Cables for Hardware - Amphenol Audio Cables (anyone???)

[The_Ogre]

Hi everyone,

At the end of the year I finally decided to start acoustically treating my home studio/room, and I think I did a pretty good job due to its size and shape (cubic room, 3 x 3 x 3 meters). So now I've decided to take the next step to make it sounds better and just purchased the IK Multimedia ARC Studio.

I've already been using ARC 3 (inside the DAW only), but I've been looking for a system-wide solution for a while now. Before ARC Studio came out I was planning to grab Sonarworks, but since ARC Studio relies on hardware rather than software it ended up being my choice.

But since they've chosen to use only XLR inputs/outputs instead of XLR/TRS combo jacks, I need to buy four more cables to connect it when it arrives.

My problem, however, is that I live in Brazil and unfortunately I just don't have access to many options, and importing directly can have a big risk of high prices due to our huge import taxes.

Said that, I know there's kind of a consensus that cables don't matter that much when it comes to signal alone, but the quality of their isolation can be an issue. Considering what I can find here to buy already done or to build myself, and also considering that I tend to avoid buying crap stuff (mostly of the time, it ends being money thrown away) these are my initial choices, from cheaper to costlier:
- Monoprice Premier (seems to be a good choice, but read some few stuff about issues with their plugs being too bulky)
- Amphenol Smart Cable S2M and plugs Amphenol
- Mogami 2549 cable and plugs Amphenol

Has anyone heard something about these Amphenol Smart Cable S2M? I like their plugs, a lot, but haven't found much info on those, only this:
Official PDF (with only a few specs)

Any other idea of reliable and somehow affordable option that I can try to find here?

Thanks in advance.

[BertKoor]

Cable is cable indeed. If you buy pre-made cables of 3 to 6 meters, then anything between $12 and $20 should be good. Go cheaper, and it will be cheap connectors that will fail over time. Go more expensive is a rip off.

I'm used to solder cables myself, using Neutrik connectors. A cable made such way should cost abt $5 per connector and $1 per meter for the cable. Factory made cables cost about the same is my experience.

[The_Ogre]

Agreed! I also like to use Neutrik (or Amphenol) connectors whenever is possible. I just don't like to cannibalize pre-made cables, so I'd go at least with some relatively good pre-made cables, or buy Amphenol or Mogami 2549 cables and build them myself.