• Replacement Cost – While you may save a few bucks buying cheap cables, chances are you’ll have to replace those cables in a year or two.
Then again in another year or two…then again….and again. Those costs can add up.
• Cable Failure – Obviously, all cables are capable of failing, but if you’ve got cheaper cables, they’ll be more likely to fail…and more likely to fail in the middle of an important session.
• Degraded Audio Quality – Some cheaper cables can actually take away a lot of the high and low end of your audio signals.
Sometimes, simply switching cables causes everything to sound so much warmer and brighter.
The Pros
Now here are some pros for getting good cables:
• Low Noise – Better cables reduce the amount of noise that gets added to the recorded signal.
• Stable Connectors – Good cables will usually have metal connectors rather than molded plastic, which tend to last a LOT longer.
• Lifetime Warranty – Cables from a reputable manufacturer cables are apt to include a warranty of some kind (often for the lifetime of the cable). If the cable fails tomorrow or 10 years from now, they’ll replace it. You only have to buy the cable once.
Once you stock your studio with a good batch of cables, you’ll never have to buy them again. That’s awesome.
• Thicker Wire – Good cables are usually a good bit thicker than their cheaper counterparts. This keeps them from bending, kinking, and helps them last longer, especially if you’re constantly wrapping/unwrapping them.
Hopefully you can see the value in making sure your interconnect is up to par. This doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive designer cable available, but it does mean you should be sensible.
Take a look at your cables. Are you cutting corners? Believe me, you’ll be able to tell.
Also, if you really are cutting corners with your interconnect, let us know what you’re going to do about it in the comments below!
Joe Gilder is a Nashville based engineer, musician, and producer who also provides training and advice at the Home Studio Corner.