When coiling an XLR, is it better to leave the ends hanging, or plugged into each other to complete a circular loop. Headphone jacks as well in a breakaway cable?

Thanks.

Really doesn't matter. The only thing recommended is to wrap up the cables in an under/over way!

Really doesn't matter. The only thing recommended is to wrap up the cables in an under/over way!

What does this mean exactly. Thank you.

I seen this question coming though hoped it wouldn't ;-) Because it's easy to show how to do it but hard to explain. Darn.

I'll try: The usual way folks are rolling up (wrapping) cables is by doing just that, rolling it up, one loop after the other. What this does though is induce some 'funky' memory into the cable so it will never stretch out flat if put on the floor. There will always be 'waves' or whatever one should call that.
Try the following: roll up your cable the 'usual' way, put the 'ring' down on the floor, take one ending and walk away with it. Look what's going to happen.

Here's the other way, called over/under: You start making the first cable loop as always, but the next one is done in 'reverse', that is....hold on, I'll try to find some on youtube....gimme a minute !

Well, there are a few videos to the rescue; start with this one: YouTube - Over Under (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BdHxygbYWk&feature=related) and you'll get the idea!

Done once right, you'll never do it the other way. Your cables will say thank you, your cable wraps will not be unruly any more and also take up less space and i.e. if you try now walking away with one end you'll see how easy the cable will follow you and also how nicely it'll hug the floor. No more accidents here.

If a coil's tie ends up close to the XLR's i leave 'em alone but if a tie leaves gangly dangling ends then i connect the XLR's to hold the coil tight and neat.

Wow, there's a science to everything. Thanks. Now, can you show me an easy way to do color correction? :)

It's too risky to leave them plugged in together. If a small amount of audio signal gets trapped inside it'll go round and round, gaining momentum, until the cable explodes.

The voices told me so.

is it obsessive to say that i even over-under the garden hose at my house?

OOOO-Kay, let's get serious, we have been joshing you because it couldn't really matter. I tend to hook the xlr cable ends together because (1) I think it keeps the plugs and jacks from possibly getting damaged as I carry them in my gear bag and (2) I am a neat freak and like things tidy. It couldn't possibly hurt. Probably doesn't help. /B. Vaughan

lol, thanks for being honest. I figured it was a stupid question, but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a "don't cross the streams" idea behind it.

Hehehe...

Yep, we're all just kidding. The voices told me to knock it off...

BTW, some guys will plug in the ends of their stingers (extension cords) to help protect the prongs from getting mashed and bent.

i avoid to keep plugs plugged when unnecessary, because most plugs/socket rely on some spring effect. The pin of the male plug is usually pinched by some contact in the socket.
if you leave the plug into the socket, the spring effect could weaken and the pin start to "float" into the contact.
additionally different metal or humidity/dust can be trapped into the contact and lead to some oxydation process.