Just got a Lava van Den Hul cable. Holy shit, impressed.

[Ventura]

The best way to really be able to break down the differences is to use a pedal looper like an octaswitch and plug a different cable into each loop and directly compare each. Differences among cables become very noticeable. This is how I found Evidence Audio cables to be my favorite.

Think about that for a second. Is the pedal buffered?

Boom.

No. It's switchable. Think about this: it wouldn't matter anyway as each cable would be influenced equally by the buffer. Boom?

I like saying...."boom".

Boom.

 

[Ventura]

And fuck it, I use Vovox as my buddy's a rep... Can I tell a difference, I haven't a clue - never really A/B'd them.

 

[psychodave]

And fuck it, I use Vovox as my buddy's a rep... Can I tell a difference, I haven't a clue - never really A/B'd them.

You have too much sand and salt water in your ears.

 

[nevusofota]

The best way to really be able to break down the differences is to use a pedal looper like an octaswitch and plug a different cable into each loop and directly compare each. Differences among cables become very noticeable. This is how I found Evidence Audio cables to be my favorite.

Think about that for a second. Is the pedal buffered?

Boom.

No. It's switchable. Think about this: it wouldn't matter anyway as each cable would be influenced equally by the buffer. Boom?

No. Not boom. Because a buffer buffers the signal well beyond being influenced by one cable having a capacitance of 22pF/ft vs another that is like 30pF/ft, or whatever the numbers are. But if you can turn the buffer off, it's a step in the right direction

But it's a looper. And the signal it's outputting is recorded. So I'm guessing it has to have a buffer because it is actively sending a signal out. It's not a passive device. Maybe I'm wrong about that one. But I don't see a pedal sending a recorded signal out without that signal also being buffered. Otherwise you'd be hearing silence. This is also why delay pedals that are true bypass don't have trailing delays when you switch the pedal off, but non-true bypass delay pedal will have trails when you switch them off. Because they are buffered. Make sense?

No, wait. I'm referring to a PEDAL looper. I apologize, maybe I wasn't clear. Differences in cables become obvious when connecting the output to the input of a single loop using the same cable. Do this for multiple loops then directly compare each loop. I never heard a difference between cables until I did this. Here's an example of a pedal looper.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifie ... ing-system

Wait.... what? You lost me haha

I think you're talking about an audio looper such as the Ditto pedal or the ole Boomerang. I'm talking about using a pedal bypass loop system.

 

[nevusofota]

The best way to really be able to break down the differences is to use a pedal looper like an octaswitch and plug a different cable into each loop and directly compare each. Differences among cables become very noticeable. This is how I found Evidence Audio cables to be my favorite.

Think about that for a second. Is the pedal buffered?

Boom.

No. It's switchable. Think about this: it wouldn't matter anyway as each cable would be influenced equally by the buffer. Boom?

I like saying...."boom".

Boom.

Hahaha! I was actually wondering if my statement was boom worthy, hence the question mark after "boom". I was in no way questioning your use of "boom".

 

[Anonymous]

http://sfguitarworks.com/the-great-cable-myth/

This pretty much sums things up...

Steve

 

[nevusofota]

The best way to really be able to break down the differences is to use a pedal looper like an octaswitch and plug a different cable into each loop and directly compare each. Differences among cables become very noticeable. This is how I found Evidence Audio cables to be my favorite.

Think about that for a second. Is the pedal buffered?

Boom.

No. It's switchable. Think about this: it wouldn't matter anyway as each cable would be influenced equally by the buffer. Boom?

No. Not boom. Because a buffer buffers the signal well beyond being influenced by one cable having a capacitance of 22pF/ft vs another that is like 30pF/ft, or whatever the numbers are. But if you can turn the buffer off, it's a step in the right direction

But it's a looper. And the signal it's outputting is recorded. So I'm guessing it has to have a buffer because it is actively sending a signal out. It's not a passive device. Maybe I'm wrong about that one. But I don't see a pedal sending a recorded signal out without that signal also being buffered. Otherwise you'd be hearing silence. This is also why delay pedals that are true bypass don't have trailing delays when you switch the pedal off, but non-true bypass delay pedal will have trails when you switch them off. Because they are buffered. Make sense?

No, wait. I'm referring to a PEDAL looper. I apologize, maybe I wasn't clear. Differences in cables become obvious when connecting the output to the input of a single loop using the same cable. Do this for multiple loops then directly compare each loop. I never heard a difference between cables until I did this. Here's an example of a pedal looper.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifie ... ing-system

Wait.... what? You lost me haha

I think you're talking about an audio looper such as the Ditto pedal or the ole Boomerang. I'm talking about using a pedal bypass loop system.

Example:

I have two 20' cables. One made by Evidence and one generic. I take the first cable and plug it into the send of loop 1 and plug the other end of the cable in the return of loop 1. I do this with the second cable but use loop 2. I plug a third cable into my guitar and then into the pedal bypass looper's main input. I use a fourth cable and send it from the looper's main output into the amp input. I then can toggle instantly between loop 1 and 2 to directly compare the change in sound between the two loops. Any change in audio is 100% due to the differences in the cables being tested. The difference was easily and instantly noticeable. Yes, the two other cables have an influence on the overall tone but it's an equal influence on each cable being tested. I guarantee those that usually cannot hear differences in cables would be able to using this method.

 

[nevusofota]

Also, I do realize that the differences I heard may not have been from the cable itself but could have been from the connectors and or solder joints.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

 

[Alex_S]

http://sfguitarworks.com/the-great-cable-myth/

This pretty much sums things up...

Steve

Well... No. It is even contradicting itself.

