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Product Review:

Pyle Pro PCT-40 12 in 1 Cable Tester

Recently, I looked into purchasing a cable tester for the work bench. For years I've been using the old volt-meter but with so many cables to test, I thought I'd go ahead and invest in a cable tester. There are many to choose from, and I bought a couple. However, for the price and functionality, the Pyle-Pro PCT-40 just can't be beat.

The tester (like most of them) is simply a pin continuity tester. Plug one end of the cable to one side and the other end of the cable to the other. By rotating the dial it verifies pin by pin the correct wiring.

Testable Connectors Types

The Pyle-Pro PCT-40 allows you to test a lot of different connectors:

XLR (3 pin and 5 pin)
TRS
TS
RCA
DIN (3, 5 and 8 pin)
Banana
RJ45
BNC
USB
4-pin Speakon

Price

At a price of under $40.00 US -- What a deal! I've bought units that are twice this price, but this one is built just as rugged (if not more so) and works just as well. The Pyle-Pro website has this unit with a list price of $92.50, but I see it on the web for under $40 as a real street price. In my opinion, this unit is worth every penny.

Durability

First - you'll notice the bright yellow construction. I like this. It makes it easy to find. The unit is stamped out of steel and is well labeled. It has a heavy weight for the size. Overall - this unit is very well built. I've not had mine for a long length of time (as of the time of this writing) but I am very optimistic that it is going to last for quite some time.

Overall Usefulness

I give this unit an A+. After using it for a while, it's much easier, quicker and more accurate than a volt meter. With the solid connection point for each cable, you have a platform that allows you to bend wires, jiggle connections and look for intermittent shorts. Try doing that while holding a test prong to each pin!

With this tester, I can quickly go through all my cables before and after each production. I highly recommend this unit to anyone who deals with these types of cables on a regular basis. It's one of the most valued troubleshooting tools in my bag.