Budget Cable snakes

[Bguzaldo]

OSP Elite Core 16 x 4 Channel 25' Stage Mic/XLR Snake - eBay (item 110398460597 end time Jul-03-09 22:33:59 PDT)

or

New 50' 16 x 4 CHANNEL PRO AUDIO STAGE SNAKE CABLE - eBay (item 370211648517 end time Jun-12-09 11:51:58 PDT)

Good deal?

I just got a new console and am looking to wire it up, but I've never done serious cable shopping and I'm just wondering what to look for in cables, what are good specs and what a bad specs as far as cables go.

I just sent an email to the seller asking about the cable resistance, capacitance, and inductance so I'll let you know what that is ASAP

Thanks,
-Barrett

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by Bguzaldo

OSP Elite Core 16 x 4 Channel 25' Stage Mic/XLR Snake - eBay (item 110398460597 end time Jul-03-09 22:33:59 PDT)

or

New 50' 16 x 4 CHANNEL PRO AUDIO STAGE SNAKE CABLE - eBay (item 370211648517 end time Jun-12-09 11:51:58 PDT)

Good deal?

I just got a new console and am looking to wire it up, but I've never done serious cable shopping and I'm just wondering what to look for in cables, what are good specs and what a bad specs as far as cables go.

I just sent an email to the seller asking about the cable resistance, capacitance, and inductance so I'll let you know what that is ASAP

Thanks,
-Barrett

I have all Mogami/Neutrik snakes BUT I needed a 12 ch TRS x 24 ch TS insert snake, so I purchased one from this company.

The negative: it smelled so strongly of gasoline that it had to air outside for a couple of weeks until the smell died down.

The positive: It has 22/23 gauge wire, it's noiseless, and it continues to function well.

[AdamWathan]

I've got a Seismic Audio snake as well and I've had absolutely zero issues, functions great.

[Corran]

In contrast, I have a Seismic Audio insert snake (TRS to 2x TS) and it sucks. But it was cheap, and works okay, I just have to jiggle connections occasionally.

[Snatchman]

AudioPile snakes are good...

[Bguzaldo]

Awesome, Thanks for all the replies guys. The OSP's have neutrik connectors, But from the looks of it some people have had good experiences with seismic (other than the gasoline problems).

I think I'll go ahead with seismic and let you know how it works out.

Thanks a lot,
-Barrett

[jim1274]

I'm looking for some decent budget 4 channel XLR-XLR patch snakes (in about a 15' length), and after a couple hours of trolling the forum, this seems to be the most relevant recent thread. Looked at all the "budget" suggestions, and have a few questions/observations:

The choices I found, in order of price are:

At about 35-40 bucks:

The EWI's from Audiophile.net suggested by several users (MTFM)

The Horizon snakes also suggested in several places. (Horizon HMT4-15 Multi-Track Snake 4-Channel 15 Foot)

Anybody have experience with both of these to make a call on which of the two would be the best in the budget category?


The next step-up at 60 or so bucks seem to be non-branded ebay ones using better cable and connectors:

Mogami 2931 4 Channel Audio Snake Neutrik Gold XLR

Canare MR202 4 Channel Audio Snake Neutrik Gold XLR


I guess the choice there is if one has a Mogami or Canare preference?

This is going to be used in a live setting, but should not get beaten too bad--just a patch from my 8 channel mic splitter to the PA mixer mic preamp ins.

Will I be sorry if I cheap-out and go with the EWI or Horizon?

The last option, and even cheaper, is to go with the seismicaudio 8 channel at about half the price of the EWI or Horizon. They did not have a 4 channel xlr-xlr, and while i prefer 2-4 channel snakes, 8 would be OK. Are these seismicaudio a screaming bargain and close to the EWI/Horizon, or notably lower in quality?

[aussie_techie]

for only 4 channels just use 4 mic cables.

[jim1274]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

for only 4 channels just use 4 mic cables.

Yeah, there are certainly some advantages to that, strain relief being one that comes to mind. Maybe that is why there are so few 4 channel snakes on the market..... K.I.S.S. or some such.

Anyway, I found a couple good used quality 4 channel snakes at the price of the budget choices bought new. I guess, if nothing else, the 4 channel snake is a little cheaper than 4 equivalent quality single cables, generally speaking.

