do cables make a difference in sound?

Gord_oh · #1 07-02-2009, 02:05 PM

i work at a radioshack locally and i came across this:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2110427

i know quality cables are a better, most of the time more expensive, way to go. This cable apparently is made for bass.
I never heard of something quite like this. Quality is key in most things and cables are no exception. Plus Monster makes amazing A/V cables without a doubt, but something made for bass makes a difference?

Steve · #2 07-02-2009, 02:09 PM

Oh no he di-int!

Where's the eating popcorn smilie and the can of worms pic?

guizzy · #3 07-02-2009, 02:22 PM

Big can of worm you're opening here.

This applies to A/V cable, instrument cables and (doubly so) for digital cable. I have NEVER ever heard of or seen adquate scientific proof that any cable carries sound better than any other fit-for-purpose cable.

However, I've heard it said that the only reason these are marketed for bass is because they are NOT transparent (as good cable should be). If you want to buy Monster Cable, I'd suggest going for general purpose instrument cable and not this.

There are other good reasons to choose one kind of cable over another: length, reliability, stiffness, fit of the connectors... Not having to worry about your cable is a good perk. Monster Cable's lifetime warranty is a good plus in that regard.

Of course, there are hundreds, musicians and (more often) audiophiles who drank the marketing Kool-Aid who'll claim that some cable has magical tone improving capacities, and that "they can totally hear it being better". Before you start wasting your money on that kind of stuff, ask yourself: "Can this be proven NOT to be the listener's bias?" In my experience, it never can.

ChrisPbass · #4 07-02-2009, 02:25 PM

If only there were a 1000 page thread to answer this question. One can hope!

EricF · #5 07-02-2009, 02:26 PM

Many people believe that Monster makes amazing cables. This is largley due to the fact that Monster tells everyone that their cables are amazing, and people are suckers. Monster doesn't have some magic that no one else has. Use quality cable and quality connectors and you'll have every bit as good cable as the one from Monster. You can make them yourself, or support a small guy like www.bayoucables.com, or buy any decent cable at your local music store (many come with a lifetime warranty)

In addition to their marketing hype, I also have a serious problem with the way they conduct business. Do a search for "Monster Cables Lawsuit". Plenty to read about.

KaizerWilhelm · #6 07-02-2009, 02:29 PM

Ill be honest, I used to use a Planet Waves cable for Bass>Amp and it sounded pretty good. The thing finally died on me after 5 years of use and, thankfully it had a lifetime warranty, I got a replacement. But since they don't make the kind I had anymore, the dude at GC gave me a Mogami cable, still lifetime warranty. I never thought it would be clearer, but my god, what an improvement in sound! Everything sounds crisper and you can hear every little tone and harmonic the bass has.

I think cables improve the sound, but that's just me. Try it out for yourself.

newbold · #7 07-02-2009, 02:34 PM

cables make a difference
do you need that difference?

Get Elixir cables if you're going to go for a nicer cable from a store.
Go to Bayou if you're going custom

Want the best? Evidence Audio.

Chances are, you don't need this.

When you only want the best everything, then spend the money.

neatobassman · #8 07-02-2009, 02:41 PM

IMO, recording is the only time when quality of cable makes a difference really.

bhass · #9 07-02-2009, 02:43 PM

Realistically: When you're playing live or on a record, will people even hear the difference? No.

It's like the whole fretboard wood thing.

**ExaltBass** · #10 07-02-2009, 02:55 PM

I generally have tried to stay out of the 'bash Monster' threads - but this hasn't started out this way so...

I started making my own premium cables due to incredible EMI/RFI interference at my former church. I found that well shielded - good quality cable (Canare/Mogami for me), quality plugs (Neutrik is my prefered), and carefully constructed (WBT Silver solder is my preference) has yielded:
(1) Quieter cabling
(2) less EMI/RFI problems
(3) more 'solid' tone... (hard to hear the difference on a gig, I'll grant you) whether from better conductivity, capacitance or whatever...
(4) more reliablilty AND...
(5) all at a reasonable cost (much less that pre-mades)

So, I'm a 'roll your own' proponent

I've made a few custom cables for other TB'ers and most have come back for more... it's my therapy (I'm an bassiac insomniac)

Spinal Tapper · #11 07-02-2009, 03:02 PM

Nope

vinxbass · #12 07-02-2009, 03:04 PM

Like has been mentioned before, this topic has been brought up many times, but I'll give you my take and it's quite simple. I use Monster Rock Bass cords and compared to regular instrument cords, yes the Monsters do sound better. The Monsters sound is louder, fuller, thicker and anything else you can think of a little bit, not alot. Plus, their built better than your regular everyday cable. Now compared to other more expensive cables I wouldn't be able to comment on that, but Monster Bass cables sound better than cheap cables, period.

hellboy · #13 07-02-2009, 03:24 PM

Please do not buy Monster Cables.

