Strange Static When Touching Audio Cable:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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I have some audio cables labeled 'Balanced Audio Cable 16awg 97.5% Coverage." These cables have a huge, 11mm jacket.

20211115_232212.jpg

20211115_232157.jpg

Inside the cable, you find 4 conductors - two power and two braided Shields, one copper and one silver in color.

These are really nice cables, but I noticed something unusual. When I handle the outer rubber jacket, it produces an "static cling like" effect through the amp. Very mild, not really loud. No buzz, no hum, just a static effect. My cloth jacketed cables do not do this.

Ever experience this???
 
Beagle said:
Balanced cables aren't usually terminated by mono jacks. What are actually connected to the plug?
Click to expand...

Each cable has 4 conductors....2 signal and two shield. They are both connected together inside the plug.

Not sure where I got these cables....but I have probably 4 or 5 (25v) footers that are brand new
 
Beagle said:
Better to know for sure than guessing.
Click to expand...

Yes.

I actually robbed the ends off one of these cables and I can confirm the 2 signal paths are connected to switch tip and the 2 shields are connected to ground.
 
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Interesting.
When I read the thread title I hear the words in my mind "strange static" like in the chorus of the ELO song Strange Magic.

Robert, you a got strange static
Oh, what a strange static... etc.
 
jtcnj said:
Interesting.
When I read the thread title I hear the words in my mind "strange static" like in the chorus of the ELO song Strange Magic.

Robert, you a got strange static
Oh, what a strange static... etc.
Click to expand...

Found it!!!!

20211116_113751.jpg
 
Had another cable killed recently after being stepped on with hard sole boots....the static effect on the outside of the cable was the giveaway.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I have some audio cables labeled 'Balanced Audio Cable 16awg 97.5% Coverage." These cables have a huge, 11mm jacket.

View attachment 75879

View attachment 75880

Inside the cable, you find 4 conductors - two power and two braided Shields, one copper and one silver in color.

These are really nice cables, but I noticed something unusual. When I handle the outer rubber jacket, it produces an "static cling like" effect through the amp. Very mild, not really loud. No buzz, no hum, just a static effect. My cloth jacketed cables do not do this.

Ever experience this???
Click to expand...
It's cause you are radioactive.
no just kidding
:pound-hand:
It's normal for audio cables to be static/ microphonic.
Mogami has the lowest noise rated anti microphonic cable type...but lower noise can be expensive. :pound-hand:
cloth cables can be pretty good yes.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
It's cause you are radioactive.
no just kidding
:pound-hand:
It's normal for audio cables to be static/ microphonic.
Mogami has the lowest noise rated anti microphonic cable type...but lower noise can be expensive. :pound-hand:
cloth cables can be pretty good yes.
Click to expand...

You know, the cloth cables I have are the quietest from the standpoint of static.
 
I get no static of any kind from my acoustic …. Other than from people informing me I can’t play. Sorry. Just me being a smart ***. :cool:

But seriously. Glad you found the problem. Those things can make one crazy.
 
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