RRP $110
Looks like a really thick well shielded cable, I've always thought these were stupid at RRP but I've just ordered one hoping it will solve my hiss problem when I run my current XLR cable alongside power.
All in all looks like a good deal, if it is as described.
Free shipping is not available to WA, NT, Far North QLD, TAS or any non-metropolitan or remote location, as determined by DJ City.
There's merit in going above the entry level cheap stuff, so your suggestion sucks but your advice is sound (heh).
These are balanced cables which cancel out noise by design so how can a more expensive cable be better in this case
There are many reasons to get a better cable for microphones etc. Better connectors will last longer and have a more solid connection. Better cable will flex better without breaking strands, be nicer to handle and roll and also last longer. The shielding will also usually be better.
@blade1981: Yup, correct. I've done blind listening tests and when the cheap stuff is done wrong it's audibly worse, both in noise floor and transient performance of the signal at peaks.
It can be minor, but if people are listening to or working with your recordings over and over, it's something they have to deal with that for an extra $5-$20, they really shouldn't need to.
You need only dip into gold plating and the fancy signal protection and carriage when you're dealing with a lot of EMI in your setup.
@jasswolf: I used to do live audio and cheap shit was always cheap shit. Guitar guy always buzzing away, give them a decent cable all gold, singer thinks they have a sick mic and cable that looks pretty but crackles, chuck it aside and use a decent one. I've also done fixed installs and if you terminate properly and keep clear of power the cable isn't as important as live but I would still suggest getting decent stuff from a reputable brand (i.e. not off the role from jaycar or your local electrical wholesaler).
Neutrik connectors are quite nice, worth paying for (great value too). This Monster one has cheap XLR connectors though…
Aren't the signals on these typically analog, so isn't a better quality (not necessarily higher price) worth buying?
I agree that buying monster cable is stupid. But that stuff from amazon is even worse.
I make all my cables and have been for 25+ years.
I've tried
https://www.amazon.com.au/Meter-Balanced-Microphone-NC3MXX-B…
and
https://www.storedj.com.au/uxl-uxl-3-deluxe-mic-cable-3m
And they both produced different results/issues.
I have no idea what the Monster one would be like but I'm expecting extreme quality out of it.
If it resolves my issues I'd say it's not stupid, time will tell though.
And they both produced different results/issues.
What exactly is the issue and what are you hooking up?
The interference you get from mains power cabling is typically a 50Hz hum and not hiss.
The Mogami/Neutrik cable is very similar to the industry standard - Neutrik XX series connectors and Canare L-2T2S or L4E6-S. If you're still having issues with that cable, it's more likely the problem is somewhere else.
I posted a vid of the issue with the WBC cable.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jvs71NztJMs&feature=youtu.be
The hiss only occurs when I use the other cable on top of a power cable (something I need to do), I can make another video of the issue with the UXL cable but I think I'd get in trouble for turning this into a troubleshooting post lol
It's clear that people aren't fans of Monster Cables, so if we manage to help you fix your problem without you spending money on the cable, maybe that's the real bargain. :)
@eug: To update here, the Monster Cable has completely resolved the interference/hiss issue I've been getting with the 3 cables I tried.
That makes it worth it for me, despite the high pricing.
Thanks for all the help with this issue anyway!
@ChrisPro: It might just have the XLR shield disconnected from the cable screen. You can confirm that if you have a look at the wiring inside the plugs. If that's the case, and the WBC cable has the screen connected, you can just cut the link and it should work the same as the Monster cable.
@ChrisPro: I'll be honest that was extremely unexpected.
I was expecting you to report the exact same issues as with the other cables you tried lol. Well I guess you never know until you try.
Also realized now that some mic's have phantom power. Maybe that was the issue, power being sent so closely to the signal wires. And the Monster cable had the exact shielding you needed.
@n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: Phantom power is sent on the same conductors as the audio signal so shielding isn't involved. There's a good chance it's the classic pin 1 problem where the chassis ground is tied to audio ground via pin 1 and the XLR shell.
