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Re: Microphone cabling

Subject: Re: Microphone cabling
From: "Max Catterwell" oatcruncher
Date: Mon Sep 8, 2008 1:43 pm ((PDT))
Hi Kim!
Thanks for filling in this piece of the jigsaw.
The snip that followed I liked VERY much!
Unfortunately neither of your TinyUrl links worked for me (below and 
'speaking of stereo'.

I had no idea when I asked my original question, how complex it was! 
Thanks again to all who took part.
Cheers
Max


Kim Cascone wrote:
>> Me again;
>> This seems to imply that ANY three wire cable will automatically, via
>> the anti-phase component, cancel any electrical noise. Is it that the
>> 'common mode noise rejection' is not incorporated in all equipment, or
>> is there another explanation?
>>     
> all *balanced* inputs (meaning the actual opamp or amp circuit  
> itself) will have a 'common mode noise rejection' specification
> most of the CMNR specs on good opamps (THAT 1512 etc) today are so  
> good one doesn't really have to bother knowing them -- unless you are  
> a spec junkie
>
> hence a properly built microphone cable using good shielding and well  
> grounded gear will assure that most EM or RF hitting the cable will  
> be nulled at the balanced amp
> like others pointed out: Mogami, Canare or Belden are good choices
>
> I also uploaded a pdf to the server with info about Canare Star Quad  
> cables 'starquadCableInfo.pdf'
> I use a pair of 5ft Star Quads that I bought years ago for  
> interconnecting in my studio
> so I put them to work after finding them at the bottom of a box in my  
> studio closet
>
> but stay clear of the audiophile high-end cables that are  
> cryogenically dipped or blessed by pygmy holy men in Jakarta -- like  
> someone stated previously: cables are the biggest scam in audio
> see quad hanger wire vs. Monster cable test:
> http://tinyurl.com/5eqtnw
>
> <snip>
>   
>> We gathered up a 5 of our audio buddies. We took my "old" Martin  
>> Logan SL-3 (not a bad speaker for accurate noise making) and hooked  
>> them up with Monster 1000 speaker cables (decent cables according  
>> to the audio press). We also rigged up 14 gauge, oxygen free Belden  
>> stranded copper wire with a simple PVC jacket. Both were 2 meters  
>> long. They were connected to an ABX switch box allowing blind fold  
>> testing. Volume levels were set at 75 Db at 1000K Hz. A high  
>> quality recording of smooth, trio, easy listening jazz was played  
>> (Piano, drums, bass). None of us had heard this group or CD before,  
>> therefore eliminating biases. The music was played. Of the 5 blind  
>> folded, only 2 guessed correctly which was the monster cable. (I  
>> was not one of them). This was done 7 times in a row! Keeping us  
>> blind folded, my brother switched out the Belden wire (are you  
>> ready for this) with simple coat hanger wire! Unknown to me and our  
>> 12 audiophile buddies, prior to the ABX blind test, he took apart  
>> four coat hangers, reconnectd them and twisted them into a pair of  
>> speaker cables. Connections were soldered. He stashed them in a  
>> closet within the testing room so we were not privy to what he was  
>> up to. This made for a pair of 2 meter cables, the exact length of  
>> the other wires. The test was conducted. After 5 tests, none could  
>> determine which was the Monster 1000 cable or the coat hanger wire.  
>> Further, when music was played through the coat hanger wire, we  
>> were asked if what we heard sounded good to us. All agreed that  
>> what was heard sounded excellent, however, when A-B tests occured,  
>> it was impossible to determine which sounded best the majority of  
>> the time and which wire was in use. Needless to say, after the  
>> blind folds came off and we saw what my brother did, we learned he  
>> was right...most of what manufactures have to say about their  
>> products is pure hype. It seems the more they charge, the more  
>> hyped it is.
>>     
>
> </snip>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a 
> sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>   



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