XLR cables for a reasonable price?


I've seen lots of threads where it is stated that balanced components are "insensitive" to cables.  Does this mean that spending a lot of money on XLR cables is probably unnecessary, as it offers no sonic benefit over cheaper XLR cables?

I would like some recommendations on reasonably priced XLR cables that give excellent sonic performance.  Thanks for your replies.

hifinut51

My only point here is that if they don't support the standard, the cable will be a veil.

Yes, we can agree that it seems that's your only point. I'm not sure that I agree with the premise that the cables in my mostly-ARC system represent a "veil" on the sound, but I understand that you're absolutely certain that they do. After all, they do not employ your patented Balanced Differential Design® circuit.

 

 

@j-wall Wrote:

@atmasphere hey Ralph, why don’t we have a balanced speaker cable yet? Is this possible?

I don’t think it’s possible. With that said, active balanced speaker crossovers are possible. 😎

Mike

I have been involved with standards and know many people who have been on standards committees for most of my career… most are information technology in the high technology industry… including working with lots of electrical engineers developing high end DACs and other components of the subcomponents in the stuff we audiophiles use. They, by their very nature have compromises. There are always factions trying to optimize for their application. The niche groups generally do not drive the standard. There is always a better way to do something in a specific situation. A proprietary one… there are big costs to do this. The best thing to do is operate within the parts of the standard that nets you the greatest performance, don’t where it doesn’t matter. 
 

Standards serve an important function, to allow a multitude of vendors to build or write code to a common interface. Hence allowing guaranteed interconnectivity. And not to in have everyone redevelop a standard communication spec and connection each time. This is a huge amount of work. 

However, given different applications a developer can choose to follow every aspect or not. If they don’t and it is a high end designer (a competent one) they will do it for a reason. Afterall, they are going for the best possible sound and that will only happen by connecting to other components.

Yes, we can agree that it seems that's your only point. I'm not sure that I agree with the premise that the cables in my mostly-ARC system represent a "veil" on the sound

+1

Some have called me a 'cable denier' on this account. The easy way to tell if the cable is coloring things is to compare to another cable. If you hear a difference=yes, if no difference=no. Sometimes you hear tradeoffs- that's a difference.

@ditusa +1

@twoleftears +1

@ghdprentice +1

I have recently bought many pro audio XLR cables Mogami 2549, Mogami 3173, Canare L-4E6S, Gotham GAC 4/1 Ultra Pro and Belden 1800f. I believe that there are no absolutes in Audio. What works in one system or between two components will have different outcomes. You have to try for yourself in your system. With that being said these are all excellent interconnects for the price and they do have different tonal balance, dynamics, soundstaging etc. I settled on Blue Jeans Belden 1800f between Pre and Amp and Mogami 2549 between Dac and Pre.I just inserted Cardas Clear Reflection and I have to say they create a very dense sonic picture. What you prefer is up to your ears.