Members Telecruiser Posted December 18, 2009 Members Share Posted December 18, 2009 I'm looking to purchase some XLR cables for mics as well as feeds to powered speakers. I don't want to break the bank but I also don't want cheapies. Good connectors with a quality rugged cable. Any thoughts?? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flanc Posted December 18, 2009 Members Share Posted December 18, 2009 Look no further than www.audiopile.net. Great prices and quality and run by forumite Mark and his wife Liz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 [/thread ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oldschooler Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I had good luck with these.http://speakerrepair.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=37-250x10&Category_Code=25ft-mic-cables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I had good luck with these. http://speakerrepair.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=37-250x10&Category_Code=25ft-mic-cables I missed the "10-pack" part at first and very nearly ridiculed you for spending $70 on a 25ft cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BenBroChill Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 these have worked great for me so far and I have been using them everyday for over a year now. No complaints. http://www.uniquesquared.com/servlet/the-Cables-cln-XLR-Microphone/Categories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 Cheap mic cables come back to haunt you at the worst possible time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TimmyP Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 +1 for Audiopile.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gordon Sound Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 Roll your own man! Everyone needs to know how to solder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted December 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 Roll your own man! Everyone needs to know how to solder! I have made more than my share of audio cables. With all that is going on I would just rather buy them this time around. BTW, went to audiopile.net. I like the MBQN series and will probably pick up about 10 20' units to start with. Question - What does, "XXR Colored Rings (fits Neutrik "XX" series only)" mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gdawg55 Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I just bought a few of the 30ft MBQB mic cables form Audiopile.net and they seem to be very good cables. If these hold up well, I won't have any problem ordering more of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 Question -What does, "XXR Colored Rings (fits Neutrik "XX" series only)" mean? They are colored rings fit on the shell of Neutrik XLR connectors and are you used to identify various things. I use them to indicate length, they can be found on multi-channel snakes to identify each send, etc. XXR-# (The number indicates the color) Fit the NC3MXX/NC3FXX line of connectors. XCR-# Fit the NC3FX/NC3MX line of connectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members W. M. Hellinger Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 They are colored rings fit on the shell of Neutrik XLR connectors and are you used to identify various things. I use them to indicate length, they can be found on multi-channel snakes to identify each send, etc. XXR-# (The number indicates the color) Fit the NC3MXX/NC3FXX line of connectors. XCR-# Fit the NC3FX/NC3MX line of connectors. Correct. The NC3MXX/NC3FXX ends come stock with black rings, which can be changed to a different color without unsoldering the cord end. Changing the rings is a simple process of: 1) Unthread the compression boot. 2) Slide the shell off. 3) Remove the old colored ring. 4) Reinstall the new colored ring. 5) Replace the shell and rethread the compression boot. Here's a picture showing violet/purple (XXR-V) colored rings installed in-place of the stock black rings on Neutrik XX series ends: BTW: I really like these Neutrik XX series XLR ends. I personally believe they're a truly better product (regardless of who's cables they're assembed on). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 BTW: I really like these Neutrik XX series XLR ends. I personally believe they're a truly better product (regardless of who's cables they're assembed on). Do you mean in general, or compared to the 'X' connectors? I guess, what is better about them? (Just a curiosity thing) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members W. M. Hellinger Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I guess, what is better about them? (Just a curiosity thing) A few notable details: 1) The contact points in the NC3FXX (female) ends are a spiral flute design. I believe this is vastly superior to the common straight flute design. I believe this spiral flute design is more forgiving of wide variations in MXLR contact pin diameter, and retains contact properties better. 2) The PVC (plastic) compression boot's thread inserts into the metal shell, rather than wrapping over the metal shell. I believe this evolved design makes a more durable cord end. 3) IMO: The locking/release mechanism on the NC3FXX (female) ends are really good (both from durability and ergonomic standpoints). 4) The combination of the improved compression sleeve with the compressive design of the ID ring allows for a wide variation of cable OD. In a nut-shell: I believe Neutrik truly came-up with a new trick on the age-old XLR cord end design with these XX series ends (again: regardless of who's cables they're assembled on). