Best XLR cables?

[amfortas2006]

Im just interested in your opinion in the matter of the best Microphone XLR cables. Intended for short distance+condenser..

[RadioBox]

I like Blue's Kiwi cable. It gave me the most obvious improvement when I tried it out, and I actually have a sm57 that will only work with it. Other cables I have to compare it to are Monster, Pro Co, Shure, and ebay cheapos.

[wshaw]

I like the Kiwis too. They're a bit stiff, but they do sound good. And if you do remote stuff, you'll always know which cables belong to you!

[amfortas2006]

To use with condenser microphones?

[Jim vanBergen]

Mogami Neglex Star-Quad Mic Cable. Part No. W2534.

Try it against some serious competitors, like Gepco - I mean actual cable manufacturers, not just the peope who put them together and sell it under their brand name. You have to test for noise floor and capacitance as well as loss over distance. Star-Quad is the best, and Mogami is the best of the Star-Quad.

Make sure you terminate it properly, however.

[videoteque]

Vovox are swiss!!!

[bassist377]

Gotham, by far (they're the cables shipped with new Neumanns). I've never heard an XLR so completely dead silent. Double shielded, too. Amazing cables.

[boojum]

I bought 200 meters of Mogami Star Quad and a bunch of solderless Neutrik connectors. I make my own custom cables now, easily. Way cheaper. The solderless connection is excellent. The phone company has used it for decades. And, you know Neutrik would not be selling junk. Think about it.

[tnjazz]

We use Gotham and Mogami cables for lines, and Gepco for in-rack wiring. Never had any kind of problem.

[krs]

Originally Posted by Jim vanBergen

Mogami Neglex Star-Quad Mic Cable. Part No. W2534.

Try it against some serious competitors, like Gepco - I mean actual cable manufacturers, not just the peope who put them together and sell it under their brand name. You have to test for noise floor and capacitance as well as loss over distance. Star-Quad is the best, and Mogami is the best of the Star-Quad.

Make sure you terminate it properly, however.

Jim have you seen/tried that new (?) cheaper star-quad from Redco? The price is tempting!

[Jim vanBergen]

Originally Posted by krs

Jim have you seen/tried that new (?) cheaper star-quad from Redco? The price is tempting!

I have not, but it would be great to compare it with an even load and identical connector on an Audio Precision and see how the cable fares. You planning on buying some?

[krs]

Yes I need some new 75' runs for my location work. I've never been terribly discerning about cables, I always used standard (but decent quality) XLR cables.

This is the one I'm considering getting:
Redco Audio

FWIW here are the specs:



Thanks for any advice!

[Jim vanBergen]

It looks like a decent Star-Quad four conductor mic cable. Redco says itself it is designed to be a high value/lower cost alternative. I'd try it out, for sure.

I'm sure you noticed that Recco also carries Mogami Neglex?

http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=493

It might be worth doing a comparison.

Let us know what you end up doing!

[edwinhurwitz]

From what I understand, star-quad cable has higher capacitance than regular mic cable. I use regular Mogami W2549, from Redco of course, with Neutrik ends. I've never had problems with picking up noise, as far as I can tell. Of course, in a remote situation, the background noise is probably higher than the noise you would pick up through a regular mic cable vs. star quad. However, the loss of high end might be noticeable.

Just my humble opinion.
Edwin
PS I also got a bunch of shrink wrap with my name and phone number on it, which I put on every cable I make. Now, when cables get left at venues, often they are returned!

[GPl]

For a look at what's out there in the serious cable front, check out Lavacable.com. I've got cable from him for all types of applications. Gotham GAC-4 is what I'm using for mic cables. Modestly priced too.

[Yannick]

There we go again : the myth that starquad has higher capacitance.

When used in starquad configuration MOST brands that make starquad offer greatly LOWER capacitance than two wire cable.

Just check the specs at Gotham, Sommercable etc...

[Dale]

I went with canare star quad,
I like the way they braid the shielding
the mogami was wrapped
found it more likely to "fold" when coiling.

[videoteque]

Do you recomend using quad cables only for long runs or also for short cables???

[Plush]

Gotham GAC-3
Mogami 2534

Despite what is said above, Star Quad is always higher capacitance than cable with two or three conductors.
There definitely is a place for using Star Quad. In an auditorium with improperly grounded lighting rigs or where you must share AC with lighting, it can help to minimize interferance.

[Omicron_9]

Originally Posted by Plush

Gotham GAC-3
Mogami 2534.

+1
My whole studio is cabled using those exact two brands and types with Neutrik connectors. I make all my own cables; my supplier is Redco. If you don't want to make your own, Redco will custom-build any cables or snakes you might want. No affiliation with them; just a happy, long-time customer.

-0.9

[David Rick]

I have some Mogami snakes, but I made most of my individual cables out of Canare star quad. The vast majority of my work is on location, and between lighting runs and ever more ubiquitous personal communication devices, I just figure I can't be too careful. As for the extra capacitance, I suppose that might make it sound a tiny bit different than a single-twist cable. I don't obsess over that; I just move the mics until they sound right.

Several years ago I bought a huge reel of Mogami star-quad at a smoking per-foot price from Markertek. Admittedly the stuff is time-consuming to terminate. Good tools help.

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording