Cables
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Don't underestimate the importance of cables in any audio system. Good cables may not make a bad system better, but bad cables will certainly make a good system sound worse We can divide system cables into two types. Low level (microphone cables, interconnects, etc.) and High level (speaker cables) To make our sound system sound good, we want to make it as easy as possible for all the frequencies of our signal to make their way along the signal cable. The connectors. The important thing with a connector (Jack, XLR, Phono, Speakon...) is that they actually make a good connection. For this to happen, they must not corrode. XLR and phono connections are 'self cleaning' and when they're attached, they have a large area of connection, so a little corrosion will have little effect. With jack connectors, it's pretty easy to see if they're corroded and they're easily cleaned. Gold connectors have two advantages. Gold doesn't corrode, and it's also a soft metal, so it makes a firm connection. Connectors should be securely connected to the cable. Soldering is better than crimping, which is better than tying a knot and holding it in place with blu-tack (as I know to my cost!) The type of wire used makes a difference. Anything metallic will conduct electricity, but some conduct better than others. Silver is by far the best conductor, followed by Copper and Aluminium. Forget about the silver. If you can afford to buy enough silver cable for a PA system, just retire now. Aluminium is difficult and expensive to purify, so that leaves copper. Oxygen free copper is best. Electricity travels along the outer surface of a strand of wire. A few thick wires in a cable will not conduct audio frequency electrical signals as well as a lot of fine strands twisted together. This is more important with high level cables than low-level. Low level cables should be balanced where possible to remove external noise picked up along their length.
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