Twisted Pair Vs. Shielded Untwisted Pair For Mic Levels

There is not enough room to use standard mic cable in a rack I am building just now.

I see people here often use twisted pairs for hookup. Alternatively, I have some cheap shielded untwisted pair cable which I could use too.

Does anyone know which is better?

I understand the benefit of twisteing regarding getting the same amount of common mode on each side, but I wonder how simply shielding on its own compares?

Cheers,

Roddy

How much of the noise in the environment is magnetic field and how much electrical field? For the latter a decent-coverage electrical shield will be all you need, especially if there is not a lot of current in the shield.

If the interference is magnetic then the twisting helps a lot.

[quote author="bcarso"]How much of the noise in the environment is magnetic field and how much electrical field?

If the interference is magnetic then the twisting helps a lot.[/quote]

Thanks - that was exactly the answer I was looking for.

Well, I have four preamps in the box which also contains a toroidal transformer which will be in relatively close proximity to some of the cabling.... Maybe I should go for twisted pair then. Or splash out ans get some fancy Sommer miniature mic cable.

I wouldn't use mic cable for hookup inside a rack... It takes up too much room, and its flexibility/ruggedness is wasted there. I use a good foil-shielded twisted pair. The "classic" choice is something like Belden 8451, though lately I've been quite fond of the 8761 type because it's very thin.

I only use mogami W2944 after playing with so many other cables.

It is cheap (~20 cents/foot and gets cheaper in bulk), flexable, very thin and very easy to work with.

What do you guys make of this:

EDIT: Search for "isopod" and click first link. Sorry.

It doesn't specify if it is actually a twisted pair, although the photo suggests so. :?

Edit: Sommer have confirmed twisted pair. Looks good then.

[quote author="mediatechnology"]That link 404s.
[/quote]

Cheers, have edited and updated post.

[quote author="rodabod"]What do you guys make of this:

EDIT: Search for "isopod" and click first link. Sorry.

It doesn't specify if it is actually a twisted pair, although the photo suggests so. :?

Edit: Sommer have confirmed twisted pair. Looks good then.[/quote]

Hi Rodabod! I'm sitting here with the sommer catalogue open in front of me at the page with the isopod cable. I was just wondering what diameter you went for in the end, the 3.3 or the 4.2? I'm guessing that with it being a shielded, twisted pair cable that I won't have to worry too much about interference?

all the best

Norman

[quote author="RogerFoote"]Wonder if Apex Jr. has some of that?[/quote]

If your still looking contact me, I might have something you can use.

I have a very skinny Belden house numbered twisted pair shielded
with a drain wire CHEAP... .08ft $7.00/100ft and $60.00/1000ft

Steve @ Apex Jr.

[quote author="reg presley"]I'm sitting here with the sommer catalogue open in front of me at the page with the isopod cable. I was just wondering what diameter you went for in the end, the 3.3 or the 4.2? I'm guessing that with it being a shielded, twisted pair cable that I won't have to worry too much about interference?[/quote]

Hi Norman,

Mine says "SO-F22 2x0.22mmm" if that helps. The cable is excellent and very easy to use. Much better and quicker to use than cheap cable.

I like to use scraps from a multichannel snakes. You typically have twisted, shielded pairs in a super flexible jacket. I have a bunch leftover from our studio wiring (4'-8' cut ends of 52 channel snakes). It has been more than enough for my projects.
PM me if you are curious.