Topic: ISO great factory XLR's

[travelinbeat]

Ideally about 15' stubbys, right angle on both male and female.  Any recommendations?

[ScoobieKW]

I build my own, but bluejeanscable.com builds high quality cables, including cusom orders using the same Belden, Canare, Neutrik, etc parts that I would recommend if you wanted to build your own.

this would be the connector I recommend
http://www.neutrik.com/us/en/industry/210_t2_1821674129/NC3MRX-B_detail.aspx

they can order it in and build custom for you, for a reasonable mark-up.

Or, order the same parts from someone like Matthew at Westlake Electronics, 206-622-6600 and build them yourself. XLRs are easy to solder.

[travelinbeat]

Guys I kinda thought this thread would start WW3-- no way there's only one opinion among nearly 34thousand members as to quality XLR... please help!

[jlykos]

Moon Audio.  Not exactly "factory" because Drew builds everything himself, but he uses extremely high quality wire and can get you any kind of connectors that you would want.  Expensive, but worth it (IMHO).

[ScoobieKW]

My attitude is, if the production companies trust Neutrik connectors with Belden or Canare cable, for the signal chain before the PA, I trust them after the PA.

When cables come into my shop to be repaired, and the connector is at fault, it's almost always an older switchcraft connector. For 1/4" TRS or TS,  I like Canare, for RCA, switchcraft (the Canare RCA connectors are sometimes too bulky).

Build your own is best, next best is to get someone to custom build for you.

On a budget Audiopile makes nice cables, their right angle 25' is ~$14. http://www.audiopile.net/products/Mic_Instr_Cables/SLRFM/SLRFM_cutsheet.shtml. They don't carry 15' but may custom build for you. Good people to boot.

[jbell]

Here is a set ready to ship only 12', but high quality and stubbied!!   

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=148217.0

[Fried Chicken Boy]

^^ Those Darktrain cables are awfully nice!

To answer travelinbeat's original query, there are a bunch of commercially made XLR cables that are high quality and use excellent components.  A case in point that almost meets your full criteria is HERE at Markertek.

The wrinkle is that you want right-angle or stubby connectors.  That isn't typically common on commercially built cables, in which case you might have to go the custom route if that is a necessity to you.  As ScoobieKW suggested, it might be worth it to try building them yourself if you can't find exactly what you want or the custom cablers are too rich for your wallet.

[ScoobieKW]

I priced right angle connectors for paulbaptiste the other day.

Even with my volume pricing discount, Neutrik right angles are $6 a piece. Quality mic cable runs around $1 a foot.

Figuring in labor, the custom cablers on this site are offering very fair pricing. On the other hand, if you have time, and want to learn a relatively easy but valuable skill, get an iron and build your own. This will also save you money in the future as you can fix your own interconnects as well, though I rarely run into a problem with Neutrik connectors.

XLR connectors with their solder cups are one of the easiest things to solder. Plenty of online tips on how to do it well.

[travelinbeat]

Cool-- thanks for all the input!  All things being equal, I think I may just got ahead and build my own-- sounds like my best bet is Neutrik connectors and Canare cable?  Any good links on nice pricing for this stuff?  Also, I know this may be a silly question so I'm sorry, but it there really any difference in solder or is it just kinda all the same?

[darktrain]

Now are you looking for stubbies or "proper RA XLRs" , two different things, the stubbies like me and Ted do are a custom job while the RA neutriks are adjustable to most needs. Also the quality and toughness of the mil spec silver is hard to beat, see out threads in the retail section, while it is pretty cool and satisfying to build your own set of cables, sometimes the cost to build one set is what you would pay someone else to do it, heres my thread if you want to check it out or if you have any questions on the stubbies let me know

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=110932.0

[travelinbeat]

pm sent to Robb-- thanks for all the recommend's, guys!

[Fried Chicken Boy]

sounds like my best bet is Neutrik connectors and Canare cable?

Neutrik connectors are generally considered as some of the best and easiest to solder.  But if you want to start WW3 on this thread, get people going about the "best" brand or type (copper vs. silver) of cable to use.