On interconnect cables....

[PlacervilleGuy]

Thought I'd share what I learned yesterday about analog interconnect cables.
(This may seem obvious to some people here, but others may benefit)

I've had a Panasonic S-77 DVD/DVD-A player for quite a few years. Does a GREAT job of playing and up-converting DVDs, plus, it's a DVD-Audio disk player. When I finally got a few DVD-A disks, I had to connect the multi-channel outputs from the player to the multi-channel analog inputs on my AVR. Bingo bango, done. All has been well for years.

Then, the other day, I sit down to listen (again) to the DVD-A of Dark Side of the Moon, (yes, you read that right, a DVD-A of DSOTM, search this forum, you'll find info) and something wasn't right. Just a few days ago when playing this disk, the sax on the song "Us & Them" sounded like the guy was standing in my livingroom playing. Now, it sounded like the guy took 15 steps back from the mic! Listening longer, I determined that the high-freqs for the front right channel were not there! Had I just blown a tweeter?

A check of all connections found nothing wrong. I switched from the DVD-A audio track to the DTS track on the disk and played "Us & Them" again. While the resolution wasn't there, the high-freqs WERE. Ah HA! I had just isolated the problem I was hearing to the analog outputs on the player. I decided to try swapping-out the RCA cables for the front R & L channels with a pair of old Cardas cables I had layin' around. THAT fixed it, the sax was back! I apparently had a bad RCA cable!

What I don't get is, these cables have been in place for years and have not even been breathed on. How can they just spontaneously go bad? And they didn't just quit working altogether, they started rolling-off the high-freqs! What has degraded to cause this and why?

Yes, the cables in question are the el-cheapo variety that come in the box with audio components. Admitedly, not the best build quality by any stretch, but, wire is wire, and should get the signal from Point A to Point B without muss or fuss. And the signal is either there, or it's not. (i.e. broken wire) And I've NEVER been a believer in the mega-buck fancy-shmancy interconnects some people swear that they can hear a difference with (between two perfectly working cables, mind you). Especially those goofy "battery-biased" jobs that cost hundreds of dollars. Sorry, but you guys are smokin' crack.

But, with this little experience, I HAVE proven to myself that paying for a good set of reasonably priced interconnects is probably worthwhile, if only to know that they won't one day just crap-out on you. BUILD-QUALITY is what I'm talking about here. I ended up paying $140 for 3 pair of Ultralink Performance Series cables including tax and shipping. I consider that reasonable. (Yeah, I know I probably could have found them on-line cheaper. DO try to resist the urge to point that out to me, won't you?)

So now, I'm ready for my Panny BD80 that should arrive tomorrow!

[solarrdadd]

Don't worry, I always get jumped on if I speak out and say I prefer a high dollar cable or one made by other than "Monoprice" (who we will all have a laugh when we find out they have been pulling the wool over all our eyes at some point!" to that end, I do also use a lot of Monoprice products as well. But, I buy certain things to have piece of mind for me, not for everyone else who hates "Monster" or some other expensive brand. Stop and think, do most of the people who spend thousands on their Amps, and many thousands on their speakers and pre-amps, "upscale" blu-ray or SACD players use some "cheap" (priced) cables at monoprice, I doubt it. Not all expensive things are ripoffs and not all cheap things are great bargins and "just as good" either. Both are trying to sell you something and both will talk the other down so ultimately, you have to do your research and listen to your heart and brain and determine which is going to give you piece of mind. Like I said, some things I am willing to buy the "cheaper" priced types and for other things I will pay for the "higher dollar" things I've got lots from Monoprice to Monster and other brands as well and I'm very happy! As long as your stuff works and your happy, then, well there you go!

[phantompwr]

I work at an AV company and I have had to replace component and audio cables before, even ones that went between components that were mounted in a rack, that hadn't been touched. They weren't cheap cables either. Its a mystery to me as well, but it happens.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by PlacervilleGuy

What I don't get is, these cables have been in place for years and have not even been breathed on. How can they just spontaneously go bad? And they didn't just quit working altogether, they started rolling-off the high-freqs! What has degraded to cause this and why?

Yes, the cables in question are the el-cheapo variety that come in the box with audio components. Admitedly, not the best build quality by any stretch, but, wire is wire, and should get the signal from Point A to Point B without muss or fuss. And the signal is either there, or it's not. (i.e. broken wire) And I've NEVER been a believer in the mega-buck fancy-shmancy interconnects some people swear that they can hear a difference with (between two perfectly working cables, mind you). Especially those goofy "battery-biased" jobs that cost hundreds of dollars. Sorry, but you guys are smokin' crack.

But, with this little experience, I HAVE proven to myself that paying for a good set of reasonably priced interconnects is probably worthwhile, if only to know that they won't one day just crap-out on you. BUILD-QUALITY is what I'm talking about here. I ended up paying $140 for 3 pair of Ultralink Performance Series cables including tax and shipping. I consider that reasonable. (Yeah, I know I probably could have found them on-line cheaper. DO try to resist the urge to point that out to me, won't you?)

So now, I'm ready for my Panny BD80 that should arrive tomorrow!