@eug: Alright thanks for correcting me. I have zero experience with XLR mic's. Only source to amp XLR connections.
Exactly what I was going to say, get neutrik connectors and canare cable and you should be golden, if not the problem is something else.
In all honesty, I would not waste the money on this brand.
You can get Neutrik Gold ends for 10 each. and carnare or mogami cable (4core) for anywhere between $3-6 a meter. it will by far out perform this cable.
Majority of professional stage and studio musicians only ever use handmade cables. There is nothing better on the market in my opinion.
Unbalanced? Just an idea - I usually get Neutrik connectors and some microphone cable per m (Canare, Mogami or even SWAMP).
Soldering is really basic there, if that is out of the question - a big limiting factor. But pre-made cables quite often suck and are not good value. I am sure there is something better than Monster in that professional market as well, with a better value.
i have been using canare starquad and neutrik connectors to make cables since i was in uni. no way i will feed my $ to the stupid monster cable thing. i remember years ago, they were in everything single corner of harvey norman, suggesting a HUGE margain.
suggesting
Your suspicions were right fams
hoping it will solve my hiss problem
If the cable does nothing, you may be experiencing ground loop related issues. If so, I wish you luck because I haven't been able to figure out a full solution (tried trrs, xlr, hum destroyers, dac, and a basic ups).
That reminds me. I had a noise issue and it being an RCA setup cable's couldn't solve it.
Managed to find the cause though, the noise was coming from the switching AC power supply in the Apple TV plugged into a nearby socket.
When I pulled the Apple TV out, the noise went away.
OP might want to try that by unplugging any switch mode AC power supplies they have close by.
They are called 'Monster' because every time a cable was purchased, Gerry would get a monster boner with the amount of profit he made.
I remember a customer purchased 6 cables via flexirent and when Gerry saw the alert on his monitor in the office, he had to be taken to emergency due to the priapism.
It was very embarrassing… What we had to do was put him in his wheelchair and put a large box over his relentless 'monster', before proceeding to load him into a van and driving him into ER.
https://i.ibb.co/hgvktJx/ss.png
Nah sorry fam this one is a no go for me.
This is going to be a cool story bro, but years ago when hunting for a hdmi cable in store (think it was Gerry's) there was a young dude working there and he basically told me "I don't give a shit anymore I'm gonna tell you the truth. All these Monster cables? They are garbage for the price. Don't even (profanity) bother.".
Sad thing is even honest shop assistants weren't enough to stop mainstream consumers from buying their cables and wouldn't you know it they are still around today.
If you don't want to deal with making your own cables with connectors, just buy Mogami dude. Haven't even checked but pretty sure they are cheaper for 3m than this deal, made in Japan (I know doesn't mean much) but 100% reliable. Used to know a pro who used them, told me with gig use they never had one fail.
Edit: Just read your noise issue. You should do some research on it, pretty sure it depends on a particular type of shielding. I have forgotten now. Although I have only heard noise entering the signal with RCA.
Don't just depend on your expectations of "extreme quality" from Monster. You need a particular shielding spec, which should be listed for every cable if the cable manufacturer is for real.
Under the Monster Cable's "Advanced Technologies" it says this.
"Featuring a heavy-gauge Bass Control Conductor, SP2000-M-10 delivers tight, punchy bass as well as incredible dynamics. As well as Patented Time Correct windings that create phase-aligned signal; resulting in the most natural, pristine sonic reproduction. While heavy gauge copper maximizes power delivery and dynamic range."
This is a standard XLR cable explained with fancy words. Every properly made XLR cable achieves this.
Apparently OP already tried that one in their comment above.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/753840#comment-13303939
Thanks for posting the video.
I run a 2m + 20cm cable in my mix. And to my ears, they sound fine.
BTW OP, you mentioned "hiss" not "noise". Noise entering the cable sounds different from a hiss.
