https://www.headamp.com/products/kimber-kable-select-1136-analog-xlr-balanced-interconnect-cables-pair?variant=28220635185216&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9p2s8KbD6QIVVP3jBx3P2wI8EAYYCSABEgJ0KfD_BwE
I know these were originally designed to be used with an audiophile headphone system but I started thinking that a set of cables this highly regarded, judging by the price, could make my Rode NTG-4+ microphone sound even better. Sure, I could just buy a much nicer microphone but that might be a false economy if the wiring can make a really fantastic difference. Could it be that the wiring between microphone and pre-amp has been my video system's audio input Achille's Heel?
I'm on the fence about ordering for just one reason; I think that silver connectors are prone to tarnishing and don't have as fast and stable an electron transfer rate as solid gold connectors...
I've sent along a note to see if they can be upgraded to gold but I'm leery that the price may go up too much.
I guess I could pass along the cost of investing in superior audio accessories to my clients, who always seem anxious to pay much more for our services.
Just sayin.
18 comments:
You and Mike sometimes seem to be in an odd kind of sync with your topics ;-)
By the way, some people say that XLR cables just make things louder, not better. Just sayin;-)
Tom, we text each other every morning and try to match our shoes and outfits and then see if the other has something on their blog we might want to add to. It's all so fun.
XLR cables make things louder because of the "X" factor.
Just mentionin.
While the uninitiated might think superior wiring and precious metal contacts improve the cables' performance, it's really the wood details that make the difference.
Strange parallel with TOP....
Tuck abandons science and measurement and embraces the "leap of faith" methodology of the era. And if he can afford those wires then he also ought to stock up on those Leica SL2's he's mentioned.
"Dynamic coherence at all frequencies" That's gotta be good!
I've got some spare Monster audio cables in a box down in my basement, if you want to try them (free!). Right next to the red bottle of Discwasher fluid. (heaven forbid you should use distilled "hungry" water)
You don't need cables, nothing to trip over, go Bluetooth.
MikeR, don't throw out the Discwasher bottle... it's gonna be worth something someday! ;-) I had the Discwasher head cleaner cassette that came in a solid metal black carrying case. Discwasher was an essential part of the music playing ritual back in the day.
Being serious,
Silver connections are the best, fastest electron transfer. Copper is second. Gold is not faster, its just resistant to corrosion.
The best Monster video cables that cost over $100 for a 1 foot cable were all silver.
If these are not electron-balanced, with the molecular alignment required for true signal representation, then you're wasting your money. And the wood choice, really? Bubinga, baby, is what you're looking for. Doesn't interfere with micro-magnetic fields. And anything over .5 metres is just too long. Everyone knows that. Geesh.
Well, it is for the PAIR!
Thanks, Kirk, made my day.
Ok just learned way more than I needed about XLR cables, since the last time I used one was 1997.
This is a great article:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/pro-audio/buying-guide/an-xlr-cable-is-just-a-cable-right#comments
But if you did want the best conductance, than silver would be even better than oxygen free copper. Which the author of that article even states is negligible versus copper.
So a 4m long cable with 5 core silver at 20 guage (0.8mm diameter) would need about 105 grams of silver. Since silver is $0.6 per gram than that adds $63 to the cable cost. So about $100 for a 10 foot cable of the highest conductance should still be considered cheap.
To get to $1000 or $10000, need to add that custom Hasselblad wood grip.
I appreciate that the article is tongue-in-cheek, but for those who don't know, XLR's are better than simple phono connectors as they are differential. Any cable acts like an antenna, so it picks up radio waves. This may impair the signal. In a phono connector you get (signal + noise).
In a differential (XLR) you send +signal down one line and -signal (anti-phase) down the other line. Noise is picked up on both, but at the receiver you subtract the -signal from the +signal thus
(+signal + noise) - (-signal + noise) = 2 x signal, i.e. the noise cancels out.
So XLRs are better for that reason. Silver wire and unicorn horn connectors? It's your money... :)
Has anyone thought of selling cables made from virgin metals, freshly ored, not recycled?
Thirty years ago, I bought a bunch of Monster Cable speaker wire from a now-defunct high end stereo shop. When I was paying, they asked me if I wanted a "wife receipt". Not being married, I said I didn't need one, but asked what it was. They told me they would print a fake receipt showing that I paid less than 10% of what the actual bill was to eliminate any problems at home. It's always been tough to explain or justify spending a bundle on wires whether it's to yourself or to friends or to your significant other. And it's always been tough to really hear or see the differences when using them. But it just feels like you're optimizing your audio or video systems. Some things never change.
Tom
Hey Kirk
It's good to see that you are keeping well. On the subject of cables, I have found the Chord Cream Instrument cables deliver quality sound that makes them without peer this side of $500. Built to last with a guarantee to match, they deliver for me every time.
Best wishes,
Shaun
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