How to Cure an Audio Cable

Have you ever worked with a cable that is so kinked up that no matter how you wrap it, it looks horrible and doesn’t unwrap any better because it kinks itself repeatedly? It is probably because the cable was wrapped improperly for so long, it doesn’t remember how to be wrapped properly! It must be retrained. 

When you don’t wrap a cable properly, it not only causes the cable to get kinked up and knot easier, it can also cause certain cables to wear out quicker. This can be because wrapping cables the wrong way can alter the shielding inside, causing gaps in the shielding of cheaper quality cable.

Not to worry! There is a curing process that can be done with audio cables to help return them to their natural form. It is not hard to do, in fact it’s extremely simple. However, it does take a few steps in order to fully work. 

What you need is a hot sunny day, a long strip of concrete that is safe and free from cars, and a buddy to help!

STEP ONE: Grab an XLR and make sure it is free of any knots

STEP TWO: Lay the XLR cable out completely straight

STEP THREE: With your friend, grab the cable about 6 inches from the end (completely away from the end connectors)

STEP FOUR: Play a very gentle tug of war game. Not hard. Make sure, once again, you are not holding the connectors. If you are, you risk ripping the soldering joints right out of the connector. 

STEP FIVE: After a few moments of tugging, lay the cable flat on the ground. 

STEP SIX: Wait 30 minutes to an hour for the cable to get warmed up by the sun and the concrete.

STEP SEVEN: Ask your friend to play the tug of war game one more time. This time, notice the cable will stretch a little bit. Do not pull hard. Just enough to help the cable forget the kinks. 

STEP 8: Re-wrap the XLR slowly with the proper sized circles. This will help to retrain the cable to always have the same sized loops.