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Question about speaker cables

#22
Robby Hoinsky said:
Couldn't agree more. Cable has the highest markup of pretty much anything sold, so that should explain some of the marketing hype.
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Cables have the second highest markup. #1 is extended warranties. The exception is our old friend Monster, who won't sell you their already overpriced cable without jacking the price further with an extended warranty. Sure, the warranty is nice if you do trash a cable, but that likelihood is very slight. If it was otherwise they'd lose money on their warranty. The house never loses.
 
#24
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
You could probably make a whole cable with a Speakon connector on each end for less than that.
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Unfortunately, no (this one was made from parts bought separately, it was not a "X" or "Y" brand cable); we have the highest VAT in EU (24%) and that affects all prices; anyway, this was not about how expensive things are around these parts, I only tried to explain why I used that term ;)
 
#27
Anywhere people THINK they can improve their sound, you will find a snake-oil salesman offering the magic beans that will fix everything.

That's why you can find hand-turned hardwood KNOBS for sale on HiFi pages promising to make your stereo sound better...for the bargain price of $100 each.

Cables are the same.
 
#28
I always love threads in which Bill Fitzmaurice and Bob Lee get involved. They are always some of the most informative, and I appreciate both gentlemen sharing their knowledge with us.

I was intrigued by Bill's comment about Monster marketing their cables as "electric bass" when they were found to have to low capacitance. I've seen charts which showed capacitance of various cables, and for a 21' Monster Bass, it had 764 pF or 36.3 pF for "capacitance per foot". Assuming the measurement is correct, how would this capacitance serve for bass? For regular electric guitar?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I've finally started building my own, but I still have several made by Butch at Bayou and a few Monsters of various lengths. Thanks.
 
#29
scootron said:
I was intrigued by Bill's comment about Monster marketing their cables as "electric bass" when they were found to have to low capacitance.
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High capacitance, not low.

Normally you would want minimal capacitance between the conductors of a cable that carries signal.
 
#31
scootron said:
I was intrigued by Bill's comment about Monster marketing their cables as "electric bass" when they were found to have to low capacitance. .
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High capacitance, which acts exactly the same way the capacitor connected to your tone control does. It shorts the highs to ground. But when it occurs in the cable you can't turn it off.
 
#33
theduke1 said:
For the best speaker cable, buy your self a spool of lamp cord, and quality jacks and make your own. Inst. cables are a different thing, but speakers, I've been making my own for years and they never let me down!
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That is exactly what I did, years ago. Well, the cord was heavier gauge stuff I bought at Home Depot, and the ends I bought at Mauser... They've been working perfectly for about 15 years.
 
#34
IllGottenGain said:
Is there as big a difference between brands of speaker cables as there is between instrument cables? I know that seems like a dumb question, but is it worth it to buy a monster or mogami or neutrik cable to connect your cab? I know that a $5 cable won't perform as well, but cables aren't the most exciting thing to drop $60 on. But if there's a huge difference in sound, I suppose it's a necessary evil.
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As I understand, speakon is a good idea at over 1000w simply due to the reduced risk of electrocution.
 
#35
i've never noticed a sound difference in any leads (apart from defective ones obviously)
However, i will always pay more for a 'high end' lead. not for sound quality, but for build quality and reliability.
sure a cheap $20 lead will sound fine, but i've gone through so many of these it's not funny. so about a year ago i dropped $60 on a good lead (can't remember the brand) and this has survived touring / rehearsals / being dropped / survived our jam room flooding (most of the lead including the jacks were submerged in dirty water overnight) and all the various alchohols that have been spilled on it during gigs / jams :)
 
#37
fractiouslowend said:
i've never noticed a sound difference in any leads (apart from defective ones obviously)
However, i will always pay more for a 'high end' lead. not for sound quality, but for build quality and reliability.
sure a cheap $20 lead will sound fine, but i've gone through so many of these it's not funny. so about a year ago i dropped $60 on a good lead (can't remember the brand) and this has survived touring / rehearsals / being dropped / survived our jam room flooding (most of the lead including the jacks were submerged in dirty water overnight) and all the various alchohols that have been spilled on it during gigs / jams :)
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Sounds like you pay more no matter what.
 
#38
Eh.

I roll my own these days and even with 'good' name instrument or speaker cable (and I can't tell the difference in quality from some of the generic bulk cable), it's WAY cheaper and more reliable than Snakeoil (c) Brand cables.

I like Neutrik ends because they feel better to me, but really, worried about the reliability of your cables? Buy extra heat shrink then throw a layer underneath the sleeve of your chosen 'end' piece then throw another layer around the body of the end piece when you're all assembled. I bought a cable like this years ago (like back in 92) that's part of my live rig to this day. Every one I've made like this since has worked without any problems or shorts.

Then again, if you make them yourself, you've got a lifetime warranty and a short trip to the nearest service location. ;)
 

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