DIY Mic Leads - Best Value cable?

[peterfitz]

OK, I had my med-large home studio running for a while now and
were & tear is taking its toll on my mike leads the obvious answer
DIY up some new Leads. The question is what is the best compromise
cable? IE Quality vs. price

Points to consider
(1) The studio NEVER makes a profit, it's just a love thing.
(2) One day ONE mic /solo Guitar mic, Next week 12 piece Latin band with brass.
(3) NEVER makes a profit,

PS Should I reuse the XLR connections?

[waitup]

I reckon if you're gonna do it, do it properly. If you cheap out on cable and connectors now, you'll just have to build them again down the track and then it wont be a saving at all. Not to mention all the time you'll save not having to track down cable related faults during sessions!

I like Canare L-2T2S. 6mm diameter, braided shield, feels good.
Neutrik NC3FXX for female XLR, NC3MXX for male.

[Kurt]

On the other hand, I swear by Australian Monitor mic leads. I own about a dozen of them, they get used for about 8 sets a week in a pub doing mostly metal and *core bands. I have only had one fail so far, when a vocalist jumped into the crowd, trailing his mic lead, which promptly got it's end riopped off.

[wez]

Mogami.

[Alistair]

I'm with Wez. I buy Mogami W2549 for mic leads, and 2552 for behind the racks and inside DIY gear.
I use the Neutrik connectors Nick mentioned. I tried the Canare years ago for guitar leads, and could swear I heard a loss of high end so I've never used it since. I'm 100% sure I couldn't tell the difference between Mogami and Canare in a blind test, but old habits die hard.

It's dirt cheap from Redco. I think it's reasonably priced at Factory Sound but it's been a while. I got all red, blue green and yellow too so there are never arguments over whose leads are mine when hiring/sharing gear.

If the XLR connectors are a legit make I would be happy to reuse them, but it's double the amount of soldering.

[Alistair]

I'm with Wez. I buy Mogami W2549 for mic leads, and 2552 for behind the racks and inside DIY gear.
I use the Neutrik connectors Nick mentioned. I tried the Canare years ago for guitar leads, and could swear I heard a loss of high end so I've never used it since. I'm 100% sure I couldn't tell the difference between Mogami and Canare in a blind test, but old habits die hard.

It's dirt cheap from Redco. I think it's reasonably priced at Factory Sound but it's been a while. I got all red, blue green and yellow too so there are never arguments over whose leads are mine when hiring/sharing gear.

If the XLR connectors are a legit make I would be happy to reuse them, but it's double the amount of soldering.

[Barney Loveland]

My theory is do it once and do it properly.

I have mostly canare and some mogami. Mogami is easier to work with if you're doing lots. Canare you need to unbraid. Not fun on 100m+ roll of cable making.

I have been a fan of canare gs-6 for years and tried a mogami cable and thought it sounded slightly better on bass then tried it on guitar and the guitarist said where's all my highs gone? Very unscientific, your milage may vary.

[wez]

the canare braid drives me nuts.

it's pretty robust though for live use... i think we've chatted about the guitar lead thing before barney, but yeah i think for live/guitar lead use the GS-6 is fine.

but mogami 2549 all the way for mic leads/studio use. not available everywhere but no more expensive than anything else. worth ordering in a roll if you have to... you'll always find someone to go halves.

[waitup]

The Canare braid is a bit fiddly but I figure a tight, well covered shield can't hurt!

[ftdrummer]

Eurocable is excellent stuff; durable but supple and easy to manage. $140 shipped from here is a good price:

http://www.lecreme.com.au/collections/c ... e-lk-02n6e

As for XLR connectors, I like the thermoplastic and non-solder Amphenol AC3MCP and AC3FCP.

[andygriffiths]

Hi I use canare cable for my mic leads, but if I'm making leads for live audio I use cliff mic cable. It's great for the money. Then for connectors neutrik all the way. I have also used the kotz install cable for my Patchbay which seemed quite nice as well. If you are after pre made get some cordial cables

[dave01.cooper]

Another +1 for Mogami.
Canare is also good but like the others, can't stand the braided shielding... Sweet jesus I hate unknotting that stuff! Does anyone have a good method to do it? I've found using 2 very small flat head screw drivers does the trick but please let me know if there's an easier way...

Got 150 ft of Mogami 2552 delivered to my door from a guy in the states for $65 last year and he also thru in a couple of neutrik male & female XLR connectors (NC3XXX). And that wasn't a one off as I've noticed a ridiculous amount of cheap looms/spare cabling going cheap & in great condition on eBay recently so keep a look out if you're on a tight budget.

Happy soldering

[Senad]

+1 on Eurocable.
I used to buy Klotz cable from soundcorp and when they stopped getting that in they started selling Eurocable. It is more affordable and pretty much the same quality. Very soft and folds up beautifully. Yeah so Eurocable+Neutrik would be the best value leads out there I reckon.