Material Source: Markertek, America’s Broadcast Supply House

I came across Markertek when I was looking to purchase some high-quality XLR connectors for a portable recording rig. They’re target market is TV and radio stations, but they sell to anyone. A friend turned me on to them, and I’ve ordered connectors, wire, and such from them a couple of times with good results. They shipped on time and packaged everything surprisingly well.
I like the fact that they carry a wide range of materials and have pictures of almost all of them available on their website. For example, they don’t just carry a “female XLR connector” — they carry dozens of them, including at least three different Neutrik models.
They’re also a great source for audio wire. I no longer pay big bucks for instrument cables; now I built my own 25-footer out of Canare wire and Neutrik 1/4″ connectors for around $20.
If you’re looking for A/V type stuff — like building your own patch panel or cables — you might want to give them a look.
Markertek: America’s Broadcast Supply House [Corporate Site]
Note: Half the difficulty of any projects is finding the right materials — fasteners, connectors, etc. — so we’re going to share some of our “black book” list with you via these “material source” posts. If you’re willing to share some of your secret shopping locations, drop us a line and we’ll post ’em.
What really makes that site viable is the man’s “Drunken XLR to RCA converter Kung Fu”.
Yeah, it’s pretty funny. Maybe that sort of thing appeals to broadcast engineer types.
As an AV technician I am always looking for new places for connectors and such. Thanks!