Hosa cables: any good?

woodman · May 22nd, 2008, 02:07 PM

i've been reconfiguring the studio in the ol' Woodshed to accommodate hardware/software expansion, and the weak link in the system is the connection between the mixer and the monitor amp -- i'm running two cheapie stereo-RCA cables linked with female/female adaptors.

since this is a critical link in the chain, i'd like to upgrade the connection to one 6-foot high-quality cable. i've used Hosa cables in the past because they're widely available ... what do you guys think of them? is there a brand that can deliver a better signal for a few bucks more? your insights welcomed.

Tim Armstrong · May 22nd, 2008, 02:13 PM

I've always found them to be dependable!

Cheers, Tim

vjf1968 · May 22nd, 2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodman

i've been reconfiguring the studio in the ol' Woodshed to accommodate hardware/software expansion, and the weak link in the system is the connection between the mixer and the monitor amp -- i'm running two cheapie stereo-RCA cables linked with female/female adaptors.

since this is a critical link in the chain, i'd like to upgrade the connection to one 6-foot high-quality cable. i've used Hosa cables in the past because they're widely available ... what do you guys think of them? is there a brand that can deliver a better signal for a few bucks more? your insights welcomed.

I found Hosa cables to be less then stellar. True they are relatively inexpensive and readily available but for recording I would rather go for something of better quality. Mogami cables are used in most pro studios so I would take a look at them. I would rather spend a little more at the ouset than to have have to buy a cheap item twice. You can check out the website www.mogamicable.com.

mudbean · May 22nd, 2008, 03:50 PM

+1 on Mogami for an important connection like that one there. I have lots of Hosa cables, but try to relegate them to lesser duty.

mud

mudbean · May 22nd, 2008, 03:54 PM

BTW, try the very friendly and helpful guys at Redco Audio (www.Redco.com) for a low-cost, high quality custom length cable for that application ... no affiliation, I'm just a very happy customer.

mud

woodman · May 22nd, 2008, 03:58 PM

Mogami, huh? thanx guys, that's just the kind of info i was after.

Guitar_Ninja · May 22nd, 2008, 05:22 PM

I prefer Canare to Mogami, but they're both good cables.

octatonic · May 22nd, 2008, 06:27 PM

Hosa are not particularly good for what you pay for them but they aren't rubbish.
There is no 'off the shelf' cable that can compare to making your own in terms of overall cost.

I make all my own cables- I buy the raw materials from Redco and solder them up.
My conservative estimate of how much money I have saved over the last 10 years would be somewhere in the thousands of dollars.
Honestly, compared to wiring up a tele, it is really, really simple to make your own cables.

I use Mogami cable and neutrik or switchcraft hardware.

David Barnett · May 22nd, 2008, 06:42 PM

For mission-critical connections in the studio, I'd go with Gotham Audio.

May 22nd, 2008, 02:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,961	Hosa cables: any good? i've been reconfiguring the studio in the ol' Woodshed to accommodate hardware/software expansion, and the weak link in the system is the connection between the mixer and the monitor amp -- i'm running two cheapie stereo-RCA cables linked with female/female adaptors. since this is a critical link in the chain, i'd like to upgrade the connection to one 6-foot high-quality cable. i've used Hosa cables in the past because they're widely available ... what do you guys think of them? is there a brand that can deliver a better signal for a few bucks more? your insights welcomed. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

May 22nd, 2008, 02:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,659	I've always found them to be dependable! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

May 22nd, 2008, 03:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
mudbean Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Semi-Desert Semi-Paradise Age: 49 Posts: 1,722	+1 on Mogami for an important connection like that one there. I have lots of Hosa cables, but try to relegate them to lesser duty. mud __________________ www.mudbean.com "Do ya want it to be interesting, or do ya want it to be true?" "So far, it's neither."

May 22nd, 2008, 03:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
mudbean Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Semi-Desert Semi-Paradise Age: 49 Posts: 1,722	BTW, try the very friendly and helpful guys at Redco Audio (www.Redco.com) for a low-cost, high quality custom length cable for that application ... no affiliation, I'm just a very happy customer. mud __________________ www.mudbean.com "Do ya want it to be interesting, or do ya want it to be true?" "So far, it's neither."

May 22nd, 2008, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,961	Mogami, huh? thanx guys, that's just the kind of info i was after. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

May 22nd, 2008, 05:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,492 6 Photos	I prefer Canare to Mogami, but they're both good cables. __________________

May 22nd, 2008, 06:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
octatonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Posts: 1,669	Hosa are not particularly good for what you pay for them but they aren't rubbish. There is no 'off the shelf' cable that can compare to making your own in terms of overall cost. I make all my own cables- I buy the raw materials from Redco and solder them up. My conservative estimate of how much money I have saved over the last 10 years would be somewhere in the thousands of dollars. Honestly, compared to wiring up a tele, it is really, really simple to make your own cables. I use Mogami cable and neutrik or switchcraft hardware. __________________ "A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges." Benny Green

May 22nd, 2008, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,426	For mission-critical connections in the studio, I'd go with Gotham Audio.