mic cables...what's the deal?

[larrye]

Me too.
Larry

 

[geekgurl]

u know it

A great cable for studio mics is the monster cable studio line. It is so night and day you won't believe it. I participated in a demonstration by monster cable where they had us bring our favorite studio cable in and side by side test against theres. UNBELEIVEABLE!

I guess the low freq's travel down the center of a wire and the higher freq travel down the outer part of the wire.

They have figured a way to sort of time align the signals by how the core is wound. THe center of the cable which carries most of the low freq's has considerably less windings than the outer threads. The outer threads carry the hign freq's which move faster and usually arrive sooner. SO by lengthening the time it takes to get the hi freq"s there, it matches up better to the low freq.

I'm no mathmatician but I got good ears. I'm amazed by the sound difference.

Only down side is a 30' Monster cable XLR to XLR is like 90 bucks. OUCH!

BTW..they make guitar cables for JAZZ, ROCK AND COUNTRY. They each sound different using the same guitar. Go Figure!

Joe

Yep, gotta agree with you on this one. I believe the term for aligning the signals is "time-correctness." But no matter: like you, I ain't a mathemetician, but I'm a musician and I trust my ears.

I played a djembe drum using an LD condenser to pick up room + source, using both a standard ProCo or whatever it was, and a Monster Studio 500. What a difference! That "boom" hitting the center of the drum was really, "BOOOOOM".

FWIW, I think prices of these cables are much cheaper if you can get away with less than 25 feet. I think mine's a 18' or 20' or whatever they sell in that length range and it was $50 at GC.

Also, George Ls are excellent for short runs, but because they're not time-correct it's not recommended (GL rep at Center) to run them longer than 3 feet. They're great connectors for pedals or in racks, though.

 

[Joe E]

GeekGurl

I'm glad someone finaly agrees with me! For anyone that is skeptical, before they put it down they should give it a shot. Guarentee, you will be amazed.




As far as ends falling off, I've never seen it happen with the monster stuff, but I'm not saying it did not happen either.

 

[smellyfuzz]

This topic has been debated forever...

I sit on the side that STRONGLY recommends spending money on cabling,
not for it to last longer, but to improve sound.

SO....

For all you skeptics... if you really want to know if cable makes any difference...

The answer is simple.

In the "Hi-End " community, we do not (shouldn't) push our cable views on
anyone.
Most stores that sell "Hi-End" interconnects & speaker wire are willing
to LEND them out.

So for all of you who really want to know the facts & not assume them,
GO TO YOUR LOCAL HI-END STORE and borrow a set of
interconnects and/or speaker wire, replace it with the shit you
have on the back of you crappy CD player that you own, turn off the TV,
actually sit & listen for a song or two, UNINTERRUPTED.
Switch the cabling back a couple of times & learn a thing or two.

If you do not hear ANY difference (GOOD OR BAD), then you can
return them and then you can send me an email telling me what a dope I am.
I'll just assume you are deaf.


Love,
Sean


Ps. The Wiz, Radio Shack, Circuit City, PC Richards, ECT...
Does not sell or lend even remotely decent cables, Monster Cable is crap.
However, it is in the right direction.
You need to find a small Hi-end dealer & if he does not lend cabling or at least
offer you a full refund in writing, then LEAVE THE STORE.

Pss. I know that not one of you will ever do this because it will be too much effort,
instead most of you will continue to either take one side or another with out even
testing out a true decent pair of cables, but if any one actually GETS OFF THEIR
FAT ASS and gives it a try, I would like to know your findings.

GOOD LUCK.

 

[geekgurl]

Sean:

I'm wondering if you think Monster's mic cables are crap? I know about their RCA cables for like home stereos and such ... actually, even those are better than cheap Radio Shack specials -- I can run SPDIF thru Monster RCAs and that won't work with cheap RCAs. And yes I know you're supposed to use better cable for running SPDIF, but that's my point -- it worked with Monster.

So besides Monster what brand would you recommend for mic and instrument cable? Are Canares better? If I heard such a drastic difference with Monster mic cables, I can only imagine what even better will do. I'd certainly be willing to try it.

And what about for hi-end home audio ... what should skeptics ask for if they decide to take you up on your listening challenge?

 

[aaronscool]

I'm all for doing side by side comparisons. I have done it and it can be pretty amazing.

I still stand by my original recommendation of making your own high quality mic cables. Even Monster is only an assembler of cable (they buy cable in bulk put it together and mark it up 2x).

Buy high quality cable made by Canare or Mogami. Either of these companies Quad strand cables are excellent with possibly the slightest edge to Mogami overall.

Buy only Neutrik connectors. These guys are pretty much the exclusive connectors found on nearly all expensive cables. The have superior quality and the best strain relief (prevents end failures) I've seen.

I average about $18 for a 20' cable when I make them myself.

 

[smellyfuzz]

I'm wondering if you think Monster's mic cables are crap?

I have never tested them but, I'm sure they are better then
a lot of cheep cables.

I know about their RCA cables for like home stereos and such ... actually, even those are better than cheap Radio Shack specials

Absolutely true, but their interconnects & speaker wire is not consistent unless you go to their very expensive models.

The brands that I know, MIT, STRAIGHT WIRE, AUDIOQUEST, KIMBER, gives you more consistency when going up grades plus far more bang for buck.

In fact, for home stereo use, I could recommend a mere $50.00 investment that would completely change the sound of your home stereo.

So besides Monster what brand would you recommend for mic and instrument cable? Are Canares better?

I cannot recommend any Standard Mic Cable like Canares or Kiwi, for I have no experience in the use of them, this is a question for maybe someone like Sjoko2.

I would recommend MIT, STRAIGHT WIRE, AUDIOQUEST, KIMBER, in XLR form.(very expensive)
These cables, I am familiar with their sound qualities.

And what about for hi-end home audio ... what should skeptics ask for if they decide to take you up on your listening challenge?

Ask for nothing, just listen.


Sean

 

[Buffalo Bob]

At Tom Cram's recommendation, I replaced my standard Shure mic cable with better stuff (Monster Pro), and the difference was incredible. Now, if I can just get rid of these Radio Shack patch cords!

Bob