| Author | Message | ||
| frank_orlando
Member Username: frank_orlando Post Number: 67 Registered: 8-2002 |
I read this on another forum. Any comments on this information? Maybe my hearing is going from too many 1000 watt nights but I don't hear things like roll-offs of the highs when I switch from a 12 foot Monster to a 21 footer. I do believe the part about keeping loses down by minimizing the length of all cables. Is all of this stuff on the money? Are Monster Cables "inconsistant"? Here's his post... Purchase the best quality cables you can afford. Period. This is what separates people with OK tone from people with BIG, FULL TONE. It's gonna cost some $$$. But in the long run it will be worth it. Many of the premium cables are quite heavy duty and will last you a long time. (BTW - just cause the packaging reads 'Premium Guitar Cable' does not mean so. You will have to look a little further than the sales/marketing B.S.) AND YES, I HAVE A/B'ed MANY CABLES AND I WAS AMAZED AT THE SONIC DIFFERENCES!!! Recommendations/Observations: 1) Monster Cable is very inconsistent. 2) I highly recommend using Canare 4s8 or 4s11 for your speaker cables. You will be amazed at how much of your tone is destroyed when using poor quality speaker cable. (NOTE: Never use an instrument cable in place of a speaker cable) I use 4s11. Wow. I also liked the 4s8. The low frequencies were very 'tight', no boomy-ness. 3) For instrument cables, use high quality shielded cable. I'd recommend Pete Cornish, Evidence, Canare just to name a few. These cables allow more of the 'tone' of the instrument to flow through rather than choking/filtering out certain frequencies. Make sure they have good quality plugs as well. YES, EVEN THE DAMN PLUGS AFFECT THE SOUND!!! 4) Also, always allow the cable to be played for at least a minimum of 10 hours (actually I think the dielectric takes about 40 hours or so) before judging it's sound. This is because the dielectric is being formed. Believe it or not, I swear this is true. Your cable will sound different after 40 hours of playing. You do not hear over the course of playing it as your ear adjusts moment by moment. I use a delay pedal to send signal through the cable overnight to 'burn them in'. Most premium cables are burned in already. If you're making your own from bulk stock - BURN THEM IN!!! 5) Keep the signal path as short as possible. Period. Longer cables destroy your tone. I can start to hear the high frequency rolloff around 8-10 feet. If you need to run long lines (20 feet or longer), USE A BUFFER. You can build your own or you can buy one. I'd recommend a buffer made by Pete Cornish, Axess Electronics or Skrydstrup R&D. They are the most musical. If you're building your own, I'd recommend using a TL072 opamp or other low noise, musical equivalent. (NOTE: When you use a buffer for the first time you will think it is adding high end frequencies to your sound. It isn't. It is revealing those high frequencies that your long cables OR non-buffered cables were rolling off. However, be careful when selecting opamps for your buffer as some do add high freqs.) 6) Rack wiring - most people like to use Mogami 2524. It's good cable. But compared to Evidence Lyric it sounds 'squashed'. Low frequenices sound boomy. I'd recommend buying bulk Evidence cable. By the way, those of you reading this thinking I'm off my rocker should go try it and listen for yourself. This is one of those trade secrets/pieces of higher knowledge that the pro's and their techs are aware of and the general bunch of us are not. | ||
| hb3
Junior Username: hb3 Post Number: 24 Registered: 2-2005 |
bloody hell...I was checking these out, and none of these are the $3000, two meter cable I played at a guitar shop in los angeles...can anyone offer any suggestions as to what the brand of the $3000 guitar cable might have been? | ||
| matthew90046
New Username: matthew90046 Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2005 |
I agree with most of that post. I use a very simple and compact system, but I don’t sacrifice a single element. I build all my own cables using Canare wire with Switchcraft connectors. My speaker cable is banana with wire used by audiophiles for their fifty thousand dollar home stereos. It costs $10 per foot, but I only needed three. You should look at it like a race car. You want to get every little bit you can out of it. You’ll get 2 or 3 HP here and there by adding little modifications. Before you know it you’ve added another 15% of power. | ||
| dean_m
Advanced Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 384 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Hugh, If I'm not mistaken, the $3000 cable had to have been a Tara Labs. Only Tara could do something that outrageous!!!! Peace, Dino | ||
| hb3
Junior Username: hb3 Post Number: 25 Registered: 2-2005 |
is the general consensus tara labs blows? if I recall, I did an A/B with the $3000 cable, a $100 or so cable, and the typical cheapo $20 cable. I couldn't tell the difference between the $100 and $3000 cables, but both sounded better than the cheapo. | ||
| dean_m
Advanced Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 385 Registered: 7-2002 |
I used Tara Labs exclusively for the longest time. Their middle of the road cable was about $150 and is a great cable. $3000 for a cable I think is a bit ridiculous though! Tara is well known for their home audio cables and custom install stuff and it's nothing for folks to spend thousands of dollars to wire their houses with it. My biggest problem is not getting any kind of support from them when I'm on the road. They do offer a lifetime warranty but when I have an issue, I have to send the cable back to them on my dime from wherever I am and then I don't see it again until I get back home. The reason I like Monster is wherever I am, if I have a problem, I can replace it at ANY Monster dealer. Tara makes great cables and I do recommend them. I just like the convenience of Monster Cables. Peace, Dino | ||
| frank_orlando
Member Username: frank_orlando Post Number: 68 Registered: 8-2002 |
Dino, I use Monster as well. I have several and don't see any inconsistancy. They all seem to work well. I am using the Bass series. Have you experienced any problems worth mentioning? Anyone? Frank | ||
| flaxattack
Advanced Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 397 Registered: 4-2004 |
i use the monster bass cables too and have found no issues. use 12 ft- one into my pod and one out to the amp | ||
| dean_m
Advanced Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 386 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Frank, No I really haven't found any problems or inconsistancies in them. In fact just the opposite. I love the Pro Bass but I really like the Studio 1000s These are awesome cables but a little too thick and heavy for live performance for my taste. I'm told they do loosen up after time. The only problem I have ever heard about them was that the tips sometimes work their way off and can get lodged in a jack. I've never had this happen or know anyone that has, this was just told to me by a dealer that was anti-Monster so it could just be hearsay. Peace, Dino |
