Z Cable?

The most useful adapter Pro Audio Techs can carry?

I asked recently what you call this type of adapter. You responded with loads of interesting answers from all around the world. The common answer was Z cable or Zed cable, due to how they look when laid out flat. No matter what you call these though, you should probably have them in your kit, especially if you’re traveling light. Splitting, combining, turning around and patching, this one cable can do it all.

The Z cable is (or was) sold as a YX2F2M cable by Whirlwind. However, the last I looked Full Compass has them listed at $83.59 which is absolutely insane for what this is. ProAudioSolutions.com has them for $65, and how about as low as $56 from Adorama? Even that is asking a lot if you own a soldering iron. Using genuine Neutrik connectors and premium cable, this should cost less than $20 in parts.

Even buying in small quantities, like this set of six pairs of Neutrik XLR ends, they cost just $3 and change per connector. Balanced audio cable comes in a lot of different types and styles too. Even the most expensive though, is only a couple of dollars per foot. Three 18″ sections (4.5 feet) of cable is all that was used in this video. Unless you are quite comfortable with soldering, it is wise to avoid star-quad cable for these types of adapters. You’ve already got a lot going on doubling up the cable in the two middle connectors, and doubling the wires again (using star-quad) does make things more challenging.

Performance Audio has L-2T2S Canare by the foot if you’re not buying a whole spool. At the time of publishing, they sell it for around $.54 / foot (with free shipping on domestic orders over $50). This is not an affiliate link & we’ve never ordered from them before, but it looks like the best deal online currently for quality balanced cable by the foot.

So what is it in your neck of the woods? Leave any questions you have & Thanks for watching.

Useful links from the video:

USITT 2022 Recommendations – https://www.usitt.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/USITTTSDCA%20Sound%20Documentation%20Recommendations_April_2022_APPROVED.pdf

Build them yourself 4 of each direction XLR Neutrik Ends – https://amzn.to/3NaIp5E

Belden XLR – https://amzn.to/3SIsCfJ – (this is installation cable, but works well for adapters)

Check out our other Neutrik videos too, especially where we’ve looked at the Convert-Con XLR cable ends that do both input and output by sliding the outer shell back or forth.