Topic: best source for cable material

[Melanie]

I just received a number of XLR connectors from Tourtelot , planning on soldering up what I need. Looking for best cable material source. Thanks in advance. Bob

[admkrk]

I usually go with this

[morst]

Line or mic level analog balanced, I presume?


Star Quad is good stuff, but could be a little tricky to work with, since it's double conductors.
Canare, Mogami, Belden all seem fine to me, some are thicker, some are more flexible, what are ya looking for?


When Tourtelot made me a custom cable, he suggested Belden, since it was for an unbalanced line level application.

[mrfender]

I've had good luck with mogami when making some low profile connectors.

[voltronic]

My choice for single-channel:
https://www.redco.com/Gotham-GAC-3.html

Snakes:
https://www.redco.com/Redco-TGS-02.html
or the electrically identical...
https://www.redco.com/Mogami-W2930.html

[goodcooker]

For mic cables Mogami 2552

[Melanie]

Thanks for replies, I'm looking for cable for board feeds, not mic cables. Bob

[voltronic]

Thanks for replies, I'm looking for cable for board feeds, not mic cables. Bob

If your board feeds are balanced runs, then you should use the same stuff you would use for mic cables.

The advantage of the GAC-3 I recommended is that it has incredibly high rejection of interference but without the higher capacitance of star-quad. You take the third conductor along with the two shields and tie them to the ground pin at both ends.

I have used it to make TRS > XLR cables for line level runs, and it works great. I also made super robust and long 3.5mm stereo cable with it, as you could with most any balanced cable.

[Melanie]

Thanks for replies, I'm looking for cable for board feeds, not mic cables. Bob

If your board feeds are balanced runs, then you should use the same stuff you would use for mic cables.

The advantage of the GAC-3 I recommended is that it has incredibly high rejection of interference but without the higher capacitance of star-quad. You take the third conductor along with the two shields and tie them to the ground pin at both ends.

I have used it to make TRS > XLR cables for line level runs, and it works great. I also made super robust and long 3.5mm stereo cable with it, as you could with most any balanced cable.

I'll try that, I know that asking for info help on this board is a super great resource, thanks again for all you folks do. Bob

[SMsound]

Performance Audio, HQ in Utah:
https://www.performanceaudio.com/

Cheap, friendly/knowledgeable, fast. They also make really, really nicely made custom cables, also for cheap.

No affiliation but I have used them for a couple years now and they've been great.

[morst]

Performance Audio, HQ in Utah:
https://www.performanceaudio.com/

Yow, they have 252 items under Bulk Cable!
https://www.performanceaudio.com/collections/microphone-wire?count=48

[DavidPuddy]

Can't go wrong with Mogami or Canare.

[SMsound]

I really like Mogami W3031 and have made a bunch of new cables from it. Technically, it's one of their lav mic cables with the best properties for what we do (flexible braided shield and best sound quality) out of the various lav mic cables they offer, so it's very small and light. It's very similar to the lightweight cable that Schoeps uses on their CMC1L cables:

https://www.performanceaudio.com/products/mogami-w3031-miniature-balanced-mic-cable-with-braided-shield-black-by-the-foot

tech specs:
https://mogamicable.com/category/bulk/microphone/lavalier/#gsc.tab=0

For studio cables where you don't mind a big thick heavy cable, try Mogami or Canare star quad (or mini star quad if you want a size/weight compromise).