Does the jack itself contribute much to the sound or is it just a matter of durability?
I ask because I recently got some cables custom made with Neutrik jacks and Sommer The Spirit cable. They sound excellent and seem very tough, and I think were well worth the price.*
However if I were to get similarly spec'd patch cables for my pedalboard, the difference between using Neutrik jacks and say,
THESE FLAT ONES would be pretty huge, also the heavy Neutrik ones would take up more space on the board. If there is no difference in sound between the two, and durability isn't needed on a planned and set board, then surely the cheap ones make far more sense? I'd be tempted to get the same guy who made my cables to make me patch cables with quality cable, but cheap jacks.
* - as recommended by Benecol and then endorsed by myself in prog's thread of a while back:
► Show Spoiler
BacchusPaul wrote:benecol wrote:Spot on timing, young Robert: you want
this cove on eBay - makes you up the cables you want for about tuppence more than you could buy the components for: I bought ten patch cables and a coily cable from him the other week, and the service was great (although he clearly smokes like a chimney - the jiffy
stank when I first opened it).
Just bumping to mention that I've recently bought two cables off this guy and he's excellent. He usually only stocks Van Damme cable but I asked him about Sommer and he sourced some Sommer The Spirit for me and made up two 6M cables with Neutrik jacks. They feel properly quality and heavy duty. I would have faith using these cables to tow a car.
I'd originally bought the cables because I wanted reliability and I was fairly sceptical about the sound differences given that my other cables were at least decent (Planet Waves), but a quick play around would suggest that these sound better still. Really quiet and detailed sound. It put me in mind of the first time I ever played with a valve amp, such was the difference in detail and dynamic. I might be talking shite here though, I haven't got round to A/B'ing against my old cables. I'll do that and report back.