Microphone cable test

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sonusman

sonusman

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Ok, here it is.

I spent the morning hours running some test's on microphone cables. I designed a webpage so anyone can download all the various files. I spent hours uploading .wav and .jpg files for comparison. It is all done!

I compared Monster Studio Pro 1000 microphone cable to APC, Horizon, and some No Name brand I found laying around the equipment room. I recorded a CD playing through my studio monitors with a good mic and a decent preamp to my 24 bit sound card. I have 30 sec. 24 bit and 16 bit .wav files available for anyone to download of the different recordings using all these different types of microphone cable. I took screen shots of the .wav files while they were displayed in an audio editor and uploaded the .jpg files so you can see a comparison.
www.echostarstudio.com/cable_test.html

The 24 bit .wav files are 4.11MB a piece.
The 16 bit .wav files are 2.74MB a piece.
The screen shot .jpg files are around 140KB a piece.

All together, they total about 26MB.

The only difference between any of the recordings was the microphone wire used from the mic to the pre amp.

Please don't send me emails asking questions about this test. The link to the webpage with the links to the downloads explains in detail what I used to perform this test and also my opinions of the results.

If you don't take the time to download all the .wav files, you are missing out on the opportunity to actually hear what the difference sounds like on your own system. Thus, you have no reason to post anymore Monster cable questions at all because I have provided a decently done comparison of it to other popular brands of cable.

Ed

[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 04-22-2000).]
 
I d/l'd monster.wav and noname.wav, 16bit.

Definetly a difference, although subtle. I notice the most obvious difference on the high-hat intro. The monster is clearer, almost sounds like a different pitch than the noname.

Running stat's on the 2 files in Sound Forge gives a Max Sample Value of -1.54 dB for the Monster and -2.09 dB for the Noname.

Good to see some practical, real world testing.
 
Ed...

Nice job. And thanks for all the time and effort you put into it.
One thing I know for sure that will improve the quality of all my future recordings is the purchase of top-notch cables.
It may not be totally noticeable during the recording process, but when you bring your recordings to a professional sound engineer like yourself for mastering, the person with the trained ears will definitely notice the difference.
It makes a big difference because now the person doing the mastering has to take the time to try to remove (or at least limit) the noise in the recordings, or punch up certain instruments to make the recording more dynamic. When you're paying $70 an hour, that can get expensive and time consuming. People don't realize how much cheap cables can rob them of truly good sound.
The bottom line is...
Don't use $3.95 Hosa cables with a $2000.00 16 track digital recorder... it's like putting 87 octane fuel into a Lamborghini.
 
I listened to the 24-bit samples. The monster was far and away better than the others. It was mostly the reverb that gave it away - obvious more depth and clarity than the others. I checked with my wife, who listened blindfolded also (she thought I was up to something, and she was right, but not what she thought), and she could pick it out at 40 paces. I wonder if she'll remember come Christmastime?
 
I downloaded the 24 bit samples.
It wasn't a very big difference but the Monster Cables were noticeably better than all the other alternatives.
Did I notice a dropout in one of the non-monster cable .wav files?
Where do you think Monster 100 cable would stack up against those four choices?
 
Yeah I too heard the difference of the monster 1000, especially toward the high end.
Any opinions on Monster 500's?
 
sonusman:

Maybe nothing else was easily available to you at the time (if at all), but I think it would have been quite a bit more worth the while spent comparing to some "higher regarded" competition brands and models along with those others.

I've already come to own opinionated conclusion(s) when it comes to Moster Cable through my own little comparisions with some Belden, Canare, Mogami, and ProCo mic-level cables (model #s can be given if really wanted). Though I quickly admit my personal comparision was far from technical or scientific, or even fair. I'm positive there was a lot of error; it was simple and quick.

Basicly, I'd just like to hear your conclusions when compared to other "high-end" cable as determined by thousands of pro users.
 
