Amphenol Audio Cable - anyone?

[The_Ogre]

Hi everyone,

At the end of the year I finally decided to start acoustically treating my home studio/room, and I think I did a pretty good job due to its size and shape (cubic room, 3 x 3 x 3 meters). So now I've decided to take the next step to make it sounds better and just purchased the IK Multimedia ARC Studio.

I've already been using ARC 3 (inside the DAW only), but I've been looking for a system-wide solution for a while now. Before ARC Studio came out I was planning to grab Sonarworks, but since ARC Studio relies on hardware rather than software it ended up being my choice.

But since they've chosen to use only XLR inputs/outputs instead of XLR/TRS combo jacks, I need to buy four more cables to connect it when it arrives.

My problem, however, is that I live in Brazil and unfortunately I just don't have access to many options, and importing directly can have a big risk of high prices due to our huge import taxes.

Said that, I know there's kind of a consensus that cables don't matter that much when it comes to signal alone, but the quality of their isolation can be an issue. Considering what I can find here to buy already done or to build myself, and also considering that I tend to avoid buying crap stuff (mostly of the time, it ends being money thrown away) these are my initial choices, from cheaper to costlier:
- Monoprice Premier (seems to be a good choice, but read some few stuff about issues with their plugs being too bulky)
- Amphenol Smart Cable S2M and plugs Amphenol
- Mogami 2549 cable and plugs Amphenol

Has anyone heard something about these Amphenol Smart Cable S2M? I like their plugs, a lot, but haven't found much info on those, only this:
Official PDF (with only a few specs)

Any other idea of reliable and somehow affordable option that I can try to find here?

Thanks in advance.

 

[staticV3]

If building cables yourself is an option and you have the required tools, then by far the most affordable option would be to purchase just the required XLR plugs, then solder them onto your existing TRS cables.

 

[kemmler3D]

Any decent XLR cable should work fine. Balanced connections use common mode rejection to resist noise / interference, so you should worry about that less with XLR. As long as the cable itself is well constructed, don't worry about it.

 

[Blumlein 88]

I've used quite a bit of the Monoprice Premier. The cable itself is a bit bulky, and the connectors a little bit. But they work quite well otherwise. I doubt the Amphenol cables would be a problem. Mogami and Amphenol ends is a no brainer if the cost is reasonable.

 

[Count Arthur]

Neutrik and Amphenol both make good quality XLR connectors.

These are all good quality Star Quad cables:

Mogami W2534: https://mogamicable.com/category/bulk/microphone/quad/#gsc.tab=0
Belden 8424: https://www.belden.com/products/cable/audio-cable/analog-audio-cable/8424
Canare L-4E6: https://www.canare.com/analogaudiocable
Van Damme XKE: https://www.van-damme.com/vandamme_...r-grade-classic-xke-starquad-microphone-cable

 

[RayDunzl]

Any other idea of reliable and somehow affordable option that I can try to find here?

Microphone cable will work just fine, and shouldn't be expensive.

Examples

Amazon.com.br : microphone cable xlr

 

[Count Arthur]

I didn't realize you had Amazon in Brazil.

Here you go:

Amazon.com.br : Worlds best cables xlr

Or these:

Amazon.com.br

All good.

 

[The_Ogre]

If building cables yourself is an option and you have the required tools, then by far the most affordable option would be to purchase just the required XLR plugs, then solder them onto your existing TRS cables.

I never built XLR cables, but a cable is a cable, only need to solder. I just don't like to cannibalize pre-made cables, so I'd go at least with some relatively good pre-made cables, or buy Amphenol or Mogami 2549 cables and build them myself using Neutrik/Amphenol connectors.

I've used quite a bit of the Monoprice Premier. The cable itself is a bit bulky, and the connectors a little bit. But they work quite well otherwise. I doubt the Amphenol cables would be a problem. Mogami and Amphenol ends is a no brainer if the cost is reasonable.

Much probably will end going with the Amphenol combo (cable and connectors). The price will not differ that much from the pre-made Monoprice ones, but I'll.have cables with the exact length I need. However, using the Mogamis will up the price for almost twice.

 

[The_Ogre]

I didn't realize you had Amazon in Brazil.

Here you go:

Amazon.com.br : Worlds best cables xlr

Or these:

Amazon.com.br

All good.

The only issue is that these cables are XLR/XLR. There are only a few options of TRS/XLR available, and none from Best Cables (not to mention they're quite expensive).

 

[johny_2000]

Mogami 2549 cable and plugs Amphenol

This would be my choice for this request. Another cable alternative would be the Canare L-2T2S if you can get your hands on it.

 

[Roland68]

Hi everyone,

At the end of the year I finally decided to start acoustically treating my home studio/room, and I think I did a pretty good job due to its size and shape (cubic room, 3 x 3 x 3 meters). So now I've decided to take the next step to make it sounds better and just purchased the IK Multimedia ARC Studio.

I've already been using ARC 3 (inside the DAW only), but I've been looking for a system-wide solution for a while now. Before ARC Studio came out I was planning to grab Sonarworks, but since ARC Studio relies on hardware rather than software it ended up being my choice.

