FOH guys, 16 ga. vs. 22 ga. XLR cables, which is better?

[nwright]

I have someone telling me that they think 16 gauge XLR cables are too thick for long runs (100-200 feet) vs. 22 gauge. He says that the 22 gauge would be better. Assuming the quality of both the 16 and 22 gauge is the same, is there really a difference?

I have my own opinions on this, but I defer to a wider base of opinions...

 

[arv_foh]

If you are doing multiple channels at 100-200 feet runs, you should be using a snake not a bunch of XLR cables

and honestly, I cannot hear a difference in sound between the "cheap" XLR cables and the expensive ones (at least in a live setting). The cheaper ones just break easier.

 

[Dalinkwent48@aim.com]

Arv said basically exactly what id say. Also big +1 on mentioning the snake, a snake will greatly reduce your setup time. Go get and get a 100-200 foot one and run that off the stage and then just plug right into that instead of having to individually do X amount of runs at 100-200 feet.

 

[nwright]

this is a permanent installation, with cable running inside walls. I was more asking simply about 22 gauge vs. 16 gauge cable. Their current setup utilizes long XLR runs to mounted plates on the stage. They want to keep it the same now, thus the desire for these cables. I recommended a snake type unit, but they didn't seem too responsive to that idea and reiterated that they just want to do it like it is, just update the cabling.

 

[Paulie!]

I would doubt very much there would be a huge difference in terms of quality.. but then again.. bigger is better right?

-P

 

[Dalinkwent48@aim.com]

Try and explain to them that what they have setup atm is basically a gheto rigged snake. Are you redoing an old install? If so then tell them it'll cost them more money to redo it the way they have it vs. running a permanent snake. If they are 100% dead set on keeping it like this. Than as myself and arv said. Its really not a noticable difference when it comes to a live situation. Go with whichever one you feel more comfortable about using.

 

[TheWinterSnow]

Its not going to make a huge difference, but just some food for thought. Smaller diameter cables and longer cables exert more resistance, from that standpoint it seems like you are actually adding insult to injury by using a 22ga on a 100-200ft run when to compensate for such a long run you should be using a 16ga.

a 16ga will provide less resistance and will help from signal degradation from a lowered impedance, it won't be much, but it can make a difference.

 

[ahjteam]

+1 for snake from here