Cables can make a difference, even a large one. If it matters for yourself, everybody needs to decide on their own.

 

[Anonymous]

http://sfguitarworks.com/the-great-cable-myth/

This pretty much sums things up...

Steve

Well... No. It is even contradicting itself.

Cables can make a difference, even a large one. If it matters for yourself, everybody needs to decide on their own.

Well... Yes. It sums things up quite nicely. The only thing that matters is capacitance is basically what it says. Personally, I can't hear the difference between very expensive cables and cheap ones, but it appears others can, so more power to 'em and yay for me that I can use cheap cables and not worry about what I'm missing.

Steve

 

[Ventura]

And fuck it, I use Vovox as my buddy's a rep... Can I tell a difference, I haven't a clue - never really A/B'd them.

You have too much sand and salt water in your ears.

I will take THAT as a mega compliment my brother!!! THANK YOU

(..and it's all fact too)

 

[Alex_S]

http://sfguitarworks.com/the-great-cable-myth/

This pretty much sums things up...

Steve

Well... No. It is even contradicting itself.

Cables can make a difference, even a large one. If it matters for yourself, everybody needs to decide on their own.

Well... Yes. It sums things up quite nicely. The only thing that matters is capacitance is basically what it says. Personally, I can't hear the difference between very expensive cables and cheap ones, but it appears others can, so more power to 'em and yay for me that I can use cheap cables and not worry about what I'm missing.

Steve

Hi Steve,

first "logical" fault is, that capacity is the only important variable is a pure assumption that he does not prove at all. It is just a claim (that might be true or not). Sure capacity matters, but no one knows, if it is the only variable that matters.
I could also claim, that the only thing that matters for a capacitor is the capacity. And "prove" it the same way. So why bother for more expensive boutique stuff then? Why need a more expensive transformer in an amp. Gold connectors in HF circuits etc. Limiting any electronical part to one variable by stating that this is the only variable is not right.

Back to the article: then he "proves" that no matter what capacity the cable has, it "sounds" the same by showing the same frequency graph. This either proves his claim (that capacity matters) was wrong or his method "measuring" sound does not work or both (what I think).
Frequency graphs for sure do not show all sound aspects. Eg. attack and decay (which differs per frequency) is not shown, but a vital sound aspect.

And yes, I do hear larger differences depending on how the complete chain is setup and no difference in other setups. And not every cable does sound different. How could, as a lot of the manufacturers are using the same basic materials.
I am pretty sure you also hear large differences between some. I guess you just used similar cables yet (or setups where it did not matter that much (eg. buffers in the chain; more stable input stages in the amps; less fragile guitar output signals; ....)

Ciao Alex

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I know for sure the twist of the shield or conductors will matter a lot too. I was a telephone/internet tech for a while there and dealt a lot with copper wire and audio because internet is of course tones of different frequencies and physics is physics. Less twist more noise and less clear signal and the source is muddled. Same would apply for cables of instrument quality as well. A bigger conductor will carry bass frequencies more readily and a more twisted and cleaner/pure will carry more highs because they can travel the surface of the conductor better which is where the highs tend to travel along the conductor. The longer the run the more important. Buffers are like supercharging the signal and throwing the highs back to the surface of the conductors with force and will negate some of this but shielding will still be important. If you use a buffered signal Mogami which has a good shield or similar is just fine if you just use a cable straight to amp and it has some sort of length then a high quality cable with low capacitance and shielding and or twist become more important. Tool for the job.

 

[LP Freak]

I'm still trying to figure out how different translates to better? I agree with better shielding equals less noise but still can't justify $150 for a cable.

 

[nevusofota]

I'm still trying to figure out how different translates to better? I agree with better shielding equals less noise but still can't justify $150 for a cable.

I was in the same boat until I tested myself. I'm running the four cable method on stage at 20' for each cable, that's 80' that my signal has to run through. Yes, there's buffers within this run but I wanted to first use cables that "sounded" the best to my ears without a boosted signal. I really could care less about all the figures and physics. It all comes down to what I perceive as a good sound. That's where my method of testing various cables with a pedal bypass looper helped me determine which cable works best for me.

 

[psychodave]

And fuck it, I use Vovox as my buddy's a rep... Can I tell a difference, I haven't a clue - never really A/B'd them.

You have too much sand and salt water in your ears.

I will take THAT as a mega compliment my brother!!! THANK YOU

(..and it's all fact too)

You took it the right way.

 

[ob1clyde]

The difference is real, buy in or not.. every piece of the chain matters. Whether it matters to you or not is the only question.

Ive not had the luxury to play this particular brand of cables, but i did a few comparison tests with what i do have. I really liked the Monster Jazz and Rock cables added high end or presence. Since I only have a few of them and i dont plan on running out and buying all new cables. I just run them at the front and end of my chain.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Cables matter. Anything else said is BS. Science trumps all opinion and subjectivity. I only use solod core silver wire. Cables, guitars and cabinet internals.

ALWAYS get extra wire to wire up cabinet internals that matches speaker wire used.

In some cases wire makes more difference than others. (Capacitance, active/passive.)

Not understanding the science/ applications does NOT make it untrue.

 

[Alex_S]

I'm still trying to figure out how different translates to better? I agree with better shielding equals less noise but still can't justify $150 for a cable.

It doesn't. Different does not need to be better. Ones coily cheap cable might tame an overly bright amp, while another's transparent expensive cable adds transparency to a middy amp. There is no better or worse. Just better for ones demands or worse fitting. Price is in no correlation to any aspect in my experience.

That said I prefer Colossal cables to anything I've tried yet. But again, your taste decides...