High Quality XLR? (recommend)

[-Loco-]

I'm looking for some high quality short distance XLR cables to use with my Axe-Fx to Interface. Noticed a vast improvement going from my shitty old planet waves cables up to Elixirs (for the guitar). Any recommendations? Willing to spend a bit on one as long as in your experience they really have made a difference.

 

[BLUElightCory]

Mogami and Canare are good "high end" options. Avoid Monster Cable.

I've personally never noticed any night-and-day differences among properly functioning, less-than-20 foot XLR cables, so I generally just use Redco/Livewire/etc. and call it a day.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Neutrik-Cordial combination is always a safe bet!

 

[FIXXXER]

my complete setup (axe-fx included) is linked with vovox cables, a bit expensive but very stable!
i do not believe in any audio myths. do these sound better than cheap cabkes? i don't care as
i bought them mainly because of the high material quality. there is an audible difference
between a 5€ guitar calbe and a vovox though!



cheers
S.

 

[AEL89]

Planet Waves definitely don't make shitty cables (although I don't own any XLR stuff from them). I use Neutrik connectors. Inside the manual of my Empirical Labs channel strip is a short piece about XLR cables which is pretty interesting and informative... It basically says don't believe the hype; a cable is a cable.

 

[AD Chaos]

don't believe the hype; a cable is a cable.

^ This.

All I care for in a cable is that it doesn't short (and can handle the wear I put it to).

Nothing wrong with Monster btw
At least for normal, studio use

 

[AD Chaos]

Planet Waves definitely don't make shitty cables

An older 'high end' planet waves for guitar I once had was complete shit. It broke under the huge weight of it's own L-shaped connector like a $2 cable (not immediately, though). I also had a cheap one of those once, and it broke quite fast.

..Then again, nowadays I use circuit breakers (both straight and angled) and those are FANTASTIC.

Whatever the brand, look up the specific model you want and check reviews. Not all cables are created equal- endurance wise.

 

[Fama]

Nothing wrong with Monster btw
At least for normal, studio use

As far as I know, the problem with Monster Cables is the price. They're good products, but the company sells some absolutely overpriced cables (HDMI at least, I think) which makes some people boycott them completely.

But yeah, the main thing to look for in cables is endurance, if you buy any other cable than the cheapest possible, the tone suck will probably be pretty minimal.

 

[Trevoire520]

Just get some of the xlr cables from Studiospares man. Neutrik connectors and Sommer/Van Damme(?) cable.

At the end of the day they all just have copper in them, as long as they're well screened and don't break then that's all there is to worry about.

 

[-Noodles-]

I use Neutrik ends and Van Damme cable.
I buy a reel of cable @ 100m, cut to length and make up my own cables.

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/46938-vandamme-mic-cable-black-100m-268-020c-van-damme.html

 

[pipaguapique]

If the cable is more expensive it only means that it will last longer.

Mogamis are the most "expensive" high quality made cable.

Monster cables suck but they have a lifetime warranty, so that's cool i guess...

Any cable with a neutrik connector on both ends will be a nice cable.

 

[JeffTD]

Nothing wrong with Monster btw
At least for normal, studio use

Aside from price gauging, frivolous/predatory lawsuits, and horrid business practices in general, that is.

 

[BLUElightCory]

Aside from price gauging, frivolous/predatory lawsuits, and horrid business practices in general, that is.

Don't forget just-plain-crappy quality (for the money).

 

[AD Chaos]

I do agree they are overpriced, but I've never had a Monster fail on me. That's simply why I keep buying them-
If they start crapping out, then I'd move on to something else, of course.

Ymmv?

 

[KillFrenzy]

Any cable with a neutrik connector on both ends will be a nice cable.

THIS! I use local (brazilian) supposedly nice quality cables with Neutrik XX connectors that I made myself. Never had a single issue

 

[C_F_H_13]

Aside from price gauging, frivolous/predatory lawsuits, and horrid business practices in general, that is.

+1. I don't think I'd buy monster cable if they were the only brand available. Fuck that company.

Side note, almost any connector/cable should work. Unless there's a fault or bad shielding, any cable should be almost identical to another cable. I personally use redco for almost everything, only because their customer service is top notch and everything I've bought has been perfect and durable.

 

[Ermz]

All my cables here are Mogami W2549 with Neutrik Gold connectors. Have never had any cable-related faults, loss, nor reliability issues whatsoever.

 

[amarshism]

I believe good cabling has a cumulative benefit. Don't believe the naysaying naysayers. I changed out my whole rigs wiring for George Ls and even my girlfriend noticed a difference just in changing the speaker lead. I love neutrik ends, they're sturdy and well made. As long as you have good quality cabling like mogami and canare you'll be sweet.

 

[jipchen]

Anything with Neutrik XLRs will do for me. I mostly buy Cordial, sometimes Sommer Cables (for the really important connections).
Cheap XLR jacks are one of the worst things ever - say hello to loose contacts, crackling/other noise on the record and broken cables at the point between cable and jack.
Also if the cable has a good shielding it definitely helps, but to me VOVOX cables and the other "made by virgins in the shimmering moonlight with diamond jacks" are just ridiculous.

 

[Damage, Inc.]

If the cable is more expensive it only means that it will last longer.

Mogamis are the most "expensive" high quality made cable.

Monster cables suck but they have a lifetime warranty, so that's cool i guess...

Any cable with a neutrik connector on both ends will be a nice cable.

Disagree with all this. Cables DO make a difference. Do they make enough of a difference to spend $50 or $100 for a 20' cable? That's up to you to decide. However, another poster mentioned that the effect is cumulative. If you replace one jumper, you may not notice a difference. If you replace all of your jumpers, you will certainly notice a difference. My general rule is to buy the best cable you can afford.