Re: patch cable or mic cable?

[David Jones] "Something to also consider in a permanent installation is the construction of the cheaper cable verses the high-end SUCKER RIP-OFF product that I use in my studio.
Through personal experience I have noticed that some of the cheaper cables have a problem with oxidation of the wire that can catch up with you after a couple of years..."


Yes, this is true. But there is run of the mill oxygen free cable, and monster, straightwire oxygen free cable. This is where the marketing is just that. Run of the mill oxygen free wire is definitely better than zip cord, but I don't buy the marketing hype for the m0onster cable stuff.

The one place where I would recommend Monster cable is for S/PDIF. The high quality connectors and manufacturing processes are guarnateed and needed.

I would even splurge for monster component video cable, but it pretty much ends there.

With all high end audio, that last 5% of the sound is a point of extreme diminishing return. You'll pay 500% or more for that last 5%, which I personally can't hear, but others swear they can.

In the case of wiring a whole studio with cables, you'll definitley hear the difference between 'quality' (not to be confused with 'high end') cables and connectors and the cheapo Hosa stuff. It's the cumulative effect that you hear. Also, corrosion and performance of connectors makes a difference some time down the line.

But I can put together my own cables made from mogami/belden/canare and Nuetrik/switchcraft/Pacific Radio/Marshall Electronics stuff and be perfectly comfortable knowing I have at least as good a quality as the monster cable, and save a load of cash.

With the video interconnect cables, it gets a little tricky though as it's hard to match the quality marriage of connector to cable that comes from the machine based manufacturing, vs trying to do it by hand.

If someone were to tell me that gold plated connectors makes a difference, I wouldn't argue with that either, as over time corrosion definitely becomes a problem.

But all in all, the whole monster cable gives better sound argument is 95% marketing baloney to me. But, if money si no object, they are definitely well made quality cables and add a certain measure of 'peace of mind' if nothing else.

Personally, I'll use cheapo stuff or make my own, and when they star having problems I'll replace them with other cheapo or home made cables. I can go through quite a few cycles of this before I ever even begin to approach the cost of the 'high end' fancy packaged stuff.

Others might accept nothing less than a ferrari, but I'm perfectly happy with Ford.... It's all a personality thing IMO, because both accomplish the objective.

Mark Simpson