I downloaded the 16-bit Monster 1000 and Horizon files. There definitely is a difference in the clarity and as dobro pointed out in the depth of the reverb. I thought the reference file used for the test was an excellent choice. I have replaced my cheapo cables with Monster Performer 500's and have noticed a significant improvement in clarity and noise reduction. The price for the Monster 1000 was too much for my 'beer pocketbook'. (My longest run is 12 feet)
Thanks for the time and effort you put forth. It certainly illustrated the impact of good cabling on the overall product.
 
Yeah, the monster 500s are pretty sweet, especially when compared to my other cheapo peavey cables.
 
Hey RE - I'd like to hear what the both of you say about the test you're suggesting, and better yet, I'd like to listen for myself! Why don't you organize it? :)
 
But I like the way Ed organized it. Plus, he has 24-bit converters which I don't have (I only have stock 16-bit right now). If he doesn't have access to any "higher regarded" cables (I also have PRO CO (which I don't use); though he already has cheap cable), then may I could send him some for comparisons if he wanted.

*Belden 8412 (2-Conductor) w/PRO CO connectors http://belden.com/products/Catalog/allcat2.idc

*Canare L-4E6S (Star Quad) w/ Neutrik connectors http://canare.com/cablemainframe.html

*Mogami W2534 (Star Quad) Premade http://www.mars-cam.com/cable/mogami/mogamip6.html How about that W3172 cable? http://www.mars-cam.com/cable/mogami/mpn/mpn10.html

*Monster Cable Studio Pro 1000 Microphone Cable (how may conductors?) Premade http://www.monstercable.com/net/html/prolink2d.html#a I know Ed has this cable already. I wonder how much "better" the M Series M1000 is. I'm not going to pay to find-out at this point. How about that Studio Pro 1000 Tube Microphone Cable? http://www.monstercable.com/net/html/prolinkref.html#b

*PRO CO MUSICMOVER (2-Conductors) 120S1 Premade http://www.procosound.com/ (No longer available?)

and/or

*PRO CO DynaMike 223B (2-Conductor) Premade http://www.procosound.com/ (No longer available?)
 
Ed,

I just got a chance to listen to your test. I thought that it was a great test... very logical, repeatable and reasonably scientific. I'd also have to agree that the monster 1000's sounded the best, especially when the voice came in. The APC's were a respectable second in my opinion.

I've just recently upgraded my cables to Mogami and have noticed a dramatic difference compared to my Hosa and other "no-name" cable. With my new Mogami cable, I'm able to hear a lot of the high-end crispness and low-end smoothness (without the noise) that I could hear from the Monster 1000s in your test. For the price of Mogami compared to Monster, Mogami will have my money for a long time. Although, I am curious to hear Mogami versus Monster.

Like the Recording Engineer, I would have liked to see a comparison of the Monster 1000's, 500's, 100's, Mogami, Belden, and other higher end cables. But, alas, you are just a mortal man. Thanks for the excellent comparison.

Rev E
 
Mortal!!! mua hahahahahahahahahahaha! just kidding...

I was not going to get to terribly involved with this thread aside from starting it, but, some legitamate questions have been put forth.

I actually have access to the ProCo Dynamic, and, Belden 8451 (which appeared to be their best wire in a search I did on it, but who knows). So, I could compare those two to Monster cable. But, I can afford $50 worth of gold plated XLR connectors, so there may or may not be an issue overall (I tend to think not because gold plating is normally just used because it is not corrosive).

Really the purpose of this test was to compare the SP 1000 to "regular" cable because there had been so many "post's" about it.... :) So I compared them.

Yes, comparing it to Mogami, Canare, and what not would be an excellent idea. Anyone got any to send? If you do, email me directly and I will give you my address to send some. The wire needs to be at least 15 feet. I would be glad to run a test comparing Mogami, Canare, and Monster SP 1000.

Some of the other things to consider about Monster SP 1000 that did not get tested is how well it is shielded, not only from outside interference, but from = to - leads. Also, the accuracy of phase is an important aspect of the wire. This becomes more appearent with better pre amps. Also, the overall insulation on the SP 1000 is about as good as you can get? This crap is THICK!, and would hold up pretty darn well to some abuse.

