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I have a studio in my home as I'm sure many of you do. I don't have a problem with any cable noise, so I'm not sure why I'm asking.

But here it goes. I use HOSA cables in my "home studio". Is there a better cable that someone might recommend?

I have heard so many things: Monster, Planet Waves, Mogami, etc...

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

--Stephen

P.S. Keep in mind my studio is mainly for "voice over" work. But I riff it up now and again! So I would like a recommendation for a "cable" that works best for what I do. Don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks again,,,,,

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Comments

AudioGaff Tue, 09/25/2007 - 00:00

While not high end by any means, Hosa cable may be just fine for what you are doing. Hosa cable is better than the connectors they use. Cable like all other things in the audio chain needs to be measured by the weakest link. If you are using a cheap or crap mic & mic preamp ect.. in your chain, then any cable better than Hosa isn't going to make such a big difference. Mic, preamp, compressor and room treatment may be need to be higher priority and is much more likely to make a bigger difference.

spgiebler Tue, 09/25/2007 - 12:29

I use a Neumann M 147 and a Langevin Dual Mono Mic Preamp With EQ for a preamp. A hand full of other things as well, etc... I want that extra added difference. Thanks for your help...

AudioGaff wrote: While not high end by any means, Hosa cable may be just fine for what you are doing. Hosa cable is better than the connectors they use. Cable like all other things in the audio chain needs to be measured by the weakest link. If you are using a cheap or crap mic & mic preamp ect.. in your chain, then any cable better than Hosa isn't going to make such a big difference. Mic, preamp, compressor and room treatment may be need to be higher priority and is much more likely to make a bigger difference.

bwmac Wed, 09/26/2007 - 14:31

Hmmm the 25' cable (Hosa HPE325) at sweet water is $7.89 + FREE Shipping

The planet wave 25' Custom Ser. XLR Male to XLR Fem. Mic Cbl
PW-M-25
$43.50

A 30' Merlin High-quality Mic Cable
Pro Co Merlin30
$51.97 + FREE Shipping

Monster Cable SP1000M20
20' Mic Cable with Gold Contacts
$129.95 + FREE Shipping

A cable like a hosa might be one that I loan some one on stage so that they don't sound better then me, but personally
Planet wave Is my choice

basicly an oygen free copper cable is what you want

BobRogers Wed, 09/26/2007 - 16:45

The two worst things that I know of that cables can do are:
1. break
2. leak noise

Hosa cables with have a greater tendency to break than better cables. (By the definition of "better.") But if yours aren't broken yet..... (of course they will only break in an absolutely crucial situation.)

Noise leakage is only an issue if you have a signal chain with a high enough S/N ratio to hear it (as AudioGaff indicated). Might be worth buying a better cable to see if you can hear the difference in your system. If you are ever in a situation where you need longer cable runs it could probably make a difference.

I've always bought cables in the medium to low/medium price range just on the basis of durability. I've never been able to tell the difference in the sound of 25ft cables with a dynamic mic into a PA. Never bothered to do careful tests on my recording equipment. I probably should since I occasionally do 50' runs.