Another Good Thing About PRS Cables

[László]

My PRS TY package arrived yesterday, and today I noticed something about the PRS cable, going straight into the amp: it's quieter (in my studio) than the Mogami cable it replaced.

It's picking up noticeably less RFI/EMI noise from a nearby dimmer, my recording equipment and computer screen, etc. There is also zero handling noise; my Mogami cable was definitely making some handling noise when I moved in the studio, etc.

In fact, I was surprised with this enough to go back and forth, and it was repeatable. But obviously, it wasn't scientific as I don't have the ability to do a scientific test.

I don't know if this is peculiar to my studio and equipment, or if others are experiencing it, too? What say you, my friends?

 

[CoreyT]

Sounds good Les.
Which cable did you get?

I have an orange one with two 90 degree ends on them, and the other one I got with the first Thank You package has straight ends, but one end has the sliding collar on it that cuts the signal when you pull it out of the guitar.
Both are great cables.

 

[tiboy]

I use my TYP cable when I go straight in. I like the sound and always assumed it was the elimination of pedals in the chain that effected the pleasant sound. Maybe it's the cable? Time to test I guess.

 

[László]

I use my TYP cable when I go straight in. I like the sound and always assumed it was the elimination of pedals in the chain that effected the pleasant sound. Maybe it's the cable? Time to test I guess.

Yes, if you eliminate the pedals and other connecting stuff, you will get more high end. This is also the case when you use a buffer if you do use a pedalboard and have a longer chain.

An unbalanced cable tends to roll of high end after about 18-20 feet. This is because of the capacitance of the additional length. A buffer eliminates that problem, of course.

But, I'm specifically referring to the cable picking up less noise. My HX/DA amp is dead quiet, but there are times when the guitar will pick up stray electrical noise - EMI, RFI - even in my quiet studio room. This is usually part pickups, part cable, which is known to act like an antenna.

If you have a lot of electrical equipment nearby, or dimmers, computer monitors, etc., it's going to radiate EMI. That's unavoidable.

And it can vary for some reason.

My rig is quieter with the PRS cable -- in my room, with my gear. What I'm curious about is if anyone else is experiencing this. Despite being very flexible, it's obviously well-shielded.

 

[martysnarf]

Les I have the same one that came with my TY pack, and I concur. This cable seems to be much quieter than my other cables of equal value. It's subtle, but if I plug straight-in with no pedals, it's DEAD quiet. This leads me to believe that these PRS cables are of very high quality.

 

[László]

Les I have the same one that came with my TY pack, and I concur. This cable seems to be much quieter than my other cables of equal value. It's subtle, but if I plug straight-in with no pedals, it's DEAD quiet. This leads me to believe that these PRS cables are of very high quality.

Awesome! Good to know I'm not alone.

Noise is a huge tone-killer, as far as I'm concerned. I never tolerate hums and buzzes if I don't have to. In fact, one of the main things I look for in a high end amp is that it's quiet, and I am always in search of ways to kill hum, buzz, noise, RFI, EMI, whatever.

When notes come from an inky black background, everything about the tone is enhanced.

I also just finished completely wiring my pedalboard with PRS cables, and it's quieter, too. The only weak link in my chain at this point is the connection from pedalboard to amp; that cable is also being replaced with PRS but it hasn't arrived as of yet, and thankfully, I'm not picking up noise from that wire at this point.

 

[tiboy]

Less noise. One of my Planet Wave cables gets better local radio reception than my stereo. Then again, maybe it just sounds better through a 212 cab. Lol

 

[László]

Here's an iPhone pic of my pedalboard, now wired up with PRS cables. You can see the input to the wah is PRS cable that's purple. The output cable to the extreme left of the pedalboard going to the amp is currently Mogami, but will be replaced with PRS -- it sounds fine as-is, but I like to keep everything consistent.



The signal path is guitar>>wah>>vibe>>fuzz>>Plimsoul>> true bypass switch box input.

As you can see, the rig is very simple. The switch box has four loops, and currently there is a TC Nova delay on one loop, and a TU-3 on another loop. Two loops allow for future additions to the board, if any.

These pedals are on loops because the TC converts all signals to digital, and there is a little bit of digital hiss, so I like to be able to bypass it. I can also keep the Boss' buffer in the signal chain, or bypass it completely when I want a little warmer sound.

The output of the switch box goes to the amp.

All of the pedals are powered by the iso5 except the TU-3, which is powered by a Fulltone regulated wall wart power supply, and the LED lights on the switchbox, that are powered by the courtesy outlet on the TU-3.