Anyway, that is where it stands. If you got some cable to send, send it. Don't expect it back though.... :) I like good cable...LOL

Ed
 
thanks sonusman for taking the time to compare those cables. like some of the other posts, i'd also like to hear the difference between monster 100, 500, 1000, and brands like mogami and others.

thanks
 
I'm not convinced. Yes, I could hear a difference but I didn't hear anything that I believe a good engineer couldn't do with Rapco and Peavey (you know, the pretty red, green , yellow and blue)and a bit of tweaking here and there. I've read articles and talked to a few pro's (which I am not)and based on this, I have decided that to pay roughly $8.00 per ft. for Monster Studio Pro 1000 doesn't make sense in my case. I've read about blindfold tests where the golden eared pro's picked the cheap cables as often as they picked the expensive ones. I'm not trying to attack the credibility of Sonusmans test. On the contrary, I can see that he put a great deal of work into it. But the blindfold tests mean more to me because they are a true test of the ears and that's where it counts. The test just seems to lose something when you are told beforehand what cable/format is being used. When I had somebody play the files with my back turned, the only one I got right was the no-name brand and I wasn't real sure when I guessed at that one. But again, I'm not a pro. I wish I had thought to do it that way before I listened the first time. But one thing is for sure, when I turned my back, the difference I thought I heard the first time, didn't seem to be there. I do think that good cables are necessary but I've determined that for less than half the price of Monster Pro 1000, I can build my own cables and re-wire my whole studio with Mogami and Neutrik connectors which is what I intend to do. With the money I save, well I don't know. Maybe I'll buy a couple of AT 4033's.

[This message has been edited by SwayGo (edited 04-26-2000).]
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SwayGo:
when I turned my back, the difference I thought I heard the first time, didn't seem to be there. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Maybe that's because your hearing is not as good when the sound comes from behind :D

No seriously, you make a good point about the blind test. However, I desagree with your statement that a good engineer could have gotten the same "monster" result from a cheap cable. I haven't had the time to listen to the files yet so I cannot comment on how big the difference is but my point is that regardless of the skill of the engineer, you just cannot get clarity and detail into a mix if it wasn't there from the beginning. It's like trying to get a nice bass sound if you recorded with the low-cut filter on. Sure, you can EQ yourself silly but it just won't sound like the bass did in the studio. So, making sure that as little as possible blurs your tracks _before_ they hit the recording media is crucial. Unless you're looking for a muddy sound.

I'm not implying that more expensive equals better. I've taken a blind test with speaker cable just because I refused to beleive that the cable made any difference as long as it was thick enough to yield low electrical resistance. Man was I proven wrong. The result, in terms of clarity and transparence, was something like:

1. My friend's home made cable @ 50cents/foot
2. Some middle range speaker cable. I don't know the name of it.
3. Ordinary Electrical wire. The type you use for lamps and such.
4. *Really* expensive speaker cable. Don't know the brand of this either but this shit was expensive.
5. Dedicated, but cheap ($1/foot), speaker cable from a regular HIFI store.

However, this guy's equipment cost about as much as an entire studio and I'm sure that I would hear no difference on my Pinoeer at home. It's a matter of matching the quality of the enitre soundchain. If you have top-notch mics, mixers, preamps and whatnots, why degrade the sound with shitty cables? On the other hand, if you use the microphone that came with your computer, "monster" cable will do nothing for you, nor will an SSL console. It's just unnecessary to have one piece of equipment lowering the total quality bar. Sure, some pieces will always be better that the rest but having similar quality on all your equipment will give you the best bang for the buck. I think we all agree on that it's a waste to use a $1000 mic with a mixer from Radio Shack. Cable is the same.

Good cable has little to do with the price and all to do with its electrical properties being matched to the application. Good speaker cable is not necessarily the same as good microphone cable. Probably rather the opposite. The same friend suggested air-insulated coaxial cable (less than $1/foot) for microphones and when I get my studio up and running this autumn, I will gladly compare it to anything that someone sends me.

Maybe you can try the coaxial cable Ed. Use two cables, one for hot and one for cold and let both have ground as shield. Don't bundle them as it gives better hot/cold separation to just leave them be parted.

Just my $4,50

/Ola

[This message has not been edited yet]
 
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