John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hi all...

How big of a diffrence can diffrent mic-cables (shielded) have on the sound? Is it the same hype that is in speaker cables? where some cables cost like 1000000000$ and the differnece isn´t even measurable.

And if anyone have experience using cables from this company:
http://www.cordial-gmbh.de/en/

thanks a bunch

Andy

Don't know the company you referred to. Differences assuming similar electrical characteristics are in the effectiveness of the shielding, shielding method, and ability to withstand physical movement, plus how durable the material is itself and what sort of use it is classified for. The latter in North America meaning riser, plenum rated etc.

No smoke and mirrors on those aspects. Outrageous prices ara a good inidicator of smoke and mirrors.

Andre

How big of a diffrence can diffrent mic-cables (shielded) have on the sound?

It can have a profound difference in several ways.

1. Copper, Silver, etc. (The material or conductor being used.)
2. The AWG of the wire
3. The number and AWG of strands in a given cable
4. The shield: Foil wrapped w/ drain wire or braided shield. Different braids also produce different results.
5. The resistance and capacitance of the cable.
6. The inductance between conductors
7. Electrostatic noise and electromagnetic noise.
8. The ohm load of the microphone being used.
9. The type of connectors you use.

etc...

It all has an effect on how it sounds. I can't explain the physics of it. I don't know. But what I can tell you, is I've used several different cables over the last 10 years, and I do hear a difference. My favorite example is between Mogami and Canare. I like the Canare for mic cables, as it appears to have a better/more transparent response in the high frequencies. But, this is just my experience. I'm sure other's have their pref's. But I prefer the Mogami as far as multi-pair snake cables. (for different reasons).

Steve can probably get more into the physics of this. I haven't studied it in that depth yet. I just go by what my ears tell me.

So what would you guys say is the most important factors to look at when it comes to cable specs (figures)?
Shielding, yes! But how do the manufactures "grade" their shielding?

looked like my entry was listed as guest.. but i´m not..=)

Andy

Here's one example. I'll post more as I find them...

ftp://ftp.mogami-wire.co.jp/pub/mit/catalog.pdf

Right click the link and select "Save Target As". It's about 2.7 MB download.

many thanks..

Here's Canare's specs:

http://www.canare.com/catalog.html