Topic: Differences in Cables?

[jlykos]

Jeese dude.  Way to slam folks who make cables.  I myself have everyone's home brew cables (with the exception of Nick-You're next I pr omise Nick!)       I can say they have all performed awesome.  Not one issue with any of them.  Ever.  I disagree with your post.  If it was all about just the soldering Busman would be the best as he is a master.  JMO.

Those people that really care about making a quality product are few and far between.

At some point on this board people need to be honest about some things and calling the cable makers products identical is just bullshit.   Truth.

 

You know, this is pretty insane.  You are acting like the cable manufacturers on this website are a bunch of hacks that are too incompetent to build quality cables.  Look at all the plaudits that each designer has received from their customers.  Every manufacturer here has their share of support from others on this site that like the cables that X person has built for them.  Or do all of these satisfied customers not know what they are looking at either?

My impression of the guys who build cables for others on this site is that they are not a bunch of idiots like Daryan who are learning as they go and sell their "work in progress" to others, only to (literally, in the case of some of Daryan's cables) blow up in their faces.  While they may not be as technically skilled as Chris Johnson, Doug Oade, or Drew Baird to design and build their own equipment, they are more than qualified to build some microphone cables.  They care about their customers and all want to further the ultimate goal of having higher and higher quality recordings in the community.  They contribute to this end by building high-quality cables for tapers.

And if you don't want to patronize the cable makers on this board, fine, go elsewhere.  I chose to go with Moon Audio because of their design and the high quality of components used.  Although, having just purchased some very nice cables from Nick, I figure that if given the the exact same type of cable and components that Drew from Moon Audio uses, Nick could assemble it just as well.

BTW, does Matt even build cables anymore?  I contacted him a while ago about building me a cable and he responded by saying that he was taking a break for a while.  I went with Nick instead and am very happy with the results.

[George]

I've seen this all before on head-fi.  People who spend 100's of dollars on cables need to make themselves feel good knowing they overpaid for a piece of wire.

My $10 mini interconnect has worked flawlessly for years.  YMMV   

[Todd R]

I've seen this all before on head-fi.  People who spend 100's of dollars on cables need to make themselves feel good knowing they overpaid for a piece of wire.

My $10 mini interconnect has worked flawlessly for years.  YMMV   

And alternatively, people who don't spend high dollars on cables and use el-cheapos need to make themselves feel good for their decision not to invest money.

Look, I'm more that willing to concede that people who spend high dollars on cables will have an inherent bias that leans towards their own decision.  But that cuts both ways -- people who choose not to spend big money on cables also have a bias that leans towards the decisions they made.  It's important to recognize the sources of bias, but it isn't at all safe to assume that only the ones buying the boutique cables have a bias.

Long before I started building cables for others (which I no longer do), I built cables up from a variety of cable stocks, did listening tests, and chose the ones I liked best.  I built and owned them all, so I'm not sure why I would've been biased towards one or the other. 

People should definitely listen and make their own choices, but I don't think there are any hard and fast rules.

[Nick's Picks]

I for one, am more than happy to teach anyone to make their own, and I encourage it.
its not rocket surgery.

Just source the parts and assemble.

[OFOTD]

You know, this is pretty insane.  You are acting like the cable manufacturers on this website are a bunch of hacks that are too incompetent to build quality cables.  Look at all the plaudits that each designer has received from their customers.  Every manufacturer here has their share of support from others on this site that like the cables that X person has built for them.  Or do all of these satisfied customers not know what they are looking at either?

From what I have seen with my own eyes and from what other friends and tapers have shared with me I'd say at least half of the cable makers here are hacks without doubt.  Look at all the plaudits?  Shit man if someone came out and said xxxxx cable maker sucks then there would be a whole shit storm of people denouncing the poster for slamming xxxxxx cable maker.   We can slam guysonic for being overpriced or we can slam Len for whatever but god forbid we take one of our own to task.    This site has definitely moved in that direction of not criticizing fellow members or else feel the wrath of others.

 

Or do all of these satisfied customers not know what they are looking at either?

I'd say some of the 'satisfied' customers are satisfied because they didn't pay very much and are happy they got a deal.  When these people though are having to send their cables back to be fixed and you start including shipping, down time then it suddenly is not a deal.