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bobby1Note Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I'm looking to purchase some XLR cables for mics as well as feeds to powered speakers. I don't want to break the bank but I also don't want cheapies. Good connectors with a quality rugged cable. Any thoughts?? Thanks! I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of ALL the EWI cables I bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members formula428 Posted December 20, 2009 Members Share Posted December 20, 2009 Cheap mic cables come back to haunt you at the worst possible time... +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members snoggin Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 I dont know about that man.. I have made a bunch of snakes and xlr cables and have had zero failures so far. But i only set up and tear down maybe four times a month weekend warrior i guess but I feel like my homemade are really good. i get my parts from audiopyle though Might be fine for the weekend-warrior, but if you don't know how to really solder, all you'll end up with is a pile of half-assed cables that will fail the first time you put any stress on them. Unless you're good at soldering you will get a much better value by buying finished cables. That having been said, by the time you get done with a marathon session of putting together 25 cables (150 solder joints), you should have the basics down.They are colored rings fit on the shell of Neutrik XLR connectors and are you used to identify various things. I use them to indicate length, they can be found on multi-channel snakes to identify each send, etc. XXR-# (The number indicates the color) Fit the NC3MXX/NC3FXX line of connectors. XCR-# Fit the NC3FX/NC3MX line of connectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NUSound Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 I dont know about that man.. I have made a bunch of snakes and xlr cables and have had zero failures so far. But i only set up and tear down maybe four times a month weekend warrior i guess but I feel like my homemade are really good. i get my parts from audiopyle though I was making a generalization. For someone to run to the Ratshack, pick up an iron and start soldering connectors on? Not a good idea, IMO. The solder joint is the most likely place for failure. When you think about the value of it, assuming that you're ordering all of the componenet from Audiopile: 25' Starline ($7.50), NC3FXXB($4.50), NC3MXXB ($4.00) = $16. If you buy the same cable pre-made it's only $18 and comes with a five year warranty. Most (you may or may not be included in this) people cannot achieve the same level of solder joint that a professionally manufactured cable will have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 Home made cables are responsible for aboiut 30% of all service calls. In general, not a good thing to do when you can get well assembled cables for a couple dollars more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rocket Pig Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 http://www.rondomusic.com/brightprm25.html Have no opinion on the quality and have no idea, was looking at them mostly for extras for home recording. 5 25ft mic cables for 25 bucks is pretty good, though. Better quality is always better, but if you need 5 cables and only have 25 bucks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members popgadget Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 +1 for Audiopile, both for cables and parts. The price to quality ratio is pretty much impossible to beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted December 21, 2009 CMS Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 http://www.rondomusic.com/brightprm25.htmlHave no opinion on the quality and have no idea, was looking at them mostly for extras for home recording. 5 25ft mic cables for 25 bucks is pretty good, though. Better quality is always better, but if you need 5 cables and only have 25 bucks... Then you only have enough to buy one or two cables. Why does everything have to be available cheaper? Is there no point where something is unacceptable? I've had a few of these MIC cables. The ends don't fit. That's right, they physically won't plug in. Had 1/4" plugs that are too fat to fit into a jack. Had one XLR cable that couldn't even plug into itself. Yep, the F side had pin holes on the end plate that were too small for the M side pins. But at least they were cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gordon Sound Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 I can certainly apreciate a time vs money arguement or That bad cables cause service calls. I belive soldering is a benneficial skill. Making XLRs is not hard as far as soldering goes and the more you do the better you become.Maybe I miss the old school DIY ethic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted December 21, 2009 Members Share Posted December 21, 2009 Ditto - Don't grab blindly at the cables in the bottom of the barrel. I think we've all been there before. I bought around 20 Pulsar XLR cables once and at least 10 failed within 30 days. I soldered a few for use as permenant connections in the practice room, and chucked the rest. There are enough variables at a gig without having to troubleshoot bad cables. 80% of my cables are audiopile and as soon as the 25 ft XLR's are back in stock they'll all be. I've had no EWI XLR cables fail since switching to them over 250 shows ago. I've had one EWI instrument cable fail, but it wasn't one of mine so I don't know what kind of abuse it endured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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