I don't know your setup, but one way to eliminate the cable being the issue is to remove the cables from your monitors and then switch them on. If they still hiss that's coming from the amplifiers. Cable isn't the issue.
Worth a try maybe to diagnose if it's just amplifier hiss, or actual noise in the signal.
Sorry I just realised the video you linked is your own video lol. So you are having a problem with the microphone XLR. Sorry I don't know enough about Mic's but try audio forums they should be able to help.
That definitely does not sound like a normal interference problem. Can you unscrew the boot from the connectors of both cables and take a photo of how the wires are soldered to the plugs?
It could be a Pin 1 problem with your mic or interface. What mic is it?
BTW the noise floor with the mic unplugged is incredibly high. Is the gain cranked all the way up?
@eug: The Noise floor without a Mic is just a quirk of the GoXLR, it goes away with a mic connected.
Originally I reached out to WBC about this and they sent me 2 replacement cables to try, both had the same issue.
The UXL cable I used at the start does not have this issue but it has the interference hiss problem I'm hoping to resolve with the monster one.
@ChrisPro: Can you see if pin 1 of both cables are connected to the shell of the XLR plug on either end? Your problem sounds like a ground loop. There are two ways of wiring up cables, it's possible that the World's Best Cables one connects the shell of the XLR plug to pin 1 while the cheap one doesn't. If the Monster Cable one also connects the shell to pin 1, you'll get the same problem.
If that is the cause, the solution is to simply disconnect the link between pin 1 and the shell.
@ChrisPro: "is just a quirk of the GoXLR,"
Honestly that is the craziest looking mixer I have ever seen. But maybe the GoXLR is the problem?
I have heard of other companies brush off minor faults as "quirks".
Most of the live streamers setups I have seen use something dependable like the Yamaha AG03/AG06, so that's what I would go with.
Again I am not big into Mic's so don't know the details. Maybe your GoXLR has a tonne of other functions?
@n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: @ChrisPro, i'd try the Rode AI-1 USB Audio Interface or Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB. It generally eliminates any hiss as it get's converted to digital signal.
Yeah, fair enough. I'm the idiot who did not read in full today.
Running mic-level signal ALONG A/C Power in parallel is never a good practice especially with "powered" Mics. However, the A/C god is fickle. You might get away with it even bundling the cables together. Probably OK if your A/C power is clean, which is unlikely, unless in a controlled environment. Too complicated to explain. Proper earthing would be a start. I have run upwards of 100m along power lines (unavoidable conditions) on Beldon/Canare cables with Neutrik connectors without problem. BTW, Neutrik make no solder XLR connectors.
Try using a pre-amp and send line level or cross mic cables at 90 degrees to A/C for less problem of hums and hisses. Don't fall for the monster cable spin. Good luck.
I only pay full RRP for my Monster Branded cables and always at Harvey Norman. The year is 1997.
Try wireless?
Don't skimp on the price.
I use nux for my guitars.
I remember having issues 30 years ago between my effects unit and a peavey amp. I got rid of both and started using boss pedals, an Ibanez tube screamer and a Marshall jcm800 amp, plus wireless. Problem solved.
If this is like those jumper cables from cheapie shops then the copper and shielding are 'normal' but the outer PVC jacket is really thick, so you think you're getting a premium product when you're not.
The OP buying a replacement cable (at this price!!) to solve a hiss problem indicated they don't know all the other many causes of analogue signal noise and their solutions. This isn't it.
Get something like this:
https://www.musiclab.com.au/hosa-xrl-115
Monster cables have always been over the top pricing wise, even since car audio.
As others have said the expensive ones may only be a bit more durable or nicer to use if plugging and unplugging stuff every day. A small run like 3m it wouldn't make any difference to sound either.
Audiophiles can go nuts over interconnects, but are willing to spend excessively.
$16.99 with zero difference beyond the brand markup:
https://www.amazon.com.au/CableCreation-Female-Microphone-Ba…
Buying Monster cables is stupid.