MOTM

Hi Eric

> In the past, I have used Hosa 8-channel snakes for most of this 
> wiring.  My
> results have been mostly good but I wonder if I could do better.  Most 
> of
> the runs will be under 20'.  Should I:
>
> - Stick with the Hosa snakes
> - Make my own snakes out of multiple cables using nice cable and 
> connectors
> - cable recommendations welcome.
> - Make snakes out of multi-conductor cable, again suggestions welcome.

While the Hosa snakes aren't the most durable cabling in the world, 
where they always seem to fail is around those molded end connectors, 
and once those go it's not really worth fixing them. Sonically they're 
fine but not amazing, but it doesn't sound like you're building Real 
World in your basement.

Since it sounds like you've already got plenty of them already, why 
don't you wire up as much as you can with those, then as they fail 
one-by-one start replacing with home-built patch cables made from the 
better stuff? In my case, as my old mic cables are failing, I'm 
building Mogami quad ones to replace them.

I hate building snakes. It's a PITA. But that's a personal preference 
thing.

> Finally, has anyone used balanced power systems and have any 
> information
> good or bad about them?

Can't answer that one, but all of these questions have been discussed 
at length on the rec.audio.pro newsgroup. Point Google to Groups and 
start poking around there. The general consensus on the balanced power 
is, yes, it makes a difference, but you're going to have to balance the 
fairly subtle difference (in Digital world) with a fairly expensive 
installation. Folks have said that it makes a much more noticeable 
difference with things like guitar amplifiers.

e