But since they've chosen to use only XLR inputs/outputs instead of XLR/TRS combo jacks, I need to buy four more cables to connect it when it arrives.

My problem, however, is that I live in Brazil and unfortunately I just don't have access to many options, and importing directly can have a big risk of high prices due to our huge import taxes.

Said that, I know there's kind of a consensus that cables don't matter that much when it comes to signal alone, but the quality of their isolation can be an issue. Considering what I can find here to buy already done or to build myself, and also considering that I tend to avoid buying crap stuff (mostly of the time, it ends being money thrown away) these are my initial choices, from cheaper to costlier:
- Monoprice Premier (seems to be a good choice, but read some few stuff about issues with their plugs being too bulky)
- Amphenol Smart Cable S2M and plugs Amphenol
- Mogami 2549 cable and plugs Amphenol

Has anyone heard something about these Amphenol Smart Cable S2M? I like their plugs, a lot, but haven't found much info on those, only this:
Official PDF (with only a few specs)

Any other idea of reliable and somehow affordable option that I can try to find here?

Thanks in advance.

Why don't you buy the XLR cables (white and black plugs) from Cabos & Plugs?
The cable material and construction is good, shielded and should not be inferior to the Mogami. The plugs used are also good and the cables have a good reputation. They are also affordable.
Cabo XLR Macho – Fêmea fio Branco Cobre OFC 100% Conectores Ouro

 

[The_Ogre]

This would be my choice for this request. Another cable alternative would be the Canare L-2T2S if you can get your hands on it.

Yeah! Canare is a brand I know for a while, and their price (at least on the L-2T2S) is almost on pair with the Amphenol M2S, almost half the price of the Mogami 2549. It's a real contender now.

Why don't you buy the XLR cables (white and black plugs) from Cabos & Plugs?
The cable material and construction is good, shielded and should not be inferior to the Mogami. The plugs used are also good and the cables have a good reputation. They are also affordable.
Cabo XLR Macho – Fêmea fio Branco Cobre OFC 100% Conectores Ouro

I never heard of them before, only now, when I started to research about the availability of XLR/TRS, the ones that I'll need for the ARC Studio, cables in our local market. Their price is very attractive, what is interesting indeed, and they having a decent shielding is good enough. But I can't say anything about the quality of the connectors they use, as the price of the whole cable is cheaper than only the Amphenol connectors. But I'll investigate further about them, may be an interesting option.

 

[Sokel]

This would be my choice for this request. Another cable alternative would be the Canare L-2T2S if you can get your hands on it.

+1 for Mogami.
By far the nicest combination,I have even used 10+ meters of this to measure stuff,no problem at all.

 

[Roland68]

I never heard of them before, only now, when I started to research about the availability of XLR/TRS, the ones that I'll need for the ARC Studio, cables in our local market. Their price is very attractive, what is interesting indeed, and they having a decent shielding is good enough. But I can't say anything about the quality of the connectors they use, as the price of the whole cable is cheaper than only the Amphenol connectors. But I'll investigate further about them, may be an interesting option.

I also use the plugs that this company uses, but I make my own cables.
There are hardly any differences in the plug contacts themselves, as the actual plug contact consists of the 3 pins and sleeves inside.
The feel of the XLR plugs comes from the housings, but these have almost no influence.
I once compared the very cheap Chinese plugs with others and since then I only use the expensive plugs for my conscience when using expensive cable material.

 

[The_Ogre]

I also use the plugs that this company uses, but I make my own cables.
There are hardly any differences in the plug contacts themselves, as the actual plug contact consists of the 3 pins and sleeves inside.
The feel of the XLR plugs comes from the housings, but these have almost no influence.
I once compared the very cheap Chinese plugs with others and since then I only use the expensive plugs for my conscience when using expensive cable material.

Interesting. I didn't discover exactly which connectors are those, but they're gold plated (theoretically, a good thing). The thickness of the conductors is OK (24AWG). The only real drawback is that they don't have the sizes I'm looking for: 0.75m (0.50cm is too short, 1.00m is too long) and 3.50m (3.00m is too short, 5.00m is way too long). But I'll consider them, as the price is very convidative.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Interesting. I didn't discover exactly which connectors are those, but they're gold plated (theoretically, a good thing). The thickness of the conductors is OK (24AWG). The only real drawback is that they don't have the sizes I'm looking for: 0.75m (0.50cm is too short, 1.00m is too long) and 3.50m (3.00m is too short, 5.00m is way too long). But I'll consider them, as the price is very convidative.

Well you can combine the XLRs so 1.5 meter which they have plus a 2 meter is 3.5 meters. I don't know about these cables, one good benefit of Mogami or Canare is they are very supple/flexible. You could likely use a 1 meter and put a little loop in it to make it work for the .75 meter. That or get the 1 meter and shorten it yourself.

 

[Speedskater]

I saw this on a HAM radio operators forum:
Since Amphenol bought up several connector mfrs, they seem to be selling the output of these companies under several different Amphenol brands.