Will cables really matter in this situation?

[kesslerjesus]

Will the difference between budget speaker cables vs high quality cables make a difference in the sound I get out of THIS set up?

RME ADI-E > Event TR6 Monitors (active monitors)

Both the speakers and interface have balanced XLR/1/4" neutrik connections. Now I can probably find an XLR to 1/4" / XLR to XLR or 1/4" to 1/4" set of speaker cables, but will it really matter what brand I purchase?

Right now I'm looking at the audio technica speaker cables, the canare speaker cables, mogami and some random cheap 14 gauge speaker cables.

The cable run will be around 6 feet long.

Will I really benefit from purchasing a, lets say, canare speaker cable from an audio technica, or even a regular copper shielded cable with xlr/1/4" ends?

The price difference is around 50-60 dollars for a high quality pair vs 20-30 for an audio technica pair, less for a generic cable.

Thanks for your input!

[kesslerjesus]

Also, I read in an old topic about someone using mic cables for a similar set up. So, could I use some xlr mogami 2549 cables I have as speaker cables in this set up? Thanks!

[NEWTON IN ORBIT]

Good quality cable always makes a little difference.
These are active monitors? Am I missing something? You shouldn't need speaker cables, just use a decent quality xlr cable into your events, from the output of the RME. XLR to XLR.

The Events, being active, are expecting a LINE LEVEL, not a SPEAKER level. I think you said the RME has xlr outputs?
IOW yeah, use what you got, they are of good quality. The only thing is, now you will be short two mic cables whenever you want to use your monitors, which I would guess is all the time

Good luck,
j

[kesslerjesus]

So I CAN use mic cables into active monitors? that's pretty cool. Will it matter at all if one mic cable is longer than the other?

Also, could I also use speaker cables in this situation or would it damage the equipment?

[skills]

I'm a mogami guy. They sound amazing. well, they don't make things sound bad. with cables, you can either make something sound worse, or almost as good as real.

so, I'd go with the real cables. mogami, whatever, just not the cheap generic stuff. No, you can't use speaker cables instead. They will technically Work, but there is a possibility of lots of interference/noise as they are shielded differently than mic cable that is meant for much lower power.


have fun!

[Rick Sutton]

At six feet just about any mic/line cable will sound the same. Just get good quality so they last forever and keep them as close to the same length as is easily attainable. Nothing major to sweat over here.

[kesslerjesus]

Thanks for the input. I didn't know this, and I actually have some mogami cables, and even some canare quad 1/4 trs cables laying around. Guess I won't have to spend money at all this time around :)

thanks again!

[rcm]

Originally Posted by kesslerjesus

So I CAN use mic cables into active monitors? that's pretty cool. Will it matter at all if one mic cable is longer than the other?

Also, could I also use speaker cables in this situation or would it damage the equipment?

In a perfect world the cable length would be the same but truth is the difference is so small that you would never hear the difference.

DO NOT USE SPEAKER CABLES.

With short distances almost all of the cables will sound very very very similar, but the advantage of spending a little more is to make sure that they are well built. Bad connections and build can hurt your sound and life of the cable.

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by Rick Sutton

Nothing major to sweat over here.

[Mazzone Hum]

Originally Posted by rcm

In a perfect world the cable length would be the same but truth is the difference is so small that you would never hear the difference.

DO NOT USE SPEAKER CABLES.

With short distances almost all of the cables will sound very very very similar, but the advantage of spending a little more is to make sure that they are well built. Bad connections and build can hurt your sound and life of the cable.

Hey all I am new here and somewhat of a noob recording hobyist im still learning a lot.
What would be the issue with using speaker cables for your active monitors?
I have warfdale diamond 8.1's and they take 1/4" or xlr balanced

[sleeper1400]

i know im gonna get bombed for this.....

copper is copper.

yes, some cables are better constructed than others, but when you really boil it down....its all the same copper.

example;

when was last time you were anywhere and thought, 'that vocal sounds great! they must have used switchcraft XLRs on that one!!!'

ok, im going to the celler now..fire away!!!

