Interconnect XLR recommendations?

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by Thenewerguy009, Feb 15, 2016.

  1. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    63
    I know that headphone cables & RCA interconnects do make a difference in sound quality & the prices can go into the thousands for them, but is it the same with XLR interconnects?

    I need a pair that are no more than 6 inches to connect my amp sitting above my DAC.
    I'm not sure if I should get the $5 monoprice XLR cables or spend a few hundred more on some silver plated OFC ones.

    Is there any recommendations or any? I don't know where to start looking.
     
  2. Griffon

    Griffon 2nd biggest asshole on SBAF

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,309
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Hipster capital of Canada
    You're probably going to get near unanimous Monoprice.
     
  3. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    560
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Saratoga, CA
    Blue Jeans is another option if you don't want to go with Monoprice.
     
  4. cizx

    cizx Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    426
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    USA
    I recommend blue jeans. Monoprice sent me one bad cable out of two.
     
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I have had some problems with monoprice cable.

    Either buy blue jeans or get some neutrik xx series ends and some decent cable and make your own for cheap. I prefer those connectors over most because the better strain relief is really good (I think blue jeans either uses the XX series or the X series).
     
  6. Dr. Higgs

    Dr. Higgs Boson - Member

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    781
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Roswell, GA
    I use Schiit Pyst XLR cables with by Ragnarok & Yggdrasil (I think they're made by Straight Wire). They work fine for me.
     
  7. badf00d

    badf00d Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    55
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Ohio
    Another vote for Blue Jeans here. Affordable, built-to-order, fast shipping. I have some of their Belden 1800F XLR cables, as well as LC-1 RCA interconnects - both are a great value.
     
  8. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    386
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Admudnson-Scott Antarctic Facility (Seattle WA)
    Home Page:
    Just go to your grammas house and steal the wire from her lamps and terminate the cable yourself. Worked grand for me.
     
  9. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    63
    So the $300 99.9% pure copper silver plated triple strand XLR cables don't offer any benefit over the bluejean/monoprice stuff?

    I know that is not the case for RCA interconnect cables.
     
  10. smithj

    smithj Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    34
    Trophy Points:
    18
    XLR cables are probably the easiest to DIY yourself. Neutrik connectors pretty much solder themselves with extra wide channels for wires to sit themselves into and the strain relief is designed in such a way that it makes any cable look respectable without the need for shrink wrap or other cosmetic bullshit.
     
  11. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Monoprice can be a little iffy on specs. Some of their XLR connectors are just a little bigger than spec and can be an uncomfortably tight fit. I love Monoprice in general, but their cables are starting to get an O2/ODAC type of following.

    Can't go wrong with the Straightwire/Neutrik combo that Schiit uses for their PYST cables for a nice budget pair.

    If you really believe interconnects make a huge difference, then enjoy picking out a set that makes you feel good.
     
  12. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    562
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ca$hburn, NoVA
    I recommend Schiit's Pysts XLR cables, or Blue Jeans Cables. Over long runs it might be worth looking at something more expensive, but at 6 in any properly shielded pair is going to be fine.
     
  13. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
  14. Chris1967

    Chris1967 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    99
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Greece
    For diy cables, i recommend what ChrisF says.

    I use Mogami 2534 with Neutrik XLR connectors.
     
  15. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    I ask YFS to custom build all my cables because Kevin uses great internal wire materials, sleeving and connectors.
     
  16. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    63
    I'm glad that there is a lot of cheap quality cables out there.
    Has anyone tested to see if the much more expensive 99.99% OFC multiple pure copper or silver multi strands give a boost to sound quality?

    I read a few posts from my searches of people saying their RCA interconnects did dramatically affect the sound quality depending on the type of wires used.

    For that matter does Mogami lists the specs of the wires/materials they use for their strands?
    I couldn't find anything.
     
  17. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,176
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Nation's Capital of failure
    I went with Mogami GAC-4/1, but Canare Quad L-4E6S is also (I think) more or less the same and I believe more popular in studios. Either with Neutrik connectors, of course. ChrisF recommendation is good too, especially if there's no RF interference to worry about.

    Unlike RCA interconnects, I haven't read about silver strands being a popular (or beneficial/cost-effective) way to enhance sound when using XLR.
     
  18. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    http://www.mogamicable.com/category/bulk/microphone/quad/

    Some people swear that they hear night and day differences, some people swear a coat hanger would sound the same as a $10,000 uber cable. There is no proof that either camp or any in between are right. Most would agree that something well made and to the proper specs for its use will be "good enough" for anybody not chasing that elusive last couple of percent. Most would probably agree that you should put your money into transducers, amps, and DACs before getting overly concerned with exotic cables. I personally have tried some pretty expensive, exotic materials in my cables, and I couldn't honestly tell you if the differences I heard were imagined or not.
     
  19. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado
    My experience with xlr cables from monoprice is that they will transmit sound and sound okay, but you may or may not like it that much. Kinda like headphones, though, once you get exposed to better ones and if you like them, you kinda want the better ones if you can justify the cost.

    I have owned many $300 plus pairs of xlr and rca cables over the years. Tone varies a bit with any of them, so it all comes down to what you like.
    Popular diy and pro audio built lines like Mogami and canare are popular. The few Mogami builds I used were a bit dark and thick sounding. Tried Blue Jeans, Cardas, and about dozen other brands over the years.

    My faves right now are Canare, VH Audio and some discontinued builds using cardas, but they can get pricey. I also really like DH Labs D-110 AES cable which is an xlr design, but not sure of how it does in an analog application. For digital it is very good.

    One pair of cables in my system that I like a lot and not just because of the price are these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/151200720953?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

    They also have some Canare XLR cables that might be worth a blind buy.

    good luck!
     
  20. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado
     

Share This Page