Have you ever put much pressure on yourself to find the best and highest-quality MICROPHONE or INSTRUMENT for all your recording needs?
I feel you.
This is truly one of the dilemmas for musicians out there! It is common to focus on the devices we use in music production and sound engineering.
But sometimes, we put too much attention on these things that the microphone cable we use is ignored.
Luckily, I have saved you some time by putting together some of the BEST XLR CABLES for microphones or instruments that any audio engineer would recommend!
Check ’em out!
Get the Best XLR Cables for Your Studio!
1. Hosa Pro Series – Best Overall
The people at Hosa are LEADERS in providing analog and digital equipment for all your audio/video needs!
Their Pro Microphone Line offers state-of-the-art silver-plated REAN connectors from Neutrik AG for balanced signals and enhanced quality.
They come complete with an OFC conductor and 90% OFC shielding for a higher signal-to-noise ratio!
Additionally, you will feel the STRONG BUILD QUALITY of this higher-quality cable, thanks to its tough and sturdy rubber covering!
If you want to invest in XLR cables and use them for as long as possible, the Hosa is a great choice since it will last a LONG time.
2. Mogami Gold Studio XLR Microphone Cable – Best Value Pick
As the name suggests, Mogami Gold Studio cables are GOLD-STANDARD XLR cables for microphones or instruments!
You can play the Mogami Gold with any instrument with SUPER LOW NOISE. If you have the full gain on a guitar or bass, you will not get any noise from the rig!
The Mogami Gold Studio cable will capture the full impact of any source when recording or performing.
The cable uses a double-conductor quad cable with a bare copper shield from Neglex for maintaining signal levels.
The copper spiral shielding provides full coverage and protects against noise and RF interference.
Its DURABILITY is one of the key features, as it is built to last with zero noise interference!
This excellent cable is suitable for home recording or live stage use and is compatible with audio interfaces, speaker systems, and more.
3. AmazonBasics XLR Cable – Best Budget
If you are looking for a high-quality XLR cable that is budget-friendly and provides the best sound, look no further than AmazonBasics!
AmazonBasics’ XLR microphone cable is a lightweight and durable male-to-female cable perfect for studio use or live performance!
The three-pin connectors are made of strong materials, including a zinc alloy with nickel plating for the connector body.
AmazonBasics provides QUALITY SOUND at a REASONABLE PRICE!
All-copper conductors ensure high-quality sound, and a strong black jacket for ultimate protection.
This long-lasting and easy-to-hook-up cable is something that all beginners and even professionals can benefit from!
4. Planet Waves Classic Series
D’Addario’s Planet Waves offers another AFFORDABLE yet high-quality XLR cable!
It is made with highly-conductive nickel-plated plugs and oxygen-free copper (OFC). It is also covered with a PVC jacket and dense copper wires for ultimate protection!
It is densely shielded and molded with extreme flexibility and durability!
These materials and their low-capacitance design provide you with an easy and clear signal transfer, resulting in ZERO noise!
This entry-level cable is suitable for beginners, But that does not mean this cable can’t handle large-scale, professional gigs.
5. LyxPro Balanced XLR Cable
The LyxPro Balanced XLR is made with premium-quality raw materials to give you high-quality sound!
Its twin conductive PVC jacket is covered with cotton yarn, which helps REDUCE and CANCEL OUT noise and static.
The 98% braided shield is also great for live stage use, concerts, studio use, and more!
One of the key features is its gold-plated connectors, which relieve cable strain and stabilize the connection.
If you are the type to color-code, these XLR cables come in various colors, which will be a great help!
You will get nothing short of crystal-clear audio and top-tier signal transferring with zero noise!
6. Cable Matters XLR Cable
Yes, the cable does matter!
Cable Matters offers a high-level, XLR male-to-female, mid-range cable equipped with 3-pin XLR connectors.
It is a well-balanced mic cable composed of a soft PVC jacket with oxygen-free copper, guaranteed to give you flexibility and excellent audio quality!
Let’s not forget the copper conductor with copper-braided shielding on this XLR cable, as it provides maximum noise and hum cancellation.
The XLR cable’s polyethylene insulation improves high-frequency response with heavy metal connectors for durability and easy plugging.
7. Vitrius Cables XLR Cable
Vitrius microphone cables are compatible with an audio interface, mixers, speakers, and other related devices.
You won’t need new ones anytime soon as these are built to last!
These are cheap, road-worthy, durable cables with oxygen-free copper conductors, which translates to CLEAN and PURE audio and guarantees a noise-free signal.
They are also protected by a conductive foil shield, which provides necessary shielding from electrical interference.
Vitrius emphasizes their 3-pin XLR connectors feature a chuck-type strain relief, meaning the cable is nicely connected to the connector.
These high-quality cables are built for LONGEVITY with consistent quality every time!
8. Roland Black Series
The Roland Black series of XLR cables for microphones and instruments deliver PROFESSIONALISM and excellent audio quality!
These heavy-duty connectors guarantee high-quality and consistent performance with their multi-strand, oxygen-free copper!
