XLR cables - good brand?

Allan Black · August 4th, 2010, 11:13 PM

Neil, you can buy better (and cheaper) by just scrolling down that Amazon page.

Scroll down to 'What Do Customers Ultimately Buy' etc.

75% buy the no (recognised) name cable with the no (recognisable) name XLRs and only 6% buy the same length Audio Technica at over two bucks cheaper .. and with Neutrik XLRs too.
Next time :)

To be honest, at 25' I don't think you'd notice any difference from your Senn to AX2000 .. enjoy!
Cheers.

Richard Crowley · August 4th, 2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

On the Switchcraft design,....The Neutrik requires no tools,...

The Switchcraft strain relief is a thin metal type that is crimped over the cable jacket.

I have been using Switchcraft connectors for almost 50 years, and Neutrik since they have become available in North America. If you think that a Switchcraft has any kind of crimped strain relief, then you aren't talking about the kind of Switchcraft XLR-style connectors the rest of us recognize. There are no Switchcraft XLR-style connectors that use anything "crimped".

You are also comparing at least a 40 year old Switchcraft design (which was light-years ahead of the previous, original Canon design) to a modern (Neutrik) design. The Switchcraft design was put into distribution back when the Neutrik designers were still in diapers. Note that the current (new) version of Switchcraft XLR-style connectors use the same design as Neutrik.

Note further that the Switchcraft shells are solid steel while the Neutrik are moulded pot-metal. I have never seen a Switchcraft connector shatter, even when driven over by a semi-truck. OTOH, I have several Neutrik shells that are just shattered because of the (low) quality of the metalurgy.

Les Wilson · August 5th, 2010, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Crowley

...If you think that a Switchcraft has any kind of crimped strain relief, then you aren't talking about the kind of Switchcraft XLR-style connectors the rest of us recognize.

If they aren't Switchcraft, then I stand corrected about the crimping and cheap solder terminals. The attached is from a 5 year old Production Intercom headset that failed after less than 50 insertions. Sure looks like the type of Switchcraft in the market Neil was looking:

Amazon.com: Switchcraft Q-G - Audio connector - 3 pin XLR (M): Electronics

Can you post a picture of a "real" one? I'll open up the other ones in the repair bin I inherited and compare.

Les Wilson · August 5th, 2010, 09:09 AM

From the Switchcraft website:

Andy Tejral · August 5th, 2010, 09:26 AM

I've only used DIY brand!

Both switchcraft and neutrik have different lines of connectors. That switchcraft above could be fake? Looking closer, I don't think it is a switchcraft. Looks vaguely similar but its a knockoff.

For heavy duty use, I prefer switchcraft The housing is really beefy and up to being driven over (probably). On male Neutriks, that little retention tab can break fairly easily--not a deal breaker as by the time it does break, it will also be slightly deformed so there will be a tight connection.

Neutriks are much easy to solder. Switchcraft has their picture under PITA in the dictionary. If you're gonna build a lot of cables, I'd hate to be using switchcraft.

Canare is the gold standard for cable but other shielded quad cables are OK too. For whatever reason, most of 'em are tricky to solder.

Gerry Gallegos · August 5th, 2010, 05:15 PM

I do solder cables for a living (been in AV industry since '92), and I HATE Neutrik connectors, sorry.
give me an A3f or A3m anyday. they consist of 2 major pieces and not 4 (big plus).
The new switchcraft AAA series (I believe) kinda take the best of both worlds and is IMHO the best XLR produced to date. milled solder cups beats the hell out of rolled or stamped sheet metal.

just my 2 cents

Allan Black · August 5th, 2010, 05:21 PM

Kinda O/T but I'll slip this in here for laffs. In the early 60s as an 18yr old I was the first audio wallah at the brand new NBN CH3 TV station in Newcastle north of Sydney.

