DIY -How to make custom XLR cables

Started by admin, May 12, 2017, 03:25:49 PM

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admin

Ive been spending time A/B testing many DSP MFX units , using my pair of QSC K10.2 active powered speaker cabs
https://www.qsc.com/solutions-products/loudspeakers/portable/powered/portable-pa/k2-series/k102/


During XLR Cable hookup using 25 foot XLR Audio cables, while the QSC K10.2 speakers were powered on, I experienced not all my XLR cables were equal. the higher capacitance XLR cables react like a piezo pickup  - and if attempting to use the XLR cable connected to only the K10.2 Speakers XLR Input  as a jump rope , there will be a distinctive  "thump" audio sound emerging from the connected K10.2 whenever a portion of the XLR cable strikes the ground.  the higher quality cables had fewer audio anomalies, but average and lower quality cables all reacted like a microphone being tapped.

This behavior is minimized after the XLR cable is connected to an active balanced audio driver, but the poor quality XLR cables could still react microphonic. -

Same may occur with poor quality guitar cables connected to a High Impedance Guitar Input.
https://community.element14.com/technologies/test-and-measurement/b/blog/posts/building-and-testing-audio-cables

 
   

HAMERMAN409

Some of that could be tribelectric noise:

https://experience.molex.com/triboelectric-noise-in-medical-cables-and-wires/

Belden 9452 has a cloth layer to reduce the triboelectric effect:
https://www.belden.com/products/cable/audio-cable/digital-audio-cable/9452
Note: I am not suggesting 9452 as MIC cable as it is far too thin for that purpose - it's just the one cable I know of that has the cloth layer. It's great for XLR hard wiring although dealing with the cloth layer does make for more assembly work.

gumtown

I make most of my own XLR mic leads, the cable I use is a reason able quality.
It has a cloth layer between the wire and shield, and string fillers between the twisted pair.
The shield is quite a high density.
Many of my mic cables have been going for 30+ years, with the occasional repairs or re-soldering, making them get a bit shorter all the time.

A few instrument cables I made also using twisted pair mic cable, with one wire tip to tip, the other wire shield to shield, and the shield wire connected one end only.
Very noise free cables if your instrument doesn't mind the slightly lower cable impedance, and they are great to use from modeler to amp or desk.
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Shingles

Quote from: gumtown on December 04, 2021, 03:12:04 AM

A few instrument cables I made also using twisted pair mic cable, with one wire tip to tip, the other wire shield to shield, and the shield wire connected one end only.
Very noise free cables if your instrument doesn't mind the slightly lower cable impedance, and they are great to use from modeler to amp or desk.

👍🏻

...and I mark which end has the shield connected. That end goes to the gear with the best earth e.g. amp, not the guitar; mixer, not the processor...
Nik
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