Importance of cable quality for line level signals?

sound_forward · 28th November 2007, 04:39 PM

I just finished redesigning my studio. My new configuration allows me to run much shorter cables.
Many cables will be only 1 meter long and some up to 3 meters.

Many years ago, I spoke to some guru and he convinced me that expensive cables are pure bullshit and that for line level signals, cheaper cables are OK.
I listened and I got 100 meters of affordable ZECK cable and a bunch of swithcraft connectors and built my cables. All of them are working just fine after all those years.

Now, I would like to shorten cables and I am wondering if I should go for MOGAMI or some other high quality cable, or should I just shorten my old cables?

Is there any chance that I will find improvement in sound quality if I go to more expensive cables? Remeber, we are speaking about line level signals, and very short cables.

Thanks

PoorGlory · 28th November 2007, 05:02 PM

You will get both "yes" and "no" answers depending on who you ask, especially here.

I say the difference between standard, run of the mill cable and high-end boutique cable is the equivilent of moving the microphone a centimeter. Not worth the extra dough. However, when dealing with wiring up a whole lot of outboard with a bunch of patch bays, soldering connectors, etc.... it's better to spend a little extra to get cable that's easy to work with. Cheap cable is sometimes harder to work with, and it makes everything so much more of a pain in the ass.

I like West Penn wire for a good balance of ease of use and quality. Good bulk prices.

sound_forward · 28th November 2007, 08:49 PM

I guess I will stay with my old cables.

Does anyone here has some proof that expensive cables are superior sounding?

thenewyear · 28th November 2007, 09:03 PM

I remember doing some listening tests with with 5 engineers in the room. At least one of these guys was a really top engineer (I'll save his blushes and not mention his name but suffice to say I'm not talking about me here).

We listened to a mic hooked up in the live room and a bunch of different instruments. We had the mic split and run both directly and also into a multicore. We hooked multicore channel 1 into channel 2, channel 2 into channel 3, channel 3 into... etc. It was a 40 metre multicore of Canford HST cable. So by the time we went through all eight channels we were running a mic level signal through 320 metres of it plus 8 jumper cables and 16 additional XLRs.

Then we listened...

The direct and multicore channels sounded different but the difference was subtle (not very subtle but subtle) akin to having the mic a few centimetres from the sweetest spot or using a cheapo mic pre. In some cases we even preferred the sound of the multicore signal!

If a mic level signal run through 320+ metres of average cable and numerous XLRs sounded subtly different then I reckon your cheap line level cables of 2 metres length are going to be pretty near transparent.

sound_forward · 28th November 2007, 10:25 PM

cool test!

I am going with my old cables.

Cheers

diamondjim · 28th November 2007, 10:35 PM

I use Mogami cables and Neutrik connectors more for their basic quality and workmanship than audio issues per se. You can get your own from Redco and build them for a reasonable price.

This is a far cry from the "audiophile" cable debate which involves cables in the 100's of dollars price range. The difference between a cheap cable and a Mogami is more about how long it will hold up, and less about signal, IMO. Whether the high end cables sound better is a whole nuther can o' worms.

faizz · 28th November 2007, 10:48 PM

Here's a very simple test you can make yourself to find you own way into the endless world of hi end cables.

1- get a dual mono source
2 - get a Klotz cable and use it to patch output L
3 - get an Evidence Lyric HG cable and use it to patch output R
4 - press "play" and make a direct comparison
5 - replace brand A and/or B with anything you want and make several cross tests

Have fun!
Faizz

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28th November 2007, 04:39 PM	#1
sound_forward Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 75	Importance of cable quality for line level signals? I just finished redesigning my studio. My new configuration allows me to run much shorter cables. Many cables will be only 1 meter long and some up to 3 meters. Many years ago, I spoke to some guru and he convinced me that expensive cables are pure bullshit and that for line level signals, cheaper cables are OK. I listened and I got 100 meters of affordable ZECK cable and a bunch of swithcraft connectors and built my cables. All of them are working just fine after all those years. Now, I would like to shorten cables and I am wondering if I should go for MOGAMI or some other high quality cable, or should I just shorten my old cables? Is there any chance that I will find improvement in sound quality if I go to more expensive cables? Remeber, we are speaking about line level signals, and very short cables. Thanks

28th November 2007, 09:03 PM	#4
thenewyear Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 592	I remember doing some listening tests with with 5 engineers in the room. At least one of these guys was a really top engineer (I'll save his blushes and not mention his name but suffice to say I'm not talking about me here). We listened to a mic hooked up in the live room and a bunch of different instruments. We had the mic split and run both directly and also into a multicore. We hooked multicore channel 1 into channel 2, channel 2 into channel 3, channel 3 into... etc. It was a 40 metre multicore of Canford HST cable. So by the time we went through all eight channels we were running a mic level signal through 320 metres of it plus 8 jumper cables and 16 additional XLRs. Then we listened... The direct and multicore channels sounded different but the difference was subtle (not very subtle but subtle) akin to having the mic a few centimetres from the sweetest spot or using a cheapo mic pre. In some cases we even preferred the sound of the multicore signal! If a mic level signal run through 320+ metres of average cable and numerous XLRs sounded subtly different then I reckon your cheap line level cables of 2 metres length are going to be pretty near transparent. __________________ neil.

28th November 2007, 10:35 PM	#6
diamondjim Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oracle Arizona Posts: 408	I use Mogami cables and Neutrik connectors more for their basic quality and workmanship than audio issues per se. You can get your own from Redco and build them for a reasonable price. This is a far cry from the "audiophile" cable debate which involves cables in the 100's of dollars price range. The difference between a cheap cable and a Mogami is more about how long it will hold up, and less about signal, IMO. Whether the high end cables sound better is a whole nuther can o' worms. __________________ Jim Hewitt Barn Jazz Music Productions Oracle, AZ www.barnjazz.com

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28th November 2007, 05:02 PM	#2
PoorGlory Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,250	You will get both "yes" and "no" answers depending on who you ask, especially here. I say the difference between standard, run of the mill cable and high-end boutique cable is the equivilent of moving the microphone a centimeter. Not worth the extra dough. However, when dealing with wiring up a whole lot of outboard with a bunch of patch bays, soldering connectors, etc.... it's better to spend a little extra to get cable that's easy to work with. Cheap cable is sometimes harder to work with, and it makes everything so much more of a pain in the ass. I like West Penn wire for a good balance of ease of use and quality. Good bulk prices.

28th November 2007, 08:49 PM	#3
sound_forward Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 75	I guess I will stay with my old cables. Does anyone here has some proof that expensive cables are superior sounding?

28th November 2007, 10:25 PM	#5
sound_forward Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 75	cool test! I am going with my old cables. Cheers

28th November 2007, 10:48 PM	#7
faizz Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 22	Here's a very simple test you can make yourself to find you own way into the endless world of hi end cables. 1- get a dual mono source 2 - get a Klotz cable and use it to patch output L 3 - get an Evidence Lyric HG cable and use it to patch output R 4 - press "play" and make a direct comparison 5 - replace brand A and/or B with anything you want and make several cross tests Have fun! Faizz