HOSA > LiveWire??

Probably distance and direction. In some audio/interface you would not want to use any Hosa cables, they get stuck in the Neutrick connection and can not be pulled out, and then when you paid a couple of thousands for the unit, you have to try and take it apart and may break the combination connecter or send in the unit to have them get the triangle shaped tip end out, because it is not rounded.
I have I think live wire cables, I have no problem with them.
Of course I have some others also from Sweetwater, but since they all cost about the same, I can not see where that would be a problem. At least with anything I have, it is not.
Could be electromagnetic interference, or poor shielding in some unit that picks up the interference (radio frequencies). Always getting bombarded by electromagnetic waves all over in the atmosphere, or if close to a high-power voltage line can cause problems also.
Most people use a power conditioner for the power supply also, because of dirty power or brownouts with power (or even blackouts) and also may have a uninterruptible power supply to shut down things safely if power fails.
 

Didn't I mention that? Yes, the guitar type cord connections (1/4" plugs ends) get stuck in those combination connectors.
Not the XLRs. Sorry about that, I goofed.
 
 

Probably a question for Gearslutz forum there, or maybe there is a thread already on it. I don't think you would hurt a dynamic mic but then I am not sure and I guess I would not do it, and well a ribbon mic I would not do it with or even try. I think in that case I buy another condenser mic that takes a 48v plug-in just to be safe about it. Maybe someone else has another answer or probably if put into a search engine maybe an answer can be found. (ie. running a dynamic mic in a 48v mic connection because both inputs have 48v on them because of the condenser mic - ah, might have to shorten that search parameter a bit though).
 

Aw, Rob, that was the ONE I was gonna get! (but alas, my setup couldn't wait much longer, I had NO interface prior to this'n :S) but alright, that's pretty straight-forward. Guess my multi-mic setups will be limited to dynamic-only or multi-interface until I get a bigger, better one (which won't be soon, haha)

There seems to be an exception to every rule. I have been running soundboards for a long time and mixing phantom power with dynamics. In fact, My Mackie board is designed to handle both together and the power goes to all my mic inputs. The original design of phantom power is such that it is supposed to play well with dynamics. If it weren't this way think of how many mixers would be blown up if you hot plugged a dynamic in every time you accidentally left phantom power on. Most people like to keep the two separate in case something wasn't wired to spec. for safety sake.
I live on the edge, so I would probably be using them together. I haven't yet heard the lightening bolts of Zeuss or smelled smoke in my studio...it could happen though.
 
As it turns out ribbon mic makers are starting to make their mics more resilient to phantom power. Some of them play ok with it,some don't.
 
It seems to be more of a problem if you hot plug into phantom power. I would not venture to play with that though. Make sure it's off if you use a ribbon mic.

Like Bill said.  Phantom power will not damage a standard dynamic microphone.  Older, unprotected ribbon microphones may incur some damage because the 48v DC bias of phantom power can cause the aluminum ribbon to bow outward and possibly rip it.  Most ribbon mics however block the DC completely with the transformer or with diodes.  And of course active ones require phantom power to run the built in amplifier.  
 
As far as the OP, I am guessing the older Hosa cables use generic or Switchcraft connectors.  I have discovered that Neutrik connectors tend to be more susceptible to misc noises running up the ground pin.  You likely have USB noise issues which is common in bus powered interfaces like the Audio Box.