The Best Netrik Connectors, Mogami Cables for TS, & TRS/MIC

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Mongoo

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Hi, I'm going to be buying some bulk cable and makeing them up myself.

I've heard Mogami Cables are some of the best if not the best, and the same for Neutrick Connectors. The thing is though that there are many, many, different types or models/variations of these products.

Can you tell me what the best models of Cables/Connectors for TS(Guitars/Instruments), TRS/MIC (Microphones, Cord to Monitors from DAW) would be?

Thanks

Mongoo

P.S. Do you agree that these are the best of the best sound quality cables/connectors? I'm planning on getting a $3000 DAW and High quality Microphones so I want the get/make the best cables I can.
 
I'm not gonna get into cable too much. I've pretty much always used Belden cable. I don't have enough experience with any other brands of mic cable to be able to say.

Neutrik connectors are great. There are two XLR models which see the most use in pro audio. The X-series and the X-1 series. The only difference is that the X-1 series uses a plastic boot at the cable end instead of a rubber boot. The plastic is a little cheaper, and you can only get them from Neutrik US. It's pretty common for stores that carry Neutrik to carry this model.
They use a different model number for male and female, black and nickel, black with gold pins, black with silver pins.

So: X series, nickel, silver pins, male -NC3MX. Female is NC3FX. (Neutrik Connector 3 pole Female XLR) ;)

-B is black w/ gold connectors, -BAG is black w/silver connectors. (Silver's symbol is Ag)

X-1 series is the same, with a -1 suffix. NC3MX-1, NC3FX-1. I used to work in a pro audio store that carried Neutrik. When we ordered, we didn't use the -1 suffix, and always got the plastic ones anyway. If you order some, just make sure you are getting what you want, whether you choose plastic or rubber boots.

As far as TRS, just make sure you get TRS. All those model #s are just different colors and right angles. NP3C (Neutrik Plug 3 Conductor)

Check out the Neutrik USA website . Go to products and check out XLR connectors and plugs. As you hold your mouse over the part number a picture pops up. Buy on the web, though. Shop around for best prices.
Here's a good place:

Redco
 
Excellent idea. Making your own cables is definitely the way to go.

I agree with boingoman... Neutrix is the way to go with the connectors. Up until a few years ago, I was a die-hard Switchcraft fan, but Neutrix changed all of that.

As for cable... Mogami is top notch, but I use Canare.

I buy my cables and connectors from Clark Wire & Cable; out of Illinois.
You might want to check them out...

www.clarkwc.com
 
But there are lots of different models or types of mogami cable, and I don't understand the differences bettween them. Could you tell me what models are best for TS, TRS, Mic, DAW to Monitors (Powered & Not Powered).

Thanks

Mongoo
 
Ok. TS uses 2 conductor cable. It is usually called instrument cable. TRS and mics use a cable with two conductors and a shield. It is usually called mic cable or balanced cable. Go to the Redco website and look at Mogami balanced cable. It looks like either of the two top models would be great for mic & TRS lines. Doesn't look like they make a specific instrument cable. Try Canare, or Belden. You can use mic cable to make TS cables, but the shield must be tied to the sleeve of one end of the cable. There is some debate, but general practice says the end with the shield tied to it goes to the destination, for example for a guitar cord, the end with the shield tied goes to the amp.

Use TRS cables when the connections are balanced. Your manuals will tell you which connections are balanced and unbalanced. For powered monitors, usually the connections are balanced. For non-powered monitors, you must use speaker cables from amp to speaker.
 
Okay, I've been looking at some of the mogami cables, and heres what I'm looking at.

Neglex Quad Balanced mic cable - W2534
High Quality Balanced Mic cable - 2549, 2791
Are these the best cables for Mics? What would you go with?

There are some terms I don't understand. Maybe you could help me with them. Like, "awg" what does that mean and do you want it to have a higher or a lower number?

Also are braided sheilds, or Spiral Shields better? What does "Cond" mean? Again is higher or lower better? Theres also some "Line Console cables" Do you need these specificly for recording to line inputs or can you use the above mentioned cords? Can these cords be used for instruments, I mean, should I not use them for guitar & bass or is it just overkill?

Does anyone know what the difference between the W2319 Guitar Cable and the W2524 is?

Sorry if its like 20 questions but I'm just trying to figure this all out.

Thanks a bunch

Mongoo
 
AWG refers to the thickness of the wire. 22 is commonly used for line cables.

Cond is short for conductor - or in simpler terms a single wire.

You don't need the Quad - that's 4 conductors.
 
mad, what are the quad used for then? I thought I saw something where it said quad cables where better at keeping interference out of your signal.

Mongoo
 
Mongoo said:
mad, what are the quad used for then? I thought I saw something where it said quad cables where better at keeping interference out of your signal.

Mongoo
Click to expand...

That is true. The two pairs do provide an extra measure of noise rejection. Unless you live near a radio station or right in the middle of a big city regular two-conductor with a shield should be fine. I've been doing live sound and location recording for seven years, and have never needed quad cable. Something else- when I started making cables my soldering skills were pretty dodgy. I tried to make some mic cables with quad cable, and had a hell of a time getting good joints and connecitons with the extra wire diameter. By the time I could solder well, I knew I didn't need the quads. When you get your gear I'll bet you can borrow some cables to check your noise situation.

Have fun! :)
 
So, is the general Idea that quad cables are in fact "better" but a pain to solder? I just don't want to spend the money on 300' of cable and then wish I would have bought a better kind. Do you think I would be happyer in the long run with the quad cable? Just how much more of a pain is it to solder quad cable?

Also is the Mogami balanced cable W2549 the best 2 conductor cable I can get if I do decide to go that way? Like I say I just don't want to go though all of the hassel if I'm not going to get the best I can.

thanks

Mongoo
 
It's great you are building your own cables. I taught myself to do that and have since made hundreds of cables for my studio, saving megabucks and outfitting my place with some nice cable.

I use Neutrik connectors. They are very easy to work with and are an excellent choice in my opinion.

I have some Mogami snakes which I bought pre-built, and they sound good. But I primarily use Canare "console" cable when building my behind the rack cable runs. I've also used Horizon Lo-Z cable and think that it sounds good too, and have also used some Belden at times. I use Connectronix Musi-Flex (also known as Musi-Lux) cable for building certain cables that will get handled a lot. Like for synths on live gigs and for front of the patchbay patch cords. I use TRS patchbays.

I have a couple thoughts regarding quad cable. What I did was build a couple quad cables of the proper length for my primary application, which is recording piano. Other mic cables are standard three wire. Making the quad cables is more of a nuisance and takes longer. It is also good to get some practice on easier cables first, then work your way up to the quad. If you have a lot of mic cables to build, then making them all quad will add considerable time to the project. I'd say build a few quads and make the rest the usual variety. Like buy 100 feet of quad and 200 feet of the regular.

Finally, I find dealing with braided shielding a drag and rather time-consuming. For that reason, I use cable that has the foil shield and drain wire design. Makes building the cables go a lot faster. That's also why I like the connectronics stuff, it has the drain wire design along with a conductive plastic shielding. I don't know of any quad cable with the drain wire design, so you'll have to tough it out on that one.

Good luck!
 
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