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Author Topic: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables  (Read 17695 times)

aivoryuk

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upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« on: January 04, 2006, 03:23:49 PM »

Hi

I'm just making some small upgrades in my studio and I'm after some good quality but good value for money interconnects and speaker cables.

In particular I'm after a RCA phono to 6.3 mm jack lead (stereo prefered)

all the searches i've done so far have brought up quite low budget ones that don't look to be grreat quality.

I could just buy some high quality rca phono connects and then fet one end with 6.3 mm jack adaptors but I'm not sure if i want to go down that route.

any suggestions recommendations would be much appreciate

thanks

Alex
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TotalSonic

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2006, 03:37:37 PM »

Switchcraft makes a nice RCA gold plated plug.  Canare makes a good hefty 6.3mm one.  Mogami, Canare, Gepco, all make good coax cable.  Weller makes really nice soldering irons.  

For speaker cable - I've got to agree with Nelson Pass:
"We prefer speaker cables that are thick and short. Silver and copper are the preferred metals. If you find any cable made of gold, please send me a couple hundred feet"

and my favorite:
"We have a general recommendation about interconnects, which is they should cost less than the amplifier"

Ironically I'm in the middle of soldering some trs to xlr cables right now.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

David Glasser

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2006, 04:27:30 PM »

Is it just me, or does the audiophile term 'interconnect' drive anyone else nuts?
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David Glasser
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zetterstroem

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2006, 12:17:06 AM »

doesn't ANYTHING audiophile drive anyone in here nuts????

Rolling Eyes  Rolling Eyes  Rolling Eyes
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bblackwood

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2006, 12:25:20 AM »

zetterstroem wrote on Wed, 04 January 2006 23:17

doesn't ANYTHING audiophile drive anyone in here nuts????

Rolling Eyes  Rolling Eyes  Rolling Eyes

Yes. It's part of the agreement when you sign up.
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Brad Blackwood
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bigaudioblowhard

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2006, 12:36:19 AM »


David Glasser wrote on Wed, 04 January 2006 14:27

Is it just me, or does the audiophile term 'interconnect' drive anyone else nuts?


You mean like linestage (for preamp), analogue (for record player), or my pet peeve passive preamp (for switcher), soundstage (for image), transport (for CD player), monoblock (mono power amp), horn loaded (speakers with horns) ?

If I ever read a review in Mix or Tape Op that claims a given device has more "there there"  ... well I just dont know what I'll do.

Why yes, now that you mention it, 'interconnect' does drive me a little nuts, and I thought it was just me.

bab

TotalSonic

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2006, 12:54:25 AM »

bigaudioblowhard wrote on Thu, 05 January 2006 05:36


David Glasser wrote on Wed, 04 January 2006 14:27

Is it just me, or does the audiophile term 'interconnect' drive anyone else nuts?


You mean like linestage (for preamp), analogue (for record player), or my pet peeve passive preamp (for switcher), soundstage (for image), transport (for CD player), monoblock (mono power amp), horn loaded (speakers with horns) ?

If I ever read a review in Mix or Tape Op that claims a given device has more "there there"  ... well I just dont know what I'll do.

Why yes, now that you mention it, 'interconnect' does drive me a little nuts, and I thought it was just me.

bab


You forgot my fave "midrange bloom."
 Rolling Eyes

I recently was checking out a pair of monitors in an avowed audiophile's place - they had spent a ton of money on fancy spikes for all their gear to sit on - yet their room was in a desperate need of bass trapping.  Can anyone hear say "barking up the wrong tree"?

Best regards,
Steve Berson

Bob Boyd

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2006, 01:50:58 AM »

TotalSonic wrote on Wed, 04 January 2006 23:54


I recently was checking out a pair of monitors in an avowed audiophile's place - they had spent a ton of money on fancy spikes for all their gear to sit on - yet their room was in a desperate need of bass trapping.  Can anyone hear say "barking up the wrong tree"?

Best regards,
Steve Berson

I'm with you on that one Steve.  

I recently stopped by a high end place here in Houston to listen to the new B&W 800D and/or 802D's out of curiosity.  Mega dollar amps, mega dollar wire all in the worst room possible.  Bass and low mid bloom everywhere.  Mid and top you could walk in and out of within inches.   Anybody who knows anything about what they were listening to would demand a different environment before trying to purchase these $20k monitors.

I ended up turning them down and trying to kneel down a few feet from ONE of them in the middle of the room to try to get an idea and then left in frustration.  They weren't doing B&W any favors.

I think they were just as interested in selling the leather chairs with drink holders.
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zetterstroem

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2006, 05:41:17 AM »

i just recently heard a pair of adam speakers in a well treated room...

Shocked  Shocked  Shocked  Shocked ....the horror....



















sorry couldn't resist.... i'm childish Smile
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zetterstroem

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2006, 05:43:11 AM »

btw these are some lovely interconnects : http://www.vandenhul.com/cable/integration-h.htm

no voodoo here....
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Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway." (b.dylan)

bobkatz

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2006, 07:33:36 AM »

bigaudioblowhard wrote on Thu, 05 January 2006 00:36



You mean like linestage (for preamp), analogue (for record player), or my pet peeve passive preamp (for switcher), soundstage (for image), transport (for CD player), monoblock (mono power amp), horn loaded (speakers with horns) ?


bab



Now I'm going to drive you batty...   anyway, the precision of any term is only as good as the way that we understand it.

I feel that the terms "soundstage" and "image" are attempts to replace  "width" and "depth". But "width" and "depth" sound so.... well mundane.

Transport is a "passive" CD player with no D/A converter. There's a place for that term, I think.

"Monoblock"... yeah, there's no defense for the term except that it's shorter and easier to say than "mono power amp".

Most of these terminologies evolve from the tendency in human speech to use the easier and faster word instead of the more correct term. Hey, we're guilty too, of this practice, even as professionals. How many times do you say, "volume" or "volume control" instead of "monitor gain", when "volume" is not an acoustimetric quantity? In my book, "volume" is quarts and pints and liters.

BK
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Ronny

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2006, 07:45:05 AM »

zetterstroem wrote on Thu, 05 January 2006 05:43

btw these are some lovely interconnects : http://www.vandenhul.com/cable/integration-h.htm

no voodoo here....



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JGreenslade

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2006, 09:19:06 AM »

For 1/4" or XLR, I'd go for Switchcraft, as has been suggested.

However, the jewel in Neutrik's crown IMO would be their "Pro-Fi" RCA jack - it's a marvel.

Although I avoid RCAs where I can, if I have to use them, "Pro-Fi" are the way to go. Make sure to try a pair if you don't know them already, they really *grip*.

Justin
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Gold

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2006, 10:09:05 AM »

Can any of our German speaking friends tell us whether that language, which is so precise at technical descriptions, is any better at avoiding these vague and misleading terms?
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zetterstroem

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Re: upgrading interconnects and speaker cables
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2006, 10:12:19 AM »

"I've got inexpensive cables that I've purchased or cables that I've made from inexpensive wire in the 60's, 70's and 80's that are still working fine."

i'm sure they sound great

Rolling Eyes
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Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway." (b.dylan)
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