Ricardus
Addicted to Fun and Learning
This is just demonstrably false.
To build a 10 ft Canare Star Quad cable buying materials from Markertek it would cost $12.30.
Current blue Jeans price $40.75 .
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What type of cables for Neutrik XLR connectors?
- Thread starter DanielT
- Start date
To build a 10 ft Canare Star Quad cable buying materials from Markertek it would cost $12.30.
Current blue Jeans price $40.75 .
MRC01
Major Contributor
Your example doesn't disprove my statement. I said it cost the same as what it would cost me.
Sourcing from Mouser, in my case the 4-pin xlr connector alone cost about $10, then adding in the mini-xlrs for the headphones and the cable, then shipping & tax, my total cost for parts was over $50 to build it myself, which is what Blue Jeans charged me for the custom cable.
Of course the difference may vary for you depending on what you are building, what parts you use and where you source them. That's why I did not generalize.
OP
DanielT
Major Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #23
Do you agree with this regarding making your own XLR cables vs buying ready-made:
Pros: Having the flexibility to choose lengths to suit one's solution/system
Cons: It takes time to fix them.
One should think that soldering is is a contemplative task. For example (as I will do) soldering twelve contacts with three pins each takes time, if you want to do it in a good, neat way (good soldering). Just watch any Youtube video where it is soldered with XLR cables. It takes its time.
Another advantage, home-cooked food is best. It should be the same with cables. Not that it sounds better or worse, but more the psychological positive feeling of fixing it yourself.
The price of making cables yourself vs. buying ready-made cables seems to be negligible.
Pros: Having the flexibility to choose lengths to suit one's solution/system
Cons: It takes time to fix them.
One should think that soldering is is a contemplative task. For example (as I will do) soldering twelve contacts with three pins each takes time, if you want to do it in a good, neat way (good soldering). Just watch any Youtube video where it is soldered with XLR cables. It takes its time.
Another advantage, home-cooked food is best. It should be the same with cables. Not that it sounds better or worse, but more the psychological positive feeling of fixing it yourself.
The price of making cables yourself vs. buying ready-made cables seems to be negligible.
thecheapseats
Addicted to Fun and Learning
for just one pair of xlr cables every couple of years (2 wires to 2 male xlrs and 2 female xlrs) - yes - possibly negligible...
learning how to terminate cables (and solder properly) is a useful skill, and xlrs are just so damn easy to make/repair - unlike rca, trrs, trs (of any size), ts, bnc, etc... however, some don't want to be bothered with it...
but making your own can be dramatically cheaper depending on price-sourcing of quality cable (mogami, gotham, canare, belden) and quality connectors in the country where you live... neutrik or switchcraft xlrs only (avoid any no-name xlr connector always)...
however from this link,;
https://www.amazon.com/50-Foot-Balanced-Microphone-Neutrik/dp/B08YQX5YWN/
at that price with name brand materials, it's almost hard to recommend soldering one yourself - it's a no brainer selection... various lengths - quad as well...
OP
DanielT
Major Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #25
Great tips from all of you! Thanks for them.Don't select unknown stuff like this. Pick a good cable supplier. I've not used Canare and haven't used Belden recently, but I've been pleased with Mogami 2549.
MOGAMI® - High Quality Balanced Microphone Cables
Mogami Bulk High Quality Balanced Bulk Cables are recommended when extended high frequencies are important or where long cable runs may be needed.mogamicable.com
I have spoken to an electronics store in Gothenburg (Tema Elektronik), from which I previously bought some coils and capacitors. They have suitable blanched/
shielded cables, at the price of $13 per meter (3.28 ft). BUT I don't know how they compare in quality compared to the suggestions above. In any case, I will pass by Gothenburg in a week or so, I will try to buy a few meters to test anyway.
The more I think about it the better it gets. Nice to be able to fix custom lengths. Two long cables and I can throw my ugly PA amp (which drives my bass boxes) into some cabinet so I don't have to see it, for example. That without a lot of extra signal cable that is then left over that is not needed then (that is if I had bought ready-made cables).
It may be a tip for the rest of you, check with your local electronics store. They may have what you are looking for (without you even thinking about it).
thecheapseats
Addicted to Fun and Learning
before you buy any bulk interconnect cable from any retail outlet - be warned - there's a reason you keep seeing people recommend the same brand names over and over again (mogami, gotham, belden, canare) - they are known quality, perform great and are not stupid expensive...Great tips from all of you! Thanks for them.
I have spoken to an electronics store in Gothenburg (Tema Elektronik), from which I previously bought some coils and capacitors. They have suitable blanched/
shielded cables, at the price of $13 per meter (3.28 ft). BUT I don't know how they compare in quality compared to the suggestions above. In any case, I will pass by Gothenburg in a week or so, I will try to buy a few meters to test anyway.
The more I think about it the better it gets. Nice to be able to fix custom lengths. Two long cables and I can throw my ugly PA amp (which drives my bass boxes) into some cabinet so I don't have to see it, for example. That without a lot of extra signal cable that is then left over that is not needed then (that is if I had bought ready-made cables).
It may be a tip for the rest of you, check with your local electronics store. They may have what you are looking for (without you even thinking about it).
View attachment 280373
one thing to consider 'when/if' you try to solder a lesser cable - they tend to fight you when working with it... lousy insulation and outer cable sheath that doesn't prep/strip clean - insulation that can't handle solder heat - funky aluminum core strands with very little copper-clad - and some simply 'smell' like hell... they can be a real mess...
a quality cable is a pleasure to work with and terminate - it strips cleanly - doesn't fight you - tinning a wire doesn't make it's insulation run away - and it doesn't smell like a chemical spill when soldered or applying heat-shrink... it's a joy to work with... you've been warned...
thecheapseats
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I learned (or rather had to learn) how to make my own cables when I started out because I was absurdly poor... as well, for most of the audio equipment I was integrating at that time - there simply were not ready made cables available or sold at retail...You have a point and you (or me) have to be careful not to let miserliness deceives wisdom.
thecheapseats
Addicted to Fun and Learning
amphenol as well - quality connectors with a long history of mfg excellence... physical tolerances in fit and finish for operation (where it counts) are not in the head shell itself, but at the individual mating pins...
Yes, I meant the pins not the shroud.
Performance Audio is another possible source to consider: Custom Cables 3-Pin XLR-XLR Microphone Cable Made from Canare L-4E6S & Neutrik Connectors
6 ft all kitted out and built (cable, color ring, boot, etc) came to just over $21 each, a bit more with shipping. Took about a week, they seem nicely built.
6 ft all kitted out and built (cable, color ring, boot, etc) came to just over $21 each, a bit more with shipping. Took about a week, they seem nicely built.
