Planet Waves Custom Series MIDI cables rank high on our lineup of the 10 best MIDI cables due to their quality construction, outstanding performance and limited lifetime warranty. Plus, they are attractive, distinctive and look like high-quality cables, which they are. Planet Wave's Custom Series MIDI cables are double shielded with both foil and dense, double-braded copper for 100 percent interference protection and consist of 24-gauge oxygen-free copper (OFC) wiring, foamed polyethylene insulation and gold-plated 5-pin DIN connectors encased in a double molded durable polymer jacket.
These MIDI interface cables are incredibly durable and provide highly accurate, error-free data transmission. We've chosen Planet Waves' Custom Series 5-pin MIDI cables as our TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award winner because they look good, sound great and provide an easy solution for organizing complex setups with multiple audio cables because they come with color-coded rubber rings that sit just below the connectors to differentiate between cables.
As we've stated, Planet Waves Custom Series MIDI cables are made from high-quality OFC wiring with gold-plated DIN connectors for highly accurate, interference-free data transmission. With all the electronic signals moving through the air around us coming from cell phones and wireless networks among other things, full-coverage shielding for all audio cables is more important than ever. Planet Waves ensures that their MIDI cables maintain absolute signal clarity by double shielding the internal wire conductors with both foil and densely braided copper, insulating the cable with foamed polyethylene and encapsulating it all within a durable polymer jacket that is dual molded to strengthen the joints between the cable and connectors.
The connectors themselves are gold-plated 5-pin male-to-male DIN connectors with two pins wired for MIDI data transfer, one connected to the shield and the other two wired for auxiliary applications. The gold plating provides the least resistance during signal transfer for the most error-free data transfer without signal lag. Plus, the connectors are fully molded to the cable to increase the tensile strength at the joint and further prevent signal interference and damage to the wiring.
Planet Waves MIDI cords are among the most durable MIDI cables available due to their extensive shielding and molding, including flexible, double-molded polymer strain relief at the joints to prevent damage and minimize wear and tear on the connector terminals. These MIDI interface cables are highly rated by both amateur and professional users for their quality and durable design, making them an excellent option for both MIDI aficionados and amateurs alike.
There are fewer length and color options for these MIDI cords compared with some of the other products in our lineup. The Planet Wave Custom Series MIDI cables are only available in black, and they only come in 2-, 5-, 10- and 20-foot lengths, so they score lower in the "options" category than they do in the "features" and "durability" categories. They do come with colored rings to help you differentiate between the various cables in your setup, however, which is a handy option for musicians with lots of interconnected gear. Planet Waves also sells dual MIDI connectors for linking two pieces of audio equipment via their MIDI input and output ports simultaneously, and they also manufacture other high-quality audio and data cables for many different instruments and applications.
Planet Waves provides technical support and customer service over the phone or via email through their website, which also has a FAQs page with a few answers to common questions, though it is by no means comprehensive. The website is well designed but somewhat difficult to navigate, and there is very limited product information available. Their customer support team is slow to respond to email inquiries, which is why they score low in this category.
If you're considering purchasing a Planet Waves Custom Series MIDI cable, you should choose a retailer you trust with comprehensive customer support since you cannot order directly from the manufacturer or find much product information on their website. Taken alone, the product is one of the best MIDI cables available in its price range, but the absence of online information and customer support affect the overall rating of this cable.
