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Electrical properties of cables

I'm running a pair of 1 meter XLR VDH cables from a Benchmark DAC to a Bryston Pre. The sound in one channel is ever so slightly louder (1dB?) than the other. I especially noticed this with a 1kHz test tone while flipping the mono/stereo switch. This problem follows the cable when swapping channels. They pass a continuity check but I haven't ohm'd them out yet.

Any other suggestions before I toss them out? By the way, the custom Canare/Neutriks work just fine in this application.
av2k
joeabrams
132 posts
 
A balanced XLR cable has 2 driven legs and a separate ground. If one leg -- either the Plus or the Inverted -- were not connected, you'd get signal, but the result would be down about 3 db from normal. Sounds like what you've got.
plelko
26 posts
 
This sounds like a warranty issue, why don't you check with the manufacturer. It could be a bad solder joint on one of the legs.
av2k OP
17 posts
 
I considered a cold solder joint when I checked for continuity from pin to pin on each leg. Everything checks OK. But your right, contact must have been compromised somewhere at the connectors. I'll have to e-mail Van den Hul.

Thanks!
mlsstl
1,395 posts
 
If you have a sensitive voltmeter, check the voltage being delivered through the cable, both with a load and without.

I also assume you've tried a different set of cables for comparison purposes?
nilthepill
842 posts
 
I had a cable like that and like Joe Abrams says measured appx 3 db down. It took me a long time to figure out what was happening. It turned out that if I put some kind of wedge underneath the cable (like a plastic case of a regular camera film), it maintained contact. It was very annoying- sometimes in mid session sound used to shift off center and I would be unaware unless there is vocals in track.
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