In the case of balanced cables, shielding is less important because they typically transmit line-level audio signals that don’t need to be boosted, and part of their design is to carry two identical signals in opposite polarity before reversing one in the end, which cancels the noise. Unbalanced cables are more prone to pick up unwanted noise in longer runs since the ground wire inside acts as an antenna, making it more susceptible to interference. Shielding in these cables becomes much more important because their levels are comparatively low.Ĭheck out this video by CS Guitars for a visual breakdown of the difference in sound. The more noise they pick up, the more it gets amplified when boosted by a preamp, which is why you see manufacturers promote braided shielding in these cables. The braid provides more complete coverage of the conductor, minimizing noise that would degrade the sound. These are the aspects of every cable that you actually get to see, and influence. Most often connectors are made with a combination of nickel, rhodium, or gold-plating. The primary reason these metals are used isn’t because of their conductivity, but because they resist corrosion more effectively. If there is any part of the connector that can most influence the sound, it’s likely to come from the solder point. Should the solder point break or degrade, you’re sure to experience less than desirable influences to your sound. There are a lot of claims manufacturers and audiophiles make when it comes to cables. We couldn’t possibly answer them all, but here are a couple common ones that relate to the information above: Gold-Plated Connectors Improve Your ToneĪlthough gold is the third most conductive metal behind copper, it would be rather dubious to claim any significant audible benefits of gold-plated connectors to the human ear.

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