I cannot stress enough that there can be a HUGE DIFFERENCE in sound and picture quality when your dealing with signal transfer through analog cables. You're original line of thinking before your experience was true - for digital signal transfer - but it's not true for analog audio and video transmission, and to a lesser extent, amplified signal transfer through speaker cables.

You never, ever want to use the cheapie OEM cables that came in the box. If you get new gear, and don't have another cable, use the OEM cable only until you can get a replacement. This is especially true when you're dealing with potential high resolution analog signals for as SACD, DVD-A, HD component signals, and subwoofer cables.

It can make a huge difference. An upgraded cable is more likely to accurately transfer the signal while not introducing degradation, interference, or colorization. OEM analog cables need to be thrown away, so they don't find there way back into your system.

[Big Daddy]

To the best of my knowledge, the DVD-A copy of DSOTM is a boot leg copy. Officially, DSOTM was only released on SACD.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

To the best of my knowledge, the DVD-A copy of DSOTM is a boot leg copy. Officially, DSOTM was only released on SACD.

I agree. This certainly would have been mentioned here. Only a Hybrid SACD was released.

John

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by John72953

I agree. This certainly would have been mentioned here. Only a Hybrid SACD was released.

John

Are we saying that the "bootleg" DVD-A is the cause of the loss of sound or just a fact that it's a "bootleg" DVD-A with nothing to do with the issue. I just want to be sure.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

Are we saying that the "bootleg" DVD-A is the cause of the loss of sound or just a fact that it's a "bootleg" DVD-A with nothing to do with the issue. I just want to be sure.

No, it is inappropriate to discuss unauthorized copies of any product on Blu-ray.com.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

Are we saying that the "bootleg" DVD-A is the cause of the loss of sound or just a fact that it's a "bootleg" DVD-A with nothing to do with the issue. I just want to be sure.

I can't tell you definately why, but I would suspect that because it's a bootleg it is not of the same standard and/or quality.

John

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by John72953

I can't tell you definately why, but I would suspect that because it's a bootleg it is not of the same standard and/or quality.

John

That bootleg is from the quad mix that Alan Parsons made in the 1970s. It does not have the .1 for the subwoofer.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

That bootleg is from the quad mix that Alan Parsons made in the 1970s. It does not have the .1 for the subwoofer.

The only ways to get the subwoofer to fire for most systems will either be through Double bass setting for your Pre/Pro or receiver or to use the subwoofer connected directly to the main speakers and to adjust the frequency through the subwoofer amp.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

That bootleg is from the quad mix that Alan Parsons made in the 1970s. It does not have the .1 for the subwoofer.

You're a fountain of info BD...thanks so much for that. Did the AP quadmix ever get an official/authorized release?

John

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

You're a fountain of info BD...thanks so much for that. Did the AP quadmix ever get an official/authorized release?

John

As I recall, some of the well known Moody Blues SACDs were also actually made from the Quad recordings as well. As a result, I think that those SACDs are actually a 4.0 mix rather than a 5.0 or a 5.1 mix. I would have to check my copies to be sure.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

As I recall, some of the well known Moody Blues SACDs were also actually made from the Quad recordings as well. As a result, I think that those SACDs are actually a 4.0 mix rather than a 5.0 or a 5.1 mix. I would have to check my copies to be sure.

Rich

I don't think a SACD of DSOTM was ever released other than the original 5.1 Hybrid.

John

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by John72953

I don't think a SACD of DSOTM was ever released other than the original 5.1 Hybrid.

John

Officially, DSOTM was released on LP, CD, and hybrid 5.1 SACD. Forget about cassettes and 8 Track.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Officially, DSOTM was released on LP, CD, and hybrid 5.1 SACD. Forget about cassettes and 8 Track.

Yes...I was indeed aware of that.

John

PS..I think I have like 5 vinyl copies. None on CD or SACD.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

Yes...I was indeed aware of that.

John

PS..I think I have like 5 vinyl copies.

Well I actually have a Quad LP recording of Dark Side of the Moon. Just no cartridge and 4 channel system to play it on.

Rich

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by John72953

Yes...I was indeed aware of that.

John

PS..I think I have like 5 vinyl copies. None on CD or SACD.

I have an original LP, a cassette that I made myself, two CD's, and one SACD. I also made a copy many years ago from my LP to reel to reel tape on a Pioneer recorder. I also saw them in concert a century ago. It was the 20th century.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have an original LP, a cassette that I made myself, two CD's, and one SACD. I also made a copy many years ago from my LP to reel to reel tape on a Pioneer recorder. I also saw them in concert a century ago. It was the 20th century.

Saw them I think in the last century as well. It was when they were promoting their ANIMALS album, but the tour was called something esle. I remember being one of 80,000 potheads at Olympic Stadium in Montreal! What a trip!

John

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have an original LP, a cassette that I made myself, two CD's, and one SACD. I also made a copy many years ago from my LP to reel to reel tape on a Pioneer recorder. I also saw them in concert a century ago. It was the 20th century.

I had the opportunity to see Pink Floyd in the UK on their Pulse tour. I can't believe I turned it down. :-( The best I can do to make up for it is to have the Pulse album on vinyl, which is great with its hard cover 12" square picture book.