You can count on its high-quality connectors, low-capacitance, and polyethylene insulation to give you extremely low noise with every recording!
Made with an ultra-thick outer covering, it provides maximum durability and shielding from RF interference compared to other cables.
The Roland Black series of XLR cables are definitely built to last! Enjoy the pure and natural sounds while you can!
9. Silverback Roar
Right off the bat, the Silverback Roar already wins in the aesthetics department with its shiny, metallic look!
But that does NOT take anything away in terms of build or sound quality, either!
The Silverback Roar is built with gold-plated XLR pins and copper conductors to give you that nice and clean sound.
Since gold plating erodes slower than silver or nickel, this XLR cable will definitely last for a longer time!
This XLR cable uses all-metal connectors with STURDY SPRINGS to prevent unnecessary bending.
It also has spiral copper shielding covered by tight, outer Nylon braided shielding instead of rubber or PVC to make the cable strong and durable, and still flexible!
You CAN’T go wrong with this perfect mix of beauty and strength!
10. Penker XLR Cable
The Penker XLR male-to-female connector is a great choice for any equipment, from the mixing board to an audio interface!
The high-density stranded 24 AWG design and multiple shielding provide no delay and faster audio transmission.
High-level processing and corrosion resistance are GUARANTEED!
Its heavy-duty metal connectors are made with strain relief and grip treads for durability. It is braided with soft yet sturdy nylon for enhanced flexibility, strength, and design.
This makes it MORE RESISTANT to twisting and folding while maintaining high audio performance.
The Penker is built to last and is ideal for any situation!
11. Jumperz JBM-25 Blue Line
The Jumperz JBM will be a great help in providing quality sound and color-coding your wires!
Too many black wires get confusing sometimes, so Jumperz’s colored wires eliminate the need for distinguishing one wire from another.
But it’s not just that!
Thanks to the 24 AWG blue-line copper wiring, insulated solder points, and high-quality connectors, Jumperz XLR cables also provide superb audio signals!
The wiring is flexible and durable, and the inner covered ground also helps eliminate noise and hum, so you can have crisp audio every time!
12. Rapco Horizon’s Road Hog HOGM-30.K
Road Hog describes their XLR cables as “Road Ready and Tour Tough,” and it looks like they aren’t lying!
These microphone cables have a tough and sturdy build designed to handle anything you put them through. Despite their thick size, they are very easy to roll up!
Bring them on tour, on a live stage, or keep them in your studio; the Road Hog can handle ANYTHING!
The Road Hog is equipped with a copper conductor wrapped in high-quality copper shielding, protected by a layer of PVC material for flexibility, durability, and super-low noise.
The Neutrik connectors are professional-standard and designed to last long without sacrificing consistency!
13. Monoprice Premier Series
The Monoprice Premier Series is one of the CHEAPEST yet high-quality XLR cables you can get your hands on!
For as low as $10 (prices increase as lengths increase), you will get a balanced instrument or microphone cable that utilizes impedance-balance lines to reduce RF noise interference.
They have a separate braided shield for additional resistance against interference without affecting the input signal.
These XLR cables will only provide you with the best audio signal, giving you crystal clear sound quality!
You will also enjoy gold-plated connectors with heavy-duty 16 AWG copper wire conduits, making for EASY signal transferring.
Professionalism at its finest!
And with the very affordable prices, you will find yourself going back to these very cheap cables in no time.
14. Furui XLR
The Furui XLR cables are a top-tier brand suitable for live stages and studio recording!
It uses 100% oxygen-free copper conductors and low fidelity attenuation to allow a super low noise recording environment!
The XLR cables are double shielded with high-density nylon braid and aluminum foil to provide high resistance against interference and high signal transferring with low noise!
It uses heavy-duty alloy metal conductors for increased durability and is compatible with 3-pin XLR connectors such as microphones, preamps, mixing boards, and more!
Furui designs its XLR cables with longevity in mind at a perfectly reasonable price Thanks to these, every recording or performance will unite aesthetics and quality.
What to Look for in a Good XLR Cable
What good is a super-high quality microphone or instrument if you do not have a good CABLE to connect them with?
Here are a few factors to consider when looking for a good XLR cable.
Purpose: Will You Use it for Stage or Recording?
XLR cables can be used for many purposes, including both live stage performances and studio recordings.
Suppose you are considering going on TOUR with a band.
You might want thicker cables that are a lot more durable and flexible since you will be lugging them around and rolling them up repeatedly, which could cause some damage.
You want to avoid using constantly beaten-up cables as your tour progresses.
On the other hand, XLR cables in the studio are less likely to go through wear and tear since they are just in one place:
However, they could still be stepped on sometimes or spread out across a table, the wall, or anywhere in the studio.
In this case, you may also want a FLEXIBLE enough XLR cable for this.
Either way, as long as your audio signal is good, any high-quality XLR cables that are sturdy should be enough!
Cable Lengths
The cable length is also important, as a longer XLR cable has a higher risk of noise or hiss than a shorter one. Generally, as long as your cable is less than 200 feet, it should be good!
