Quality of Cables

[Guest]

I read an interesting article the other day in which a comment was made suggesting the quality of cables being used during recording.

To paraphrase the author mentioned a $300.00 cable could give you the same results as a $3000.00 processor.

What are your thoughts on that?

What brand of cables do you use?

Drumtracks

[john]

Hi David

I use a variety of cables, but in general they are high quality leads and connectors. Good quality interconnects can make a massive difference, especially with analogue cables.

Good cables are better for managing noise. the noise contributed by the cable itself is reduced, and a good cable will reduce crosstalk.

Cheers

John

[Marc]

The function of a 3000$ processor isn't to ameliorate signal to noise ratio?

[Helicon1]

Cables are very important, but that quote is comparing apples to oranges.

There's no way that a cable gives the "same" results as a processor because they have different functions.

Perhaps the author was trying to say don't go out and spend $3000 on a processor before you make sure you have high-quality cables.

Having said that, I have found that there is not much difference between good cables and "super-duper" cables. The "super-duper" kind charge a lot more money for a little more cable. You pay for the brand name.

Most of the time, if you buy quality, balanced cables you won't have any problem with noise. A balanced cable cancels out noise. Un-balanced cables are much more susceptible to picking up noise and interference.

Another thing that will help is to make sure that you don't run audio cables parallel to power cables. They will pick up interference and hum. If you do have to cross the two types, make sure they cross at a right angle. Also, don't coil power cables. A coiled power cable sets up a magnetic field and greatly amplifies 60Hz hum.