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1/4" jack extender issues

post #1 of 10
12/26/11 at 7:45pm
Thread Starter 
Hey all, probably a silly question, but I just got my first pair of full size headphones the 325i for christmas only to find out the cord isnt long enough to reach the back of my soundcard. I went and picked some cheap gold plated extender, the cord is thinner than headphones cord, and the connection is very fragile sometomes even the lightest touch cuts the audio or makes it sound incredibly distorted. If i set it just right it sounds like when its plugged in w/o the extender will this extension cause any problems becase its so cheap; and is it worth just buying the more expensive one from grado? Thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 10
12/26/11 at 7:48pm

You're gonna get plenty of opinions when it comes to cables, generally they won't make a huge difference but you might want to at least have a cable that can get the sound out with distortion. So... yeah, get it.

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post #3 of 10
12/26/11 at 7:51pm

I think you need the Grado extender. First it's more durable than the cheap cable you bought and therefore last longer. Second, a analogue signal is dependent on the wire (unlike digital), and the longer the wire, the more distortion there is. Don't buy the ultra expensive cable, the grado cable will do fine.

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post #4 of 10
12/26/11 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaSquirt View Post

You're gonna get plenty of opinions when it comes to cables, generally they won't make a huge difference but you might want to at least have a cable that can get the sound out with distortion. So... yeah, get it.



 



Quote:
Originally Posted by 054k4 View Post

I think you need the Grado extender. First it's more durable than the cheap cable you bought and therefore last longer. Second, a analogue signal is dependent on the wire (unlike digital), and the longer the wire, the more distortion there is. Don't buy the ultra expensive cable, the grado cable will do fine.



Okay thanks a lot guys I'll order it off Amazon tomorrow. smily_headphones1.gif

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post #5 of 10
12/26/11 at 10:18pm

Another option - about the same price as the Grado cable - is to have Redco Audio (in Connecticut) make a custom for you.

 

http://www.redco.com/default.asp

 

(I have nothing to do with Redco except as a long-time customer, BTW.)

 

I'd keep the length as short as reasonable, no more than 10 feet in any event.

You get a gold male 1/4" plug on one end, and a Neutrik 1/4" locking female at the other end.

As for the cable itself, I highly recommend the Mogami 2549 - one of the most highly regarded

cables in the recording industry.

Another great cable Redco offers is the Gotham GAC-3, a legendary cable which has a very interesting

history.

 

The quality of work is superb, and the cable ships in about a week.

 

IMHO both the 2549 and the Gotham GAC-3 sound better than the Grado cable.

 

And they cost about the same!

A ten foot length of either with the configuration I described costs about $30.00; really a bargain.

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post #6 of 10
12/27/11 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zazex View Post

Another option - about the same price as the Grado cable - is to have Redco Audio (in Connecticut) make a custom for you.

 

http://www.redco.com/default.asp

 

(I have nothing to do with Redco except as a long-time customer, BTW.)

 

I'd keep the length as short as reasonable, no more than 10 feet in any event.

You get a gold male 1/4" plug on one end, and a Neutrik 1/4" locking female at the other end.

As for the cable itself, I highly recommend the Mogami 2549 - one of the most highly regarded

cables in the recording industry.

Another great cable Redco offers is the Gotham GAC-3, a legendary cable which has a very interesting

history.

 

The quality of work is superb, and the cable ships in about a week.

 

IMHO both the 2549 and the Gotham GAC-3 sound better than the Grado cable.

 

And they cost about the same!

A ten foot length of either with the configuration I described costs about $30.00; really a bargain.


This is awesome! I'm having some trouble choosing the A & B connector types, I don't really know what any of these mean.

 

oi39.tinypic.com/302o20o.jpg (doesn't work copy+paste)

 

This look good?

 


Edited by Rillow - 12/27/11 at 11:05am
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post #7 of 10
12/27/11 at 11:11am

Another option is Monoprice, they have some good cables for cheap. Only thing is they're usually super thick and kind unruly. Very cheap and really high quality stuff.


Edited by Taowolf51 - 12/27/11 at 11:12am
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post #8 of 10
12/27/11 at 4:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rillow View Post


This is awesome! I'm having some trouble choosing the A & B connector types, I don't really know what any of these mean.

 

oi39.tinypic.com/302o20o.jpg (doesn't work copy+paste)

 

This look good?

 


 

You've pretty much got it.

 

 

Here, step by step:,

 

www.redco.com > Design Your Own Custom Cable > Design Your Own Single Channel Cable

 

1. Pick Cable Type > Balanced Mic/Line

2. Pick Cable > either Mogami 2549 or Gotham GAC--3

3. Input Cable length (feet) > 10

4. Pick Side A Connector Type > TRS--Straight

5  Pick Side A Connector >  NP3C-B Male TRS--Blk/Gold (1)

6. Pick Side B Connector Type > TRS--Straight

7. Pick Side B Connector > NJ3FC6 Female Inline TRS--Silver (1) or NJ3FC6-BAG Female Inline TRS--Black (1)

(My note: Refers to the finish on the outside of the connector only - black finish or silver finish)

 

And that's it!  Pay via PayPal or otherwise & it's done.

 

Looks like the only change I suggested from the configuration in your tinypic is to go with the Neutrik connector

- rather than the Amphenol connector - in Step 4,  (Both brand names; Neutrik is generally preferred.)

 

 

Feel free to PM (or post) if you'd like any more details or info.

 

 

 

 

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post #9 of 10
12/27/11 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 

Okay I'll let you know how it goes when it comes in the mail thanks a lot.

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post #10 of 10
12/27/11 at 8:12pm

No problem; please let me know your thoughts when it arrives.

 

 

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