A shorter XLR cable will not be long enough to run through your setup. Yet, an XLR cable that is way too long may be an obstacle for your feet or other gear.
You also do not want too many long XLR cables lying around as it will make your stage or recording setup disorganized, and other wires can get tangled up.
Stuff like this alone could AFFECT the quality of your performance!
Some cables go up to 100 feet without losing or sacrificing the audio signal.
However, as mentioned previously, the longer the XLR cable, the HIGHER THE RISK of losing your audio signal, resulting in noise.
The ideal and most popular cable length is somewhere between 15 to 30 feet.
It may be helpful to assess the size of your recording studio or stage to determine how long your XLR cables should be.
Connector Type
Connector types are the conductive material used in the XLR cable.
Some expensive XLR cables have GOLD and SLIVER-plated conductors, which are of high enough quality to resist strain.
Gold-plated connectors erode SLOWER and are more resistant to corrosion.
Silver, on the other hand, makes a better conductor but may have to be cleaned more often.
Whether to get a gold or silver-plated conductor is also something to consider.
It is a small detail that can greatly affect your audio down the road!
Sound Quality
Of course, bad cables mean bad audio quality.
Any audio professional will be able to hear the slightest difference between different microphone cables.
It is not easy to hear any noticeable difference in balanced cables!
But still, it is important to buy XLR cables with a significant amount of shielding to prevent interference from affecting the sound quality.
Some of the best XLR cables have a durable build with enough shielding to give you very little to no noise.
Rest assured, you can trust these balanced cables to have low noise and high sound quality!
Cable Care
Even though you are in a rush or hopping from one place to another, it is a COMMON MISTAKE to roll up your microphone or instrument cables without any care.
IMPROPER care of your microphone cables can lead to various problems like unwanted noise and loose shielding.
Some XLR cables are sturdy and durable enough to last even after countless rolling and stepping on.
But if you are unlucky and have a poorly built one, you might as well take the extra steps to take care of it.
Try using the OVER/UNDER method:
- Grab one end of the cable with your non-dominant hand with the connector facing you.
- Take your other hand and make the first loop.
- Then invert your other hand, grab your cable, and twist your hand, so it makes another loop.
- Keep going until the whole cable is fully rolled up.
It takes practice, but this life-changing method ensures your cables stay INTACT and cared for!
Consider using velcro straps as well to hold your cables in place!
Shielding
As the term implies, shielding protects your cable core and audio signal from any interference that could create noise or unwanted things that could ruin your sound.
Most common shieldings are made of copper, tin-plated copper, and aluminum laminate (or aluminum foil).
The shielding is connected to the third pin of the XLR, which redirects the interference away and into the ground.
Spiral copper shielding and braided tin copper shielding are mostly preferred by musicians as they have close to 100% coverage, increased conductivity, and flexibility.
It is important to remember to take care of your cables, as bending them too much will loosen or damage the inner copper spiral shielding.
What’s the Difference Between Using it In a Studio vs. Stage?
When it comes to studio recording vs. stage performances, XLR cables serve the same purpose: to deliver microphone or instrument-level signals over long distances.
A microphone cable will accomplish that on both a stage and a studio!
However, one key difference is that XLR cables used on STAGE, let’s say for a tour or concert, are more likely to have wear and tear on them.
All that constant stepping, rolling and unrolling, and packing away may take a toll on the cables.
This is why it may be better to use HIGH-DURABILITY cables on the go since those cables will move around as much as you will!
On the other hand, cables for the studio are safer and less exposed to the road since they are permanently in one spot.
But as mentioned earlier, you can still accidentally step on them, or they can get tangled in other wires.
Either way, a STRONG and DURABLE microphone cable is the best way to go, whether for a stage performance or studio recording.
Winner Picks
Best Value Pick: Mogami Gold
Although one of the more expensive cables, you still can’t go wrong with Mogami cables! This is the best XLR cable if you are looking for a worthy investment or upgrade.
Mogami cables are all-rounders as they can counter noise levels and maintain balanced signals from all sources.
The lifetime warranty is a great addition too!
Best Budget Pick: AmazonBasics
Audio equipment, in general, is quite expensive. Luckily, AmazonBasics hooks us up with the best cheap XLR cable!
Despite being cheaper, AmazonBasics’ cables DO NOT fall short of quality!
They are great for beginners looking for affordable equipment without sacrificing audio quality!
Best Overall: Hosa Pro
If you ask me, Hosa Pro is the best XLR cable if you need excellent quality at a reasonable price! The best of both worlds!
This top-tier, balanced XLR cable boasts professionalism and sound quality.
The copper conductors give off a loud and clear signal, and the durability makes it the toughest and strongest mic cable to use.
Soon, your setup will have no cables from brands other than Hosa!
Final Thoughts
That wraps my guide to the best XLR cables!
The audio world is full of unappreciated things like the microphone cable. It’s equipment like this that helps create the best possible performance.
Hopefully, this helped provide information about buying your next XLR cable!
Changelog:
December 19, 2022 – minor formatting updates
