Does a "good" cable make a big difference?

[5stringtarbendr]

I was wondering if anyone has anything to say about Armor Gold, or any other cable for that matter. I've been playing music for a long time and have always just used whatever cable I buy at the music shop. And not really paying attention to it. But does a cable make that much of a difference? I read some reviews and "Armor Gold" cables kept coming up...

[MNAirHead]

If you get a good one and take care of it, you will cease your broken cord blues.

I had ExaltBass (Tber) make me a custom one... wasn't cheap - it was exactly how I wanted it.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

A bad cord can ruin it for You in so many ways, even cost You a spot on a band or a gig..

A good one OTOH, can provide decades of security, unless someone nicks it as it often happens for nice things.

I usually roll my own with Neutrik plugs, the cable itself is just a decent quality cable, nothing more, nothing less.

Regards
Sam

[Ricnroll]

I second T-Bird's praise for neutriks connectors. Excellent strain relief and they solder extremely easily.

[5stringtarbendr]

I guess what I mean is tone. Can you hear the difference in tone with a more expensive better quality cable?

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by 5stringtarbendr

I guess what I mean is tone. Can you hear the difference in tone with a more expensive better quality cable?

Some say you can - I'm of the opinionthat the bass can alter any difference

[bongomania]

Check out my articles on this subject:
Analysis of Audio Cables
How do different cables handle transient spikes?

[Philonius]

The question that wouldn't die.

[Ricnroll]

These are pretty good cable (but not very expensive):

Canare GS-6 Redco Audio - Custom Audio Cables - Recording Studio Supplies - Custom A/V Panels - Canare GS-6 Instrument Cable
(orange, yellow, blue, red, black)

or MogamiW2524 Redco Audio - Custom Audio Cables - Recording Studio Supplies - Custom A/V Panels - Mogami W2524 Instrument Cable

use them with this Redco Audio - Custom Audio Cables - Recording Studio Supplies - Custom A/V Panels - Neutrik NP2C-B

My advice would be to put the extra dollars towards a good soldering iron rather than spend more than a buck a foot on an instrument cable.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by 5stringtarbendr

I guess what I mean is tone. Can you hear the difference in tone with a more expensive better quality cable?

Some ~$2 cables with molded plugs have so thin leads that they're nearly invisible, and if the lead is more than a few meters long, the losses become audible.

Other than that, I for one can't hear any difference between cables. Some folks claim they can, and while nothing scientific backs that claim up, who am I to argue .

Regards
Sam

[rockstarbassist]

When you buy that $500 "gold plated" 10' instrument cable, head over to Bestbuy.com and get one of these:

AudioQuest - Diamond 3.3' High-Speed HDMI Cable - Dark Gray/Black - 65-083-02

[KingRazor]

Live Wire cables. $13 for 10 feet. Lifetime warranty. Bring in your dead cable, get a new one.