NBN had bought a complete RCA package, video, audio, right through including the transmitter. But no male XLR connectors arrived, so for about the first 3 weeks on air I used to poke the 3 mic cable strands into the fem. wall panel XLRs .. for every mic at the station.

To keep them in place, each guy in the floor crew carried a box of headless matches to jam a matchstick in with each strand, to go live on air. A loop of cable was tied etc.

It seemed to me the musos in our 12pce house band thought it was normal practice. True story.
Cheers.

Richard Crowley · August 6th, 2010, 12:13 AM

I couldn't find a photo of the innards of an A3F (female as you have), but here is a photo of an A3M and the insides are virtually identical.

http://chesterelectronics.com/images/A3M.jpg

I've been using Switchcraft connectors for almost 50 years and I've never seen a connector like the one in your photo, except as a cheap no-name knock-off. If they used such a cheap connector, I would expect the rest of the apparatus to be equally shoddy. My sympathy to you.

August 4th, 2010, 11:13 PM	#16
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,931	Neil, you can buy better (and cheaper) by just scrolling down that Amazon page. Scroll down to 'What Do Customers Ultimately Buy' etc. 75% buy the no (recognised) name cable with the no (recognisable) name XLRs and only 6% buy the same length Audio Technica at over two bucks cheaper .. and with Neutrik XLRs too. Next time :) To be honest, at 25' I don't think you'd notice any difference from your Senn to AX2000 .. enjoy! Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

August 5th, 2010, 09:09 AM	#19
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	From the Switchcraft website: Attached Thumbnails

August 5th, 2010, 09:26 AM	#20
Andy Tejral Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 523	I've only used DIY brand! Both switchcraft and neutrik have different lines of connectors. That switchcraft above could be fake? Looking closer, I don't think it is a switchcraft. Looks vaguely similar but its a knockoff. For heavy duty use, I prefer switchcraft The housing is really beefy and up to being driven over (probably). On male Neutriks, that little retention tab can break fairly easily--not a deal breaker as by the time it does break, it will also be slightly deformed so there will be a tight connection. Neutriks are much easy to solder. Switchcraft has their picture under PITA in the dictionary. If you're gonna build a lot of cables, I'd hate to be using switchcraft. Canare is the gold standard for cable but other shielded quad cables are OK too. For whatever reason, most of 'em are tricky to solder. __________________ Andy Tejral Railroad Videographer

August 5th, 2010, 05:21 PM	#22
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,931	Kinda O/T but I'll slip this in here for laffs. In the early 60s as an 18yr old I was the first audio wallah at the brand new NBN CH3 TV station in Newcastle north of Sydney. NBN had bought a complete RCA package, video, audio, right through including the transmitter. But no male XLR connectors arrived, so for about the first 3 weeks on air I used to poke the 3 mic cable strands into the fem. wall panel XLRs .. for every mic at the station. To keep them in place, each guy in the floor crew carried a box of headless matches to jam a matchstick in with each strand, to go live on air. A loop of cable was tied etc. It seemed to me the musos in our 12pce house band thought it was normal practice. True story. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

August 5th, 2010, 05:15 PM	#21
Gerry Gallegos Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 262	I do solder cables for a living (been in AV industry since '92), and I HATE Neutrik connectors, sorry. give me an A3f or A3m anyday. they consist of 2 major pieces and not 4 (big plus). The new switchcraft AAA series (I believe) kinda take the best of both worlds and is IMHO the best XLR produced to date. milled solder cups beats the hell out of rolled or stamped sheet metal. just my 2 cents

August 6th, 2010, 12:13 AM	#23
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	I couldn't find a photo of the innards of an A3F (female as you have), but here is a photo of an A3M and the insides are virtually identical. http://chesterelectronics.com/images/A3M.jpg I've been using Switchcraft connectors for almost 50 years and I've never seen a connector like the one in your photo, except as a cheap no-name knock-off. If they used such a cheap connector, I would expect the rest of the apparatus to be equally shoddy. My sympathy to you.