[mikeyr4444]

I highly suggest if you have soldering skills to make your own looms. Almost every cable Ive bought pre-made has some major wicking action. Besides, you can buy 4 pair, 8 pair, and even 16 pair cable for next to nothing, and use whatever connectors you fancy.

As far as a box goes, if you can do some light drilling, proper grounding, and create good strain relief you can really cut cost.

[alba359]

I was in a similar situation. Short on cash and need a cables. After research I ordered an 8 channel snake and a few trs to xlrf cables from Audiopile. I still need an 8 channel snake to complete my hookups. I'll probably get one from Seismic. Seismic snakes have molded ends unlike the Audiopile. But Seismic has a 100% positive rating on Ebay and the price is right.

[jim1274]

Originally Posted by alba359

I was in a similar situation. Short on cash and need a cables. After research I ordered an 8 channel snake and a few trs to xlrf cables from Audiopile. I still need an 8 channel snake to complete my hookups. I'll probably get one from Seismic. Seismic snakes have molded ends unlike the Audiopile. But Seismic has a 100% positive rating on Ebay and the price is right.

Those Seismic looked pretty nice in the low budget price category. They seemed too good to be true, but I might give one a try.

I own some EWI single cables from Audiopile, and they have been solid cables in the budget category, but mine have metal, not molded connectors. Just bought a second MST-412 splitter from them, and the construction and performance is very solid for the price. Nice product line in general for the price from my experience so far.

[Corran]

I have an insert cable snake from Seismic Audio, and as indicated in my post a while ago it kinda stinks. It was having intermittent connections from day one. I personally think they are too good to be true, but YMMV. I am starting to buy everything from Audiopile - their stuff has never given me any trouble.

[ivankilowatt]

When you're buying cables, KNOW WHAT YOUR BUYING!!!

Disassemble connectors, look for solid clean solder joints, the quality of the soldering job, the quality and quantity of shrink used.

Belden cable, with Neutrik ends and 3M heatshrink will last you forever.
I mean that too you'll be dead, and your grandchildren will still be using the cables.

Know the person or people who make them for you.

China sweat-shop cables are a waste of money. They dont last!
Spend 50 to 75% more now, and never have a problem.

Intellectuals solve problems. Geniuses prevent them.
- Albert Einstein 1879-1955

[jim1274]

Originally Posted by ivankilowatt

When you're buying cables, KNOW WHAT YOUR BUYING!!!

Disassemble connectors, look for solid clean solder joints, the quality of the soldering job, the quality and quantity of shrink used.

Belden cable, with Neutrik ends and 3M heatshrink will last you forever.
I mean that too you'll be dead, and your grandchildren will still be using the cables.

Know the person or people who make them for you.

China sweat-shop cables are a waste of money. They dont last!
Spend 50 to 75% more now, and never have a problem.

Intellectuals solve problems. Geniuses prevent them.
- Albert Einstein 1879-1955

No arguments here, but will say in the absence of roll your own or buying premium cables, the EWI are pretty decent and serviceable for the low price. I think they are Korean sourced, but not sure. I have several EWI cables and no problems so far. Not Neutriks and name brand quality cable, but also a fraction of the price, with a lot more than a 50-75% price premium for what you recommend, unless you make your own.

[alba359]

So far I have been satisfied with EWI. I have some concerns with connectors on budget snakes and cable. After researching some forums it appears that some budget connectors do not fit properly in jacks causing signal problems. Has anyone had this problem on Seismic, GLS, EWI, Monoprice, Hosa or other budget cables?

[jim1274]

Originally Posted by alba359

I have some concerns with connectors on budget snakes and cable. After researching some forums it appears that some budget connectors do not fit properly in jacks causing signal problems. Has anyone had this problem on Seismic, GLS, EWI, Monoprice, Hosa or other budget cables?

I have a half dozen or so EWI cables that seem to fit OK. They are clearly not the quality of Neutriks, but they have served me with no problems....so far...

That being said, I eventually plan to replace all my primary often used cables with better cables sporting Neutrik connectors and keep the EWI's in the back-up cable bag. I did notice that a sound company doing the PA for a recent music festival I recorded had a good Mixer, stacks, amps, and such, but was using a chest full of XLR budget cables that had the same connectors or very similar to what is on my EWI's. There was not a Neutrik in sight, not even on their snake going from the stage box to FOH. I was kind of surpised to see that, since these get some hard and rough use. They did have one bad channel on the snake though...