XLR Cables

[DJColsie]

XLR cables.

For the last 6 years I have used these and have really loved the sound, the flexibility of the cable in low temperatures and the price. The week link is the connectors, I have had two break.

http://www.lindy.co.uk/cables-adapters-c1/music-c393/6m-xlr-cable-male-to-female-black-p6555

I have now bought Van Damme cables with Neutrik connectors at about 3 times the price but to my ears they don't sound as good but should last and last.

Just wondered what you use and would you recommend them?

Over to you.

[Nakatomi]

How do audio cables not sound as good as one another? The laws of physics dictate that you can't logically hear a difference between any cables in reasonable circumstances. All that audiophoolery is just Emperor's new clothes syndrome.

Most of my XLR cables are Thomann's The SSSSnake & the ones which aren't were made by my fair hand over 20 years ago (and still going strong!). The cables I made myself use Neutrik connectors & Canford audio HST cable. The Thomann cables.. have now all had their connectors replaced with Neutrik XLRs cos... the SSssnake ones are prone to becoming deformed if accidentally stood on :(

[DJColsie]

How do audio cables not sound as good as one another? The laws of physics dictate that you can't logically hear a difference between any cables in reasonable circumstances. All that audiophoolery is just Emperor's new clothes syndrome.
(

I would dispute that. In days gone bye when I had serious hi-fi changing interconnect and speaker cables changed the sound.

[Nakatomi]

I would dispute that. In days gone bye when I had serious hi-fi changing interconnect and speaker cables changed the sound.

Anybody who pays over the odds for cables will always dispute that IMHO. Hifi reviews go on & on about the tightness of bass, 'timing' and 'imagery' when realistically the changes in impedance (and thus phase & frequency response) between a cheap cable and a ££££ one will be almost immeasurable. The more expensive cable will always sound better. Because if it didn't you've been a fool spending much more than you had to ;)

For disco cables, stick to anything with Neutrik XLR connectors & a robust, quality cable (e.g. Canford HST or Van Damme) & you'll be reet :) No need to pay more than a quid per metre.

[Pe7e]

:agree:

Many years ago I was the proud owner of a high end separates Hi-Fi system. I went to have a look round 'Richer Sounds' and ended up parting with a considerable sum on some high end interconnects (they certainly looked the part) I got them home and eagerly changed them over from the thin cheap looking ones that came with the system. I turned the system on and guess what? it sounded just the same, I could hear no improvement whatsoever. I got a friend to pop round and subjected him to a blind test, and he couldn't hear a difference either!! what a waste of money, but lesson learned.

[DJColsie]

I was more interested in what other people used.

[Benny Smyth]

I was more interested in what other people used.

You'll get what you're given, and you'll be bloody grateful for it too!

I tend to find that Stagg works well enough for me.

[ppentertainments]

You'll get what you're given, and you'll be bloody grateful for it too!

I tend to find that Stagg works well enough for me.
I have found Stagg cables great too.

I've used cheap skytec cables and good van damme cables, various different connectors etc and found absolutely no difference at all. For the price I found the van damme cables very expensive at my cheap skytec cables done exactly the same job.

Connectors - I do prefer Neutrik connectors as they seem to last longer, but again performance is just the same as cheaper makes.

[Nakatomi]

What you tend to get with Neutrik connectors is strength & longevity.

I've got some DMX cables of unknown provenance from Terralec & the bodies of the male XLRs are pretty much oval shaped now.

I won't claim they'll sound any different/better but they'll sure as heck outlast the majority of other XLRs out there today. My hand-made short mic XLR cable has been going since 1996. It doesn't glow in the dark anymore but hey...

[ukpartydj]

I'm glad the majority agree cables don't change the sound. So many dipsticks out there, I bought a 7.1 cinema sound system and they gave me some wire to go with it... Thicker than some bike locks!

I use livewire xlrs and pulse dmx. Both seem of good quality, fair strain relief had them both for over 2 years with no issues yet.

I was given some of the worse cables ever a few months back for powering my light up letters. 4 / 12 cables required resoldering where they broke away after a fortnight!

For me a good cable has thick pvc and a well soldered connection with a fair bit of strain relief... All you need IMO