Cables can make a difference, but for instrument cables the only thing that really affects the sound is the capacitance/foot - the cable acts as a lowpass filter, and the higher the capacitance (and the longer the cable), the more treble gets lost on the way to the amp. Low capacitance cables do not necessarily cost more, and may or may not be desirable - some people prefer the "traditional" sound and find low capacitance cables "harsh", and with a bass you may not even notice the difference. What's more, if you have an active bass, the low impedance output means the cable has practically no effect.

Other factors, like the outside wrap, connector type, look, and so on, are pretty subjective. Obviously construction can affect durability, and that may be more of a factor in your buying decision.

Kirkowitz · #14 07-02-2009, 03:37 PM

I have a lot of different cables they all sound slightly different to me when I'm "nitpicking" my sound. But in the mix with other musicians I don't really think it makes a lick of difference. Get 2 solid cables you like, one to use- one for backup....don't spend too much on them, you'll probably lose them somewhere anyway!

Spinal Tapper · #15 07-02-2009, 03:39 PM

This might bring on the haterz, but why can't people just play the damn instrument anymore?

Who's gonna take the time to sit and mess with A/Bing different cables to see which one has the "truest" sound?

Obviously, if you have buzzing or interference, your cable needs to be replaced, but dang, a cable is a cable. Sound is sound. There's enough other factors to change the sound of your instrument like the PU's, tone control/switches on the bass, amp controls: mids, highs, lows. Do we need another factor?

Lets get back to the bassics and stop worrying so much about why Guitar Center employees want to charge you $50 for cable A and $20 for cable B. It all seems so silly.

I'm glad I'm not a sound engineer, this stuff would drive me crazy!

zacharyk88 · #16 07-02-2009, 03:40 PM

yes they do the thicker they are the more insulated they are and makes less feedback, but you dont need the expensive ones theres a 20ft cable for like 8 bux at wal mart and its insulated and awesome.

<insert people hating me here>

**Eric Perry** · #17 07-02-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

Many people believe that Monster makes amazing cables. This is largley due to the fact that Monster tells everyone that their cables are amazing, and people are suckers. Monster doesn't have some magic that no one else has. Use quality cable and quality connectors and you'll have every bit as good cable as the one from Monster. You can make them yourself, or support a small guy like www.bayoucables.com, or buy any decent cable at your local music store (many come with a lifetime warranty)

In addition to their marketing hype, I also have a serious problem with the way they conduct business. Do a search for "Monster Cables Lawsuit". Plenty to read about.

/thread.

ggunn · #18 07-02-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinxbass

The Monsters sound is louder, fuller, thicker ... Monster Bass cables sound better than cheap cables, period.

Which is your opinion; if you hear a difference then it's real to you, and that's totally cool. When you add "period" to the end of your statement, however, that implies that it is somehow not just your opinion but a fact. It is not a fact unless you have empirical, objective evidence to back it up. Simply saying that you hear the difference is not proof of anything; show me the results of an impartially administered and witnessed double blind study with a statistically large sample size to back up your "period", and I'll listen.

And there's the Monster Cable business model of filing harassing lawsuits against anyone who uses the word "monster" commercially in any context whatsoever. Jerks.

If you gave me a Monster Cable, I'd take it out into the yard and run over it with my lawnmower. Would they honor the lifetime warranty in that case, do you think?

mrkreuzschlitz · #19 07-02-2009, 03:56 PM

The one reason I'd buy a Monster cable is it's simply amazingly reliable. Sure, if a product has a lifetime warranty you've got nothing to worry about, but you'll have to wait a few weeks before you can get a new one usually.

bucephylus · #20 07-02-2009, 03:57 PM

The Emperor's new clothes are beautiful.

People, 50 +/- ohms is 50 ohms. I guarantee that you can put brand X wiring into any HP impedance analyzer that is way more sensitive than the human ear and see zero difference in the impedance spectrum as compared to the Emperor's cable.

However, Brand X plugs, soldering, and stress relief; all of which matter a lot to the working musician; can make a big difference in reliability at the gig.

Buy yourself a pool of Belden 8410, a bunch of Switchcraft connectors, learn to solder, and you are all set.

But, the Emperor's new clothes are beautiful.

IMO IMO IMO