[KeithMoonwannabe]

Originally Posted by sleeper1400

i know im gonna get bombed for this.....

copper is copper.

yes, some cables are better constructed than others, but when you really boil it down....its all the same copper.

example;

when was last time you were anywhere and thought, 'that vocal sounds great! they must have used switchcraft XLRs on that one!!!'

ok, im going to the celler now..fire away!!!

I prefer the sonic signature of Neutrik connectors myself but to each their own

Really it all comes down to construction and warranty in my eyes. Yes in a matter of speaking all cables are equal but some are constructed very poorly, lack shielding, lack durability, any number of problems.

To avoid those I usually just buy well made pre built cables or make my own.

When I buy prebuilt I opt for Mogami, BLUE, and occasionally Monster.

When I build my own I use REDCO and buy Neutrik connectors and Canare, Gotham, or Mogami cable. This method is usually much cheaper and much better quality all around. I like to know what went into my cable and that it was put together properly of course you lose your warranty this way but nothing a $10 soldering iron can't fix right (which you had to have in the first place).

[hpp99]

I would also not worry about the sound but make sure they are built like a tank.

(Ok, a tank built from copper with a plastic shielding might not be the best idea... and neither is a caliber 120mm cable... )

Fun aside, get something solid, stable, durable.

[Matt Syson]

Hi
You don't use speaker cables for active monitors because they are not generally 'screened' so in many situations you can pick up interference and hum.
Unscreened cable is what you use on 'passive' speakers and lawnmowers.
Look under 'screening' and cables in GS 'search' box. Be prepared for TONS of BS though!
Matt S

[sleeper1400]

Originally Posted by KeithMoonwannabe

I prefer the sonic signature of Neutrik connectors myself but to each their own

Really it all comes down to construction and warranty in my eyes. Yes in a matter of speaking all cables are equal but some are constructed very poorly, lack shielding, lack durability, any number of problems.

To avoid those I usually just buy well made pre built cables or make my own.

When I buy prebuilt I opt for Mogami, BLUE, and occasionally Monster.

When I build my own I use REDCO and buy Neutrik connectors and Canare, Gotham, or Mogami cable. This method is usually much cheaper and much better quality all around. I like to know what went into my cable and that it was put together properly of course you lose your warranty this way but nothing a $10 soldering iron can't fix right (which you had to have in the first place).

right.
i like neutrik and switchcraft.
and i often make my own cbles anyway for the same reasons you mentioned.

there arent sonic reasons, there construction reasons.

[kesslerjesus]

So I'm using a star quad canare cable with 1/4 switchcraft ends, never used active monitors before though, and it seems the switchcraft ends get hot/warm when being used. Is this normal?

[Mazzone Hum]

Originally Posted by Matt Syson

Hi
You don't use speaker cables for active monitors because they are not generally 'screened' so in many situations you can pick up interference and hum.
Unscreened cable is what you use on 'passive' speakers and lawnmowers.
Look under 'screening' and cables in GS 'search' box. Be prepared for TONS of BS though!
Matt S

Thanks Matt thats very simply put. So is that the same as sheilding ...and can I use sheilded guitar cable if I want to use 1/4" ?
Val

[loujudson]

Originally Posted by kesslerjesus

So I'm using a star quad canare cable with 1/4 switchcraft ends, never used active monitors before though, and it seems the switchcraft ends get hot/warm when being used. Is this normal?

How warm are the monitors? The plugs are undoubedly just warming up with the chassis temp. Fell of the case near the plug/

And no way wil the currect flowing at line level going to heat up the wires like using too small a guage ffrom an amp to a speaker (not powered).

<L>

[Ca$h Marty]

Considering we are in the low-end forums, I do not think that really expensive TRS cables vs. inexpensive TRS cables are going to present any very audible difference.

As long as the cables are of decent quality, spending a lot more money will not give that much of an advantage.

That money could be spent on a couple of DIY acoustic panels or else where. Just get decent stuff, not the best of the best. With that in mind monoprice.com has some decent cables at FANTASTIC pricing - I can not sing their praises enough. It's not going to be the greatest cables but they are decent quality and the pricing is unbeatable. Go to the Audio Professional section.