Is quad xlr worth it for short cable runs?

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Nickpickles

Active member
I need a 5' XLR cable, in this case an angled male and standard female, to connect a Shure FP-24 to my Marantz PMD661. Due to the bag situation I will need an angled male. The HOSA/comparable brands are around $9 for this setup, and stepping up to quad requires a custom cable that will run me $31 shipped.

I was under the impression that quad is important for a line from say, a microphone to a phantom-powered connection, but for short runs connecting equipment is not as necessary.

It it worth 3x the price for this connection?
 
I have never found an advantage to quad cable. Perhaps I have never strung cables in an area of interference of the kind that quad is better at resisting.
 
would you rather drive a corvette or a chevette at 55 mph?.. Hosa cables and connectors are crap for the most part.

you are connecting 2 decent and NOT cheap pieces of kit together, why wouldnt you invest in good cable? it doesnt have to be Canare star quad but Hosa is bottom of the barrel

just my 2 cents

Cheers
 
I don't need HOSA specifically, but something in the $10-15 for 4-5' arena. They have quad 5' for $17 at Amazon but they do not have a right angle male head.
 
The biggest problem with Hosa (or similar brands) is the molded connectors (vs the "re-enterable" metal shell variety). I don't think I have ever seen a molded XLR connector (Hosa or any other brand). The molded connectors somewhat reduce the reliability of the cable (make it more vulnerable to break where the cable enters the molded shell) and make it impossible to repair without simply chopping off the bad end and re-terminating with a new connector.

At the risk of sounding like a heretic around here, I don't subscribe to the knee-jerk "Hosa is always bad" philosophy. Certainly there are "install once and leave it forever" kinds of applications where Hosa performs no worse than any other similar cable. In the application of a mobile equipment bag, durability may be a larger concern if there is lots of shifting around, plugging and un-plugging.

I priced a custom cable of your description at Redco and it came to around $20 (depending on exactly which connectors and cable you select.) Likely by the time you add shipping it will be similar to your $31 estimate.
 
Mr Pickles is talking about a five foot cable he wants to install between 2 items of gear in his bag. So it won't get roughed around,
just plugged in at the start of a gig, then unplugged at the finish.

That's a totally different scenario to longer XLR mic cables that get dragged around the ground, where durability, toughness and better resistance to RF interference are very important.

He wants a 5' cable with a right angle male XLR, the HOSA is the only one I've come across, all the others are female. Both XLRs are metal and can be unscrewed and opened up.

The cable is stamped HOSA but all the majors sell their cables to others in bulk. HOSA probably sub the whole assembly out and there's a lifetime warranty.
His or theirs is undetermined.

Cheers.
 
Please understand that in a bag a cable DOES get roughed around way more than behind in a rack where its not likely to get touched much after the initial install, however using the logic of NOT spending an extra $10 or $20 for a cable that will last 30 times longer and give you more security out in the field, yeah I doubt anyone can hear the difference between the two but when you are hooking up two pieces of gear that combined are worth about $1k why wouldnt you? to save $10 ? realy?

If you strip back a basic NON-Quad quality mic cable either from Canare, Belden, Gotham, Mogami to their conductors, then strip back a Hosa or any of the cheap molded type throw in cables you can SEE the difference and WHY you should invest in a better cable.

If you care enough to buy good audio gear why not spend the extra $10 on a better quality cable,

not doing it is like buying a Porsche then asking them to put the cheapest tire on it that will fit...

Sure a hosa cable works fine in a rack or for a throw-away for a while, but do you want it breaking on you while at a shoot?

just sayin'

Cheers
 
If your can make yo' own cables, Canare star-quad currently goes for about .50 cents a foot, Neutrik connectors about 2.50 each. That said, for balanced line level runs, RF and other noise would likely not be an issue, even if run next to an AC line. (not a good idea though)
Buying good cables may save money in the long run and should last for a 'long time' if not lost or other serious occurrences. Not to mention good cables are much easier/faster to work with.
 
recordingwhiz said:
If you care enough to buy good audio gear why not spend the extra $10 on a better quality cable,
Click to expand...

It's an extra $22, or, one is three times the cost of the other. Usually, $22 isn't a big deal, but when the base unit is $10 or under shipped it begs the question of worth, especially between two line-level devices.

Durability aside (I am more a hobbyist than depending on this for my meal ticket), my main question is still: is quad worth it for such a short run? In terms of blocking outside noise and carrying a clean signal between the two devices?

And Rick: eventually I want to make my own cables but right now I have no space in my apartment. When I move it's in the plans to learn how to solder.
 
IME, there is only an infinitesimal chance that you would see any difference in performance as long as the cable remains undamaged. Get the Hosa. If it breaks, report back to us and the Hosa Haters can gloat.
 
I would consider quad preferable for mic level signals, especially over long runs, but for line level it doesn't have any real advantage (or disadvantage for that matter) over good quality conventional cable.
 
Nickpickles said:
Durability aside (I am more a hobbyist than depending on this for my meal ticket), my main question is still: is quad worth it for such a short run? In terms of blocking outside noise and carrying a clean signal between the two devices?
Click to expand...

NO. In fact for a five foot line level signal unbalanced should be fine 99% of the time.
 
Nickpickles said:
Durability aside (I am more a hobbyist than depending on this for my meal ticket), my main question is still: is quad worth it for such a short run? In terms of blocking outside noise and carrying a clean signal between the two devices?
Click to expand...

In the practical sense you've described, as advised buy that 5 foot HOSA.

Especially if you want a right angle male XLR connector with a straight female, because no other cables with the same connectors are available
at that length and price.

Cheers.
 
Thanks for the feedback and opinions. I picked up the HOSA cables, will report back if they blow up.

The one drawback of the PMD661 is the XLR connections on the bottom of the unit- it really makes it difficult to bag it with the conventional options available. I'm picking up a Petrol bag and velcro'ing it above like I saw on another forum.
 
But, really, learn how to solder! You can do cable construction/maintenance on the corner of a table. This skill will serve you well in so many ways; many electronic failures can be traced to failed or cold solder joints where the electrical or physical solder joint didn't do its job. I've fixed numerous electronic gadgets over the years by just checking the wires and reattaching them!

I can't recall any XLR cable that I have built using quality cable (not necessarily "star quad" or whatever) and Neutrik connectors failing in normal use. YMMV.
 
Richard,

I have some Hosa interconnects and have not experienced any problems. I also have quad and Gotham double reusen layered cables. I bought a bunch of the vintage GAC-3 when Gotham uncovered it. It's gone now, but they make great cable and cable does make a difference.

A lot may have to do with how the gear is used.
I'm reminded of the Sennheiser G3 receiver cables, the mini TRS to XLR. I have a pair and haven't had any problems, but know (personally) that they can fail. These were someone else's kit and I have no way of knowing how the cables may have been handled.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
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