Quad cable for about .31 per foot. THey also have gold-plated Neutrik XLR plugs... it'll cost you about $8-10 for a 20-foot high-quality cord.

Canare Quad and Neutrik is what I use other than Monster.


Bowisc
NYC
 
Bowisc--that is a pretty good deal for a 20 foot quad mic cable! I have been thinking of making a few of these myself. Do you think the Mogami cable is better, equal, or inferior to the Canare? My initial plan was to build with Mogami, but I don't think its .31 a foot.
 
I may be off 2-3 cents, but for the most part, I'm in the ball-park.
I went with Canare Quad because I know some reputable engineers that use it and recommended it.

As far as saying which is better - Mogami 'vs' Canare... I really can't say. I haven't checked Mogami's specs or used their cable too much. I did build some insert cables using Mogami, and am satisfied.

I still recommend Canare Quad because my studio is 90% connected with it. The other 10% is rigged by the more expensive "Monster Cable", which is very good (Studio 500 Series).

Bowisc
NYC
 
Mogami is easy to work with. The shield is wrapped not braided. If you are using these in the studio and not on stage I would use a cable with a wrapped shield. The braided shield will hold up better to people walking on them and such. In the studio that shouldn't happen much. In the end I would pick something easy to work with. Also it isn't hard to make a cable that will blow Monster out of the water.
 
I am also interested in making a few cables and have two questions. What type of solder is recommended and is there any special cable/connector prep?

How do you check the cables when finished (other than try them with a microphone)? Do you measure resistance to determine the quality of the solder connection?
 
Bowisc said:
Check out Markertek.com

They have Canare Quad cable for about .31 per foot. THey also have gold-plated Neutrik XLR plugs... it'll cost you about $8-10 for a 20-foot high-quality cord.


Bowisc
NYC
Click to expand...

fullcompass.com has Canare quad for .32 per foot in 100 ft lengths, .29 per foot in 250 ft lengths and 24.887 in 1000 ft lengths. Gold pin Neutriks runs about $2.40 each in quantities of 10-49. Love this catalog.

Glenn D.
 
I've just started replacing my cables with Canare Quad and Neutrik connectors.
 
Mark,

Where are you sourcing from and what prices..............I would be surprised if anyone in Aust is selling anywhere near the prices mentioned above.

:cool:
 
nwsoundman, can you explain how to make a cable that is superior to Monster Cable?


Bowisc
NYC
 
Easy

Mogami, Beldon, or Canary with Switchcraft connectors properly prepped and soldered. Thats it. Don't let the Monster name and price fool you. Do a listening test with your own ears and buy or make what you like. I have tried many different brands of cables and connectors. I know what MY ears like. I know what MY hands like to work with in regards to shielding.

Also there is differences is sound when using star quad vs two conducter cables. Try them both. Listen to the high end for the biggest differences. Sometimes I will reach for a different cable instead of eq.

In the end trust yourself, trust your ears, try many different combo's, and you will answer your own question.
 
nwsoundman,

Oh, okay... that was just your personal opinion. For some, $3 cables sounds good to their ears - they probably can't tell the difference between Canare Quad -vs- some old RCA cable. I just thought your response would go beyond "subjectivity".

I use Canare Quad/Neutrik custom-cables that sound great to my ears, but I still some Monster cable (10%).


Bowisc
NYC
 
I'm in the process of moving my studio from my basement to a new local. I'm planning to making most (if not ALL) cables for this permanent install. You mention Canare Quad, but why is there four wires? I thought all XLR and balanced cable used three wire?

Joel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top