HIGH END CABLE DEBATE.

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zzzsleepzzz

zzzsleepzzz

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I know there is a long "cable thread" around here somewhere that talks about many different brands, but it doesn't mention a few I've been checking out. I've come down to these three to wire my entire rack with:

1. VDH
2. VOVOXX
3. EVIDENCE AUDIO

I think after talking with Mark at LavaCable I've ruled out the evidence audio for sure and although he suggests the VDH I've read some seperate reviews that really found the vovoxx more favorable. Anyone on here using/have used either vovoxx or VDH? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

-Justin

PS I understand that there is really no "one answer" and that tone is what it is to a persons ears, but i really respect the opinions of all on the forum here. So far I've bought some awesome gear from suggestions on here!
 
I have tried out a lot of cables and I know everybody has a different opinion. I stopped my investigations after receiving my vovox cables (instrument cable and cable from amp to cab). They improved low end and highs as well as clarity so much.

Stefan
 
All my interconnect cables are George L's and the instrument and speaker are Evidence Lyrics and Siren. The Evidence replaced Monster Studio Pro 1000.
 
I use Vovox speaker cables (two 2m cables for cabs and one 1m cable for HotPlate when required) and I am not going back to anything else. One should note that they are directional, and thus if applied incorrectly the end result is not that amazing as it is when applied correctly.

I think that i.e. Vovox is an overkill for inter-rack routing, etc. but for guitar and/or speakercable it is almost unbeatable. However, some cables may have some more preferable frequency responces or other qualities that might feed someones appetite more. In other words, Vovox is clean, pure, full-spectrum and physically stiff whereas i.e. Spectraflex is more mid-boosted, "darker-sounding" and physically rather flexible.

My friend strongly argues that there is no difference between very good cables and this high-end metaphysically-oriented design crap. How ever, I strongly dissagree with him and thus have challenged him to gather and produce few cables (esp. speaker cables) so that we will have a comparison in somewhere more or less near future. Still, at least so far, my opinion will be that the Vovox speaker cable will sound the best. Not necessarily in terms of musicality, but purity (depending on the other equipment used).

I apologize for my long boring post. :)
 
Booteek cables are a way to overhaul your wallet! Planet waves are affordable and work just fine. :rock:
 
For speaker cables I use the Van Den Hul Inspiration hybrid, the best period. The bass is strong, tight, clear/clear all around actually. The mids are where they should be, not overly excessive or scooped, the high are the same way. You'll have to turn the bass down a little bit MAYBE, I did, I had it about 1 o'clock before and turned it down slightly to 12:30 and my deep was at 1 also it's at noon.

As far as the rest I'm still using my Evidence Audio HG, and I doubt I will change it because I'm happy with it.
 
jelyfinger":ac62f said:
Booteek cables are a way to overhaul your wallet! :rock:
Click to expand...

I agree. I currently use Klotz (mainly because they have a great price/quality ratio over here) and have several other similar cables. They're obviously an improvement over crap cables but I can't hear a difference in tone, at least not with the lengths I use (about 4-5 meters). The differences lie mainly in durability, handling noise and how badly they tend to twist together when you move around.

I also really love how the high end cable companies claim all kinds of stuff but can't back it up with any data or refer to things that only matter at megahertz frequencies. While the boutique cables are most likely good, I just can't see that there can be any real improvement over affordable but high quality stuff.
 
I've never really seen the point of spending lot's of cash on High End Oxy free cables on Guitar rigs. Maybe with a PA system but not with a guitar rig. The reason being for this is that you really won't hear any differance between expensive cables or Rapco cables unless you have really long cable runs where the resistance of the really long cable will alter your input impedance and cause signal degradation.

Blowing a lot of cash on expensive cables and interconnects should be restricted to the realm of Hi-Fi audiophools.
 
Why have you ruled out the Evidence Audio stuff?

I bought my evidence stuff from mark but he didn't mention anything..
 
I'm having this dilemma myself right now on whether or not to go ultra high end with cabling for my new VH4 and Axe-FX rig that's on the way or just stick with the typical stuff you can get in stores like Planet Waves, Monster, Mogami etc.

I'd sorta like to be able to test this stuff for real in person before I decide dropping $500+ on cabling is a good idea. I mean John Petrucci wired that whole crazy 3X Road King 2X Lonestar rig he had a couple tours ago with Planet Waves, and I doubt he'd have done that if he thought there was something out there that was that much better you know?

