Help me choose an XLR cable

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zoom25

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #60 on: 12 Nov 2018, 05:48 pm »
Ok at this point in time here is what we are using

•   Digital balanced cable is a Belden AES 110 ohm digital cable with gold plated pins in the XLR connector.

•   BNC digital cable and connector same as above

•   RCA analog cable is a Canare 75 ohm cable with special make and break ground RCA gold connectors

•   Analog XLR Balanced cable is Van Damme shielded microphone cable with gold plated pins in the XLR connector

•   Speaker cables are made for us in Chicago and is a 4 conductor weaved cable about 9 Gauge and has very low self-inductance.


Hi James,

Thanks for getting some information. Can you specify which Belden model number in particular is being used for the AES? (e.g. 1800F).

sailor

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #61 on: 12 Nov 2018, 08:39 pm »
@ Canadian Maestro:  which Cardas AES are you now using?

@ Randy:  which Triode Labs cable do you recommend and if you are using one, what  cable did it replace?

@paul79:  interesting you suggesting Zenwave Audio and very timely, I have just been reading some very positive reviews. I must assume from your comment that you are using these and would like to know which one it is and what cables it bettered.

Great thanks to all who have given of their time to offer advice.

CanadianMaestro

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James Tanner

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #63 on: 12 Nov 2018, 09:28 pm »
Hi James,

Thanks for getting some information. Can you specify which Belden model number in particular is being used for the AES? (e.g. 1800F).

Hi

Yes it’s the 1800F

James

zoom25

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #64 on: 13 Nov 2018, 10:41 pm »
Thanks for the confirmation, James.

I have been looking at construction details of AES cables from the big professional companies, such as Belden, Mogami, and Gotham.

Mogami's AES cables: http://www.mogamicable.com/category/bulk/dig_interface/aes_ebu/

Mogami uses what they call 100% spiral shield (single Reussen?) around the two conductors and an attached drain wire which is inside the shield along with the conductors.

Belden's 1800F's construction is similar to that of Mogami's (3080, 3173 etc.) with the use of drain wire inside of the shield. However, rather than using a spiral shield, Belden uses a French braid shield.

Gotham GAC-2 AES: https://gothamcables.com/en/gothamcables/digital110ohmaes/10601gac2aes

Double Reussen shield. Two separate spiral shields going in opposite direction and crossing at 90 degrees with the 2 conductors inside of the shield. No drain wire.

Gotham GAC-2 AES Ultra Pro: https://gothamcables.com/en/gothamcables/digital110ohmaes/10666gac2aesultrapro

4 shields in total. Each conductor gets its own copper and aluminum shield. Then all of that is further wrapped in a double Reussen shield.

There is a paper on how the different shielding types performs at different frequencies: https://www.rane.com/note166.html

I'd be interested in hearing from others, as well as James and Bryston team, on how they decide what's the best design (with sound as top priority in mind) for analog XLR use or for digital AES use with the particular frequency range they operate in. If James/Bryston wants to expand on the above posted Rane paper and how Bryston designs their own gear, I'd love to hear more technical related information. Thanks!  :thumb:

avta

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #65 on: 13 Nov 2018, 11:08 pm »
you might find this of interest if you haven’t seen it yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyWt3kANA3Q&feature=share   
If the link doesn’t work it’s Ethan Winer’s Null Test.

CanadianMaestro

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #66 on: 13 Nov 2018, 11:19 pm »
“It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is ... If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong.” ― Richard Feynman

or, in audiophool lingo:

If you don't hear an improvement, don't $pend.

CanadianMaestro

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #67 on: 13 Nov 2018, 11:42 pm »

I'd be interested in hearing from others, as well as James and Bryston team, on how they decide what's the best design (with sound as top priority in mind) for analog XLR use or for digital AES use with the particular frequency range they operate in. :thumb:

Hi zoom,

I listen. If I hear maximum transparency with balanced tonality (nothing shifted one way or another), and my bank acct won't suffer too much, I go for it.

cheers

James Tanner

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #68 on: 30 Nov 2018, 07:25 pm »



twitch54

Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #69 on: 30 Nov 2018, 08:53 pm »


LMAO, sadly there are some audiofools out there that would believe it !

zoom25

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #70 on: 30 Nov 2018, 09:04 pm »
Which one for MQA?

veloceleste

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #71 on: 30 Nov 2018, 09:33 pm »
 :D

CanadianMaestro

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Re: Help me choose an XLR cable
« Reply #72 on: 30 Nov 2018, 09:50 pm »
Dang. where's the cable for CLASSICAL MUSIK, man?!

 :lol: