Interconnect cables, Speaker cables & Power Cords.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by DLS_222

Thanks! Actually the place I've been going to didn't have MA's - they had Paradigms B&W's, ML's Vienna Acoustic, Cerwin Vegas and Acoustic Zen speakers.. Only had time to check out the one room that had the Sigs and the 803D's. I'll probably stop by again since it's only 5 mins away from where I'm staying. The other place that have the MA's is a small shop in a house.. and they only carry Paradigm and Monitor Audio so I can actually compare them with something I'm very familiar with. It's on the other side of the city though but I do plan to stop by for sure.. still got a week. I can never do this stuff at home so why not

You still got to hear a lot of great speakers! I love the Sigs, silky smooth....

Let me know what you think when you make it over there.

[-DLS-]

Yah I kind of miss living in the city for these kind of things - especially the choices of good restaurants!!

I'll post back on those MA's for sure!

[solarrdadd]

I never regreted buying my bi-wired cables for my front 3 from http://www.calabrine.com/ they are well made and never has there been a doubt as to whether I could hear a difference or not because the answer is YES! My front 3 sound even better now that I have an XPA-5 powering them!

I paid good money for them and hind sight being 20/20, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, just sooner! Sometime, paying for good, higher end cables can make a difference. I know many of you will jump on me calling me crazy or telling me I wasted my money and I'll say that's cool cause I'm happy with my choice as it works well for me. I feel the same way about HD-DVD & Blu-Ray, 1080p is 1080p! I just watch the Matrix Revolutions in HD-DVD in DTHD and let me tell you, I'd dare anyone to tell me they were not watching the Blu-Ray version. I love both formats and for my front 3 I love my special made speaker cables!

Oh don't get me started on my http://bluejeanscable.com/store/6channel/index.htm interconnect cables!

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

I just watch the Matrix Revolutions in HD-DVD in DTHD and let me tell you, I'd dare anyone to tell me they were not watching the Blu-Ray version.

actually Warner just ported over the HD-DVD version to Bluray, so in essence they are identical. Of course if they maximized for Bluray, they could have increased band width, less compression...but that would be like splitting atoms. No one would probably notice. You are correct, 1080p is a nice picture regardless.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

John,

If you are interested in silver-copper RCA cables, these are the cheapest I have ever seen:

Silver RCA cable (1 meter, $40):
http://cgi.ebay.com/KnuKonceptz-Silv...3A1%7C294%3A30

Silver RCA cable (2 meter, $50):
http://cgi.ebay.com/KnuKonceptz-Silv...3A1%7C294%3A30

BD, have you used these IC's, or know someone who has? I came close to buying a pair but would like some user feedback if there's any out there.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Hi Rhett,

It may be worth looking at and trying some of Kevin's products in Taiwan off of eBay. Below are some examples that are quite good at reasonable cost:

Rich

Rich, have you used these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...%3D4%26ps%3D10

I'm in the market so to speak and am trying to make a decision.
thks.

[plenipote]

Maybe a dumb question, but are interconnect cables the same thing as RCA cables? Are these cables you would use to i.e. connect your CD player to your receiver? Also, I don't have a separate amp (yet), but I know you connect an amp to a receiver using RCA cables, correct? Is there another name for these? Which ones are the best? I know, lots of questions, but I know someone out there has the answers. Thanks.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

Rich, have you used these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...%3D4%26ps%3D10

I'm in the market so to speak and am trying to make a decision.
thks.

Hi Fred,

Yes, I have and am using quite a number of these cables in different lengths with many of my components including with my big Teres 450 Turntable/Teres Illius Tonearm/Soundsmith Strain Gauge Cartridge/Strain Gauge 410 Phono Premp. Kevin's cables are exceedingly good for their price. I am only now starting to replace some of these with very much more expensive Wireworld cables (some of them the top of the Wireworld line). Even with the replaced expensive cables, I anticipate still using some of these cables for the subwoofer connections including for the multichannel playback from my SACD and DVD-A coming from my upgraded (heavily modified) Denon DVD 5910. These particular cables in the eBay link would be the equivalent of many cables in the $300 to more range for cables. Dave Schulte of the Upgrade Company I think found that they were equal or better than MIT cables substantially more expensive than even that price. I think that you would be hard pressed to find cables of this quality and performance for this price elsewhere.

These same cables are very nicely made and have locking (twisting) RCA connectors. The cables are also directional and are marked as to the flow direction on the ends of the cables.

Rich

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by plenipote

Maybe a dumb question, but are interconnect cables the same thing as RCA cables? Are these cables you would use to i.e. connect your CD player to your receiver? Also, I don't have a separate amp (yet), but I know you connect an amp to a receiver using RCA cables, correct? Is there another name for these? Which ones are the best? I know, lots of questions, but I know someone out there has the answers. Thanks.

Yes, interconnects, commonly referred to as ICs with RCA connectors are commonly called RCA cables. Yes they are the analog cables commonly used between a CD player and a receiver or a Pre/Pro. They are also used to connect RCA inputs/outputs of amps, receivers, and preamps or Pre/Pros. Some equipment also offer connections through balanced (XLR) type connectors. No one can say which is the best, but they can range in price from perhaps a coupe of dollars to thousands of dollars a meter. There are many manufacturers of cables, but you should not go overboard on these cables at least until you have the equipment that can benefit from them. The general rule of thumb is to use a figure of about 15% to 20% of the cost of your components for the cost of your cabling.

Rich

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Hi Fred,

Yes, I have and am using quite a number of these cables in different lengths with many of my components including with my big Teres 450 Turntable/Teres Illius Tonearm/Soundsmith Strain Gauge Cartridge/Strain Gauge 410 Phono Premp. Kevin's cables are exceedingly good for their price. I am only now starting to replace some of these with very much more expensive Wireworld cables (some of them the top of the Wireworld line). Even with the replaced expensive cables, I anticipate still using some of these cables for the subwoofer connections including for the multichannel playback from my SACD and DVD-A coming from my upgraded (heavily modified) Denon DVD 5910. These particular cables in the eBay link would be the equivalent of many cables in the $300 to more range for cables. Dave Schulte of the Upgrade Company I think found that they were equal or better than MIT cables substantially more expensive than even that price. I think that you would be hard pressed to find cables of this quality and performance for this price elsewhere.

These same cables are very nicely made and have locking (twisting) RCA connectors. The cables are also directional and are marked as to the flow direction on the ends of the cables.

Rich

Thanks Rich.

I went ahead and ordered the slightly more expensive solid core cable, primarily because the shipping is free, thus making it actually cheaper than the $80 IC. It was this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Solid-Core-Pure-...3A1%7C294%3A30

Honestly looking forward to getting it.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

Thanks Rich.

I went ahead and ordered the slightly more expensive solid core cable, primarily because the shipping is free, thus making it actually cheaper than the $80 IC. It was this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Solid-Core-Pure-...3A1%7C294%3A30

Honestly looking forward to getting it.

Hi Fred,

These should be quite good as well, and in fact should a probably an even better cable due to the solid core (I think that these may be the cables that Dave Schulte of the Upgrade Company found to be better than the less expensive cables).

Rich

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

BD, have you used these IC's, or know someone who has? I came close to buying a pair but would like some user feedback if there's any out there.

I haven't used them myself, but a semi audiophile friend told me that he bought them and was happy with them.

[-DLS-]

So after a couple of days I've listened to some CD's, SACD's and watched bits of some movies - I switched out my Monoprice speaker wires to my new STRAIGHT WIRE bi-wire cables for my front three.

To be honest I couldn't really tell much of a difference for most music and not much at all for movies. If I could switch back and forth immediately like going from "Pure Direct" to "Straight" then maybe I would notice more but It took a bit of time to switch them out and hear the same song again. One thing that had an immediate noticeable difference in was on female vocals on the "World's Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings(SACD)" especially the first track - Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon, it never sounded that good before - Her voice was just so smooth and I've listened to that song many times. It could be just me but if it made a bit of a difference, then maybe much more expensive cables would make an easily noticeable difference since this was just a very small upgrade. I guess it was still worth it for me since I only spent $150 and not thousands.

So some people say all speaker wire is the same - I guess I would say it's not but I wouldn't say there is much of a difference except maybe on really hi end cables which I wouldn't bother trying out.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by DLS_222

So after a couple of days I've listened to some CD's, SACD's and watched bits of some movies - I switched out my Monoprice speaker wires to my new STRAIGHT WIRE bi-wire cables for my front three.

To be honest I couldn't really tell much of a difference for most music and not much at all for movies. If I could switch back and forth immediately like going from "Pure Direct" to "Straight" then maybe I would notice more but It took a bit of time to switch them out and hear the same song again. One thing that had an immediate noticeable difference in was on female vocals on the "World's Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings(SACD)" especially the first track - Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon, it never sounded that good before - Her voice was just so smooth and I've listened to that song many times. It could be just me but if it made a bit of a difference, then maybe much more expensive cables would make an easily noticeable difference since this was just a very small upgrade. I guess it was still worth it for me since I only spent $150 and not thousands.

So some people say all speaker wire is the same - I guess I would say it's not but I wouldn't say there is much of a difference except maybe on really hi end cables which I wouldn't bother trying out.

I know that others may argue and say that there will be no difference in the sound from different cables (speaker or otherwise), or there is a placebo affect, or no burn-in is required, but you may well find that recordings will sound better as the Strait Wire cables burn in with use. Be aware, cables do not burn in consistently and the changes can be erratic, and they can sound worse before they sound better and smooth out their performance.

Rich

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

I know that others may argue and say that there will be no difference in the sound from different cables, or there is a placebo affect, or no burn-in is required, but you may well find that recordings will sound better as the Strait Wire cables burn in with use. Be aware, cables do not burn in consistently and the changes can be erratic, and they can sound worse before they sound better and smooth out their performance.

Rich

Yeah I read about the burn in somewhere and I guess it has only been a day with them so I shouldn't be so quick to judge but I am happy with them and hopefully it will only get better. Thanks

[Chizzap30]

As for my experiences go, I have been able to try many different cables. My background starts when I started working for Best Buy and worked up to be inside one of the Magnolia Home Theaters until I was let go (for no other reason besides they did not like paying me what I was worth.... long story, if you want to know about it, ask me). Since I received some of the unique training opportunities that came from being good at my job (going to Sumiko and doing their MASTERS training) and still loving audio and video, I contact one of my current places of employment Overture Audio (website in my profile).

Being with BB/MHT, I was exposed to Monster and Monster's M-series which were not bad, and there were slight improvements when moving between certain cables.

However, when I got to OA I was exposed to a place that carried Nordost, Linn, and Audioquest cabling. The cool thing that I love that we do at OA is let customers take home pieces (electronics and cables) for evaluation. So I started to do this as I started to get the itch to make what I considered upgrades to my set up and to broaden my experience.

I started with my power center since I felt my Monster Power bar was inadequate. The philosophy I have adopted is ultimately that the source components are the most important part of the system. Granted the speakers are going to have a certain sound to themselves, but if they do not get the information/detail from the source to begin with, they can't produce the what is supposed to be there. Since all the components require electricity to function, that's why I started with the power center.

From there I upgraded from a Yamaha receiver to my Arcam Pre/Pro and while doing different set ups at work I came to really like the Nordost cables and got Red Dawn interconnects between my Pre/Pro. I then upgraded my speakers from Athena Technologies Audition Series to the Vienna Acoustics. For speaker cable, I didn't go to a point that I would ultimately like to go to since I did not have the funds and even according to Nordost the power cord is going to make the largest difference to your set up. The next in the line is your interconnects from your sources to your receiver or pre/pro and then finally speaker cables. So I did some listening with different Nordost speaker cables and the Linn K-20 speaker cable. And I opted for the Linn cable really only because of cost restraints.

But then I upgraded my source for discs from the Pioneer Elite DV-45A (which is still going strong on my parents TV) to the Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD. So as this upgrade was coming I contemplated 2 different cables, the Linn Silvers and Nordost Frey. I brought a set of both home and did AABA comparisons. I also brought a friend over and did the same thing with him without telling him which cable was which and did AABA demo with him and he came to the same conclusion that I did and I ended up with the Nordost Frey.

As for HDMI cables, I am convince they they can make a difference. I brought home the Nordost Silver Screen HDMI cable and put the movie Cars in and played it with my Monster 1000 series HDMI and got to the beginning race and when the confetti comes down. I then put on the Nordost cable and started it again and details and a greater 3D effect was visible. Another guy purchased one on my recommendation, came back just to tell me how awesome the cable is. He said it made the blu-rays just even better and his DVD's look like blu-rays.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by DLS_222

Yeah I read about the burn in somewhere and I guess it has only been a day with them so I shouldn't be so quick to judge but I am happy with them and hopefully it will only get better. Thanks

Burn-in is thought of so seriously amongst some audiophiles that they resort to purchasing very expensive "cable cookers" to burn in their cables before use. Now that's what I call total commitment to the sound.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

Burn-in is thought of so seriously amongst some audiophiles that they resort to purchasing very expensive "cable cookers" to burn in their cables before use. Now that's what I call total commitment to the sound.

I have one on order that should be here shortly. People that have been using these units for years swear by them. Personally, I have found that cable performance improves with burn in. The "cable cookers" accelerate the burn in process dramatically with specific frequencies, etc. to aid in the process.

Rich

[Halcro 1]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Yes, interconnects, commonly referred to as ICs with RCA connectors are commonly called RCA cables. Yes they are the analog cables commonly used between a CD player and a receiver or a Pre/Pro. They are also used to connect RCA inputs/outputs of amps, receivers, and preamps or Pre/Pros. Some equipment also offer connections through balanced (XLR) type connectors. No one can say which is the best, but they can range in price from perhaps a coupe of dollars to thousands of dollars a meter. There are many manufacturers of cables, but you should not go overboard on these cables at least until you have the equipment that can benefit from them. The general rule of thumb is to use a figure of about 15% to 20% of the cost of your components for the cost of your cabling.

Rich

XLR cables of the same manfacture and line are ALWAYS better than their RCA counterparts ... Extra ground wire = usually 2-3 Db of noise reduction...I havent been in here in a while

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Chizzap30

But then I upgraded my source for discs from the Pioneer Elite DV-45A (which is still going strong on my parents TV) to the Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD. So as this upgrade was coming I contemplated 2 different cables, the Linn Silvers and Nordost Frey. I brought a set of both home and did AABA comparisons. I also brought a friend over and did the same thing with him without telling him which cable was which and did AABA demo with him and he came to the same conclusion that I did and I ended up with the Nordost Frey.

I share your Nordost addiction. I currently have a 1.5m length of Frey between my TT and preamp, and will be adding a 6m Frey IC between my preamp and power amps and a pair of 2m Frey speaker cables as soon as funds permit. I'll also be replacing as many power cords with Vishnu or Brahma, and may even try to squeeze a Thor power conditioner into the budget!

I also have a 1m length of Blue Heaven connecting my rarely used CD player to my preamp.