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Does Cables Matter for a Bass
- Thread starter penguineman
- Start date
Quality Guitar Cables - Can You Hear A Difference? - YouTube
Quite interesting. Are there any members with a high quality soundcard and a selection of cables? We could do a similar thing but distribute the wav files, see if anyone can tell.
Quite interesting. Are there any members with a high quality soundcard and a selection of cables? We could do a similar thing but distribute the wav files, see if anyone can tell.
More ad hom attacks! Is this your MO?
Engage with the point put across as opposed to attempting to undermine the character of the person asserting something.
One more time and I'll have you charged in contempt of this thread.
The point is belabored. Some state they can hear a difference. Some state we can't. If you haven't caught the drift - I've stopped caring to make my point a while ago.
I use a 20' Planet Waves Circuit Breaker cable for the instrument cable and custom build Pro Cables for the amp/cabs. I think if you're working with less than 30 feet of inst cable you'll probably not notice any loss of tone no matter which cable you use, especially if you're using a 10 -15 foot length. For me it really comes down to durability.
I said nothing of the sort.
You seemed very confident in your knowledge of cables so I assumed you'd be able to back up your claims with something substantive. Despite what you may think, I'm actually open to real evidence that the phenomena claimed by high end cable manufacturers actually has an effect on audio. That being said, I've yet to see any. I'll buy that with a passive bass, there could be actually an audible difference between the solid core and stranded cables you tested, but I don't think it's due to anything as exotic as skin effect at audio frequency.
There are a lot of good reasons why it shouldn't make a difference in an instrument cable at audio frequency, not the least of being that the current phase in one is irrelevant given that all audio inputs are voltage amplifiers. I.e: the amplifier is driven by the voltage swing, not the current, of which there is very little in an instrument cable. When you're driving voltages in the mV into a 1M or higher input impedance, the current is on the order of nano-Amps. This assumes, of course, that the conductor is large enough that the skin depth of the highest frequency doesn't fully penetrate. You mention 18AWG, but how many instrument cables are that big? 22 and 24 seem most common and any larger is totally overkill.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't baiting you a little earlier because your attitude got on my nerves, but I really would like to see some real technical evidence that skin effect and/or field interaction between strands of cable has an actual effect at audio frequencies.
I own and use a Cardas Golden Chord, BTW.
It makes for better top end with a passive bass than my other non-exotic cables, but I know that's because it has less capacitance than they do. Otherwise, it's a well made cable, flexible and has no handling noise after 7 years of use.
Speaking of monster 
They have entered the digital market.
Now you can get yourself a good ethernet cable
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
:scowl:
It's superior, and here's proof
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Them pump it through
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Turns out that powerlines are clean enough that you can transmit a digital signal on them, and expect it to reach another place in your home.
The best news is they sell power line conditioners to help you get rid of the noise these things inject into the line for stuff you don't want to receive it.
Oh, and I do believe some can hear the difference between 1/4" audio cables. Subjectively, they believe one is better than the other, but the cable that actually degrades the signal more may be what they believe sounds better.
They have entered the digital market.
Now you can get yourself a good ethernet cable
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
:scowl:
It's superior, and here's proof
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Them pump it through
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Turns out that powerlines are clean enough that you can transmit a digital signal on them, and expect it to reach another place in your home.
The best news is they sell power line conditioners to help you get rid of the noise these things inject into the line for stuff you don't want to receive it.
Oh, and I do believe some can hear the difference between 1/4" audio cables. Subjectively, they believe one is better than the other, but the cable that actually degrades the signal more may be what they believe sounds better.
bongomania
Commercial User
As someone mentioned earlier, I did some testing that provides some very strong clues, if not "proof".
Analysis of Audio Cables
How do different cables handle transient spikes?
Pay particular attention to the oscilloscope images (on the "transient spikes" page), and what they represent.
I totally concede that people hear all kinds of things that do not show up on test equipment; and I further concede that there's no way to convince anyone that what they heard was "all in their head", especially because it's a point of pride and ego. But I hope that people are at least willing to look at some demonstrated objective evidence, even if it contradicts their personal experience.
Analysis of Audio Cables
How do different cables handle transient spikes?
Pay particular attention to the oscilloscope images (on the "transient spikes" page), and what they represent.
I totally concede that people hear all kinds of things that do not show up on test equipment; and I further concede that there's no way to convince anyone that what they heard was "all in their head", especially because it's a point of pride and ego. But I hope that people are at least willing to look at some demonstrated objective evidence, even if it contradicts their personal experience.
The only difference in cables is in capacitance, and I really don't care because capacitance affects frequencies I don't want in my signal anyway, plus 90% of the time I use a wireless so it's moot. So I buy the cables that look like they'll hold up to moderate road use that are on sale at Sam Ash. Usually they have good deals on Samson cables (figures), and they work just fine until I inevitably lose them. I'd rather save the money and buy something that'll actually be noticeable to people, not dogs and bats.
The only difference in cables is in capacitance, and I really don't care because capacitance affects frequencies I don't want in my signal anyway, plus 90% of the time I use a wireless so it's moot. So I buy the cables that look like they'll hold up to moderate road use that are on sale at Sam Ash. Usually they have good deals on Samson cables (figures), and they work just fine. I'd rather save the money and buy something that'll actually be noticeable to people, not dogs and bats.
You must be playing different kinds of shows than I am.
You haven't lived until you've used strobe lights at a benefit for epileptic dogs.
Pretty much sums up my philosophy as well. I do bass track recordings with studio reference monitors and I have yet to hear any differences between cable brands...
But hey, if a salesman and your ears convince you, it's your money. I would rather save the money for something more practical that has a bigger impact on the sound itself.
I've watched that video several times now, and darned if I keep missing the part where he demonstrates the superior throughput of his cable.Speaking of monster
They have entered the digital market.
Now you can get yourself a good ethernet cable
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
:scowl:
It's superior, and here's proof
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Like a high mass bridge.
Or a 115 cab to go with your 410.
Ok, now I'm just trolling. I'm sorry.
