cables

What’s the Buzz with Balanced and Unbalanced Cables

From left to right: a 1/4" tip-sleeve instrument and speaker cable, a 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve headphone cable, an XLR, two RCA, and a 3.5 mm tip-ring-sleeve headphone cable.

Learning the differences between various cables can greatly improve the quality of your recordings.

Hello, and welcome to another Dojo session! This time I’d like to drill down to some audio bedrock and unearth the differences between balanced and unbalanced cables. I want to help you understand the differences and give you some strategies to greatly reduce noise (hums, buzzes, and static) in your recordings. Tighten up, the Dojo is now open.

There are many different connection types and gauges of balanced and unbalanced audio cables, and both are used to transmit audio signals from one device to another. However, they differ in their construction and performance, and understanding these differences is essential for achieving optimal audio quality.

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Tools for the Task: Coiled Cables

Ten leads primed to handle the bridge between your guitar and what you’re plugging into—with a twist.

Coiled guitar cables that look like those of yesteryear have been making a comeback. While the hip factor of using a coiled cable remains strong as ever, today’s higher-quality cables won’t necessarily crackle and gobble up as much top end as they were known to do back in the day. Here are 10, to get your Jimi on.

ERNIE BALL

30' Coiled Cable
These cables feature multiple shielding materials to preserve the signal with low handling noise, and a durable PVC jacket exterior for long-lasting performance.
$39 street
ernieball.com  

VOX

VCCFor players looking for a retro look but wanting modern reliability, these cables boast 99-percent-purity, oxygen-free, copper cable conductors for superior sound.
$34 street
voxamps.com  

MONSTER

Prolink Monster Classic Pro
These lightweight and flexible cables feature all-metal connectors, a robust outer jacket, and 90-percent copper spiral-wrap shielding.
$45 street
monsterstore.com  

LAVA CABLE

Retro Coil
Available in a variety of vibrant colors and color combos, these cables feature a proprietary outer jacket designed with ruggedness, light weight, and durability in mind.
$65 street
lavacable.com  

BULLET CABLE

30' Clear Coil Cable
These cables feature oversized, relaxed coils that do not kink or lose shape, and dual shielding to assist in providing the best possible noise and signal integrity.
$49 street
bulletcable.com
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Asterope Launches the Pro Bass Series Instrument Cables

The cables are built with extensive braided shielding, non-metallic connector barrels, patented solid core, ultra-clarity nickel connectors, ultra-pure silver solder, and a durable exterior jacketing.

Nashville, TN (July 8, 2019) -- Asterope launched its full line of the Asterope Pro Bass Series instrument cable, ideal for bass players in both studio and live environments. The new products deliver fuller, rounder and richer tones while preserving warm mids and clean highs. The Pro Bass Series uses Asterope’s exclusive technology –the result of decades of R&D – providing customers with greater clarity, bandwidth and harmonic response.

“Considering the stable of world-class of bass players on our roster, it seemed appropriate to put some intention and thought into creating a solution that would more specifically serve their needs,” said Dariush Rad, founder and president of Asterope. “By making some modifications to our core designs, we were able to successfully develop a new cable with the sonic characteristics that meet the needs of these artists.”

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