I want to make it clear that there are many really good cable makers here. Matt, Todd R, Ed and Brian come to mind instantly.   So i'm not trying to paint some broad stroke about everyone other than Matt.   

Again I go back to build quality.   There is a difference and more often than not it is very obvious.


^^^^  Good post Todd  re: bias

[rastasean]

if you're only using two cables, maybe four, why not spend a little more and get quality cables that way you know they will last. now if you're a musician using 10 SM57s or something, you don't want to go broke on $80 cables.
 I think the problem is that we have different definitions of quality and that's perfectly fine because it will offer more options for people to buy cables.

[travelinbeat]

There's certainly some great discussion going on here, but unfortunately it's only confusing me more and adding more questions...

Basically I want to know what cables to buy.  Something about 15' long to go from my Busman BSC1's to a PS2.  Too easy a questions?  How about a short (1-3 foot) cable that takes the XLR signal output of the PS2 and puts it into a 3.5mm male to plug into my R-09HR?

Please feel free to PM responses; I know lots of people worry about hurting people's feelings.

[deadheaded]

There's certainly some great discussion going on here, but unfortunately it's only confusing me more and adding more questions...

Basically I want to know what cables to buy.  Something about 15' long to go from my Busman BSC1's to a PS2.  Too easy a questions?  How about a short (1-3 foot) cable that takes the XLR signal output of the PS2 and puts it into a 3.5mm male to plug into my R-09HR?

Please feel free to PM responses; I know lots of people worry about hurting people's feelings.

hey this is ed from kind kables.
i would be more than happy to make the that you need.
if you have any questions get in touch.
thanks
ed

[tgakidis]

This guy makes the best home brew cables on TS.

[travelinbeat]

PM sent to Ed--

Any other inputs?  Please just feel free to PM and tell me what cables you use and why you made the choice you did.  Just that little bit of information would be REALLY helpful at this point!!!

[TNJazz]

I use mostly Mogami and sometimes Gotham cable.

Sorry, I don't buy into the whole silver cable thing, bu that argument's been covered enough in this forum already.   

I figure if it's good enough for thousands of professional engineers, FOH, studio guys and musicians - it must be at least halfway decent.

[newplanet7]

I've seen Darktrains work a few times and it's spot on.
Plus his sets are realistic in $$ terms.
A lot of prices I've seen people buy cables for are laughable.

FWIW
I work at a custom cable facility myself and made my own.

[bhadella]

I've seen Darktrains work a few times and it's spot on.
Plus his sets are realistic in $$ terms.
A lot of prices I've seen people buy cables for are laughable.

FWIW
I work at a custom cable facility myself and made my own.

2nd'd on Darktrain.  Great stuff and very reasonable prices. 

[goodcooker]

If you support your customers with good communication, after the sale service and guarantee of your work I think you are not considered a hack. I had two customers return cables for a fix. Nobody's perfect.

I think the main advantage of having taper based cable makers for the market is the familiarity they have with the gear. A taper can contact someone with a specific mic> esoteric pre > funky a/d > recorder in gear bagX requirement and we can work with them. About half of my mic cable/interconnect or power cable sales have been for VERY customized setups.

newplanet7 I've seen several posts on TS alluding to everyones inflated prices except for Darktrain's.
If you work at a cable facility and make your own of course you think the prices are high. While you are certainly entitled to your opinion.....ease up on the rest of us alright?

[newplanet7]

newplanet7 I've seen several posts on TS alluding to everyones inflated prices except for Darktrain's.
If you work at a cable facility and make your own of course you think the prices are high. While you are certainly entitled to your opinion.....ease up on the rest of us alright?

Show me where I made any specific mention of anyone else?
I have never and ever will call out anyone for their prices.
I wasn't referring to anyone at all.
I certainly wasn't speaking of you cooker.
What I said was

I've seen Darktrains work a few times and it's spot on.
Plus his sets are realistic in $$ terms.
A lot of prices I've seen people buy cables for are laughable.

This is truth. People paying hundreds of dollars for cables is laughable.
Sorry to be honest here but it's definitely price gauging at that point.
However it's also a free market so, if people want to pay a specific amount
for an item that's fine by me. I am just voicing my opinion in the cable thread.
I am not denouncing any ones work or business since I haven't a clue of what
you or nick or whomever sells them for.

I was referring to public yardsales where I have seen interconnects and cables
go for, to me, unreasonable amounts.