Anyone know of places where you can actually test high end cables like Evidence, Vovoxx, VDH etc? Are there pages with sound clips that actually show a discernible difference? I'm not at all into the "audiophile" philosophy where people use vague/made-up terminology like "it totally increases the harmonic definition!" and stuff like that to describe what's probably just the placebo effect.

Thoughts?

Ryan
 
It's a lengthy topic for me, I could go on and on about it.
I never achieve the same sound as Guitar -> Highend Cable -> Amp.

Then the decision is
-signal change/degradation by using a buffer
-signal change/degradation by using long cables and true bypass FX

Today I do like this: Vovox, using a 6m cable from guitar to the first buffered element in my chain. Depending on amp/guitar this is either a Radial PB-1 or a Xotic RC booster.

After the signal is boosted/buffered, I care a bit less. Planet waves does fine there. However no more George Ls in front of my amp as they do change even a buffered signal, adding a kind of brightness I don't dig.

It would be great if amp manufacturers would offer a solution for this, kind of a pre-amplifier loop, tube buffered as well as 9V power from the amp ... switchable ... just letting the creativity flow here ...
 
I have thought this before. It would be cool to have a other loop for the front of the amp that is tube buffered.
 
stephen sawall":e7bd6 said:
I have thought this before. It would be cool to have a other loop for the front of the amp that is tube buffered.
Click to expand...


... and remote switchable please, otherwise it's making less sense to have that loop on amp side and not floor board.
 
The most sensitive part is getting the signal from the guitar's pickup to the amp, therefore I worry far more about the guitar to amp cable than any rack or speaker part that's been buffered by the amp. This is due to the impedance and small voltage of a guitar with non-active pickups. I'd therefore rather spend a load on one decent guitar cable, then use cheapy stuff between the amp and FX etc, than to use lower priced quality stuff for ALL my cabling. The reality of what I ended up doing was I just bought a load of neutrik jacks and a reel of Van Damme instrument cable, because was just the most expensive cable RS happened to sell (about £90 a reel). I think abby road studios use Van Damme though so it can't be bad! It's better than all the regular stuff at my local guitar store, and I figured more specialist cable than that would just cost too much. The way cable works too is that you have a certain capacitance per metre or foot. The total capacitance is related to length as well as actual cable quality. Therefore I'm just as well off with a 7m Van damme cable than any silly-money-super-duper-£3k/ft. 10m cable, as keeping my leads as short as possible will probably have a greater effect!

Are you using a pedalboard? I currently run to a pedalboard, then via another lead from pedalboard to the amp. I notice my sound isn't nearly as crisp and clear then, as if I just go straight to the amp (well, obviously, because it goes down twice as much cable so instantly there's twice the capacitance!). I was thinking of getting one of those VHT valvulator I's. I have all true-bypass pedals, but I figure if I can tube buffer my cable at the pedalboard, and use a decent quality cable to the pedals, then it'll be better than using 2 stupidly high quality long leads and no buffer (and possibly cheaper!), because it'll be like going straight into an amp front end! Has anyone tried one? Any thoughts?

I'll have to run guitar -> cable -> wah -> fuzz (cuz it's vintage style germanium, so before buffer) -> VHT valvulator -> other true bypass pedals -> cable -> amp
 
hunter":ba339 said:
stephen sawall":ba339 said:
I have thought this before. It would be cool to have a other loop for the front of the amp that is tube buffered.
Click to expand...


... and remote switchable please, otherwise it's making less sense to have that loop on amp side and not floor board.
Click to expand...

That's a VH-4 insert isn't it? Just a shame you need 4 of each pedal if you want to use it on all channels, and the Herbert doesn't have one!
 
stephen sawall":3443d said:
That is it. Ever check this out? I always use two or more amps live. This has two loops in front. I know it's more junk to haul not less. http://www.soundsculpture.com/products/headtrip.htm
Click to expand...

This is awesome. I have a headbone myself to switch between Shiva and Einstein, but it sucks, because a delay or reverb in the loop would kill the speaker load when switching to the other amp, so you have to mute your FX before you switch amps, which is a bit dangerous. The Headtrip can swallow 1000W, well that should be enough :o)

If only I would be able to lug all that gear around ... maybe I need a proper amp rack and a Headtrip. There would also be space for another amp then ... like a Plexi, an Egnater or a Diezel :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
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