FireWire Cables

jtwrace · « **on:** 13 Nov 2011, 03:08 am »

Does anyone have any recommendations of a good quality shielded one?

I need 800 (9 pin) > 400 (6 pin)

jtwrace · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 03:24 am »

A google search brings up http://www.granitedigital.com/firewire1394bdiagnosticcables.aspx

It doesn't appear that they have a 6' without LED.

ted_b · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 04:31 am »

That exact cable showed up on my doorstep today. I know it performs well; a few buddies have used it. I'm not sure the LIo-8 can do with a powerless cable, so you'll need the LED version.

jtwrace · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 10:57 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 13 Nov 2011, 04:31 am

That exact cable showed up on my doorstep today. I know it performs well; a few buddies have used it. I'm not sure the LIo-8 can do with a powerless cable, so you'll need the LED version.

Oh. I didn't know that the LED means it has power. I thought it was just a visual that it had signal.

ted_b · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 03:02 pm »

That was my understanding. I guess I'd call them.

JDUBS · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 04:56 pm »

jtwrace, if you call, please let us know what you find out. I'm curious about this as well, as I wouldn't mind a new firewire cable.

-Jim

jtwrace · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 05:06 pm »

Quote from: JDUBS on 13 Nov 2011, 04:56 pm

jtwrace, if you call, please let us know what you find out. I'm curious about this as well, as I wouldn't mind a new firewire cable.

-Jim

You got it! I will be calling in the morning.

JDUBS · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 05:22 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 13 Nov 2011, 05:06 pm

You got it! I will be calling in the morning.

Awesome, thank you sir!

-Jim

ted_b · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 05:29 pm »

Here's a paragraph from their flyer that came with my cable:
"Built-in Diagnostic LED monitors power on the FireWire cable. If too many devices are plugged in without auxiliary power the light will
go dim. If there is no power supplied at all the light is off. Proper operation is indicated by a bright LED. 4 pin cable does not have power LED." And of course 4 pin cables don't have power, so it would seem to indicate what i mentioned earlier.

http://www.granitedigital.com/fs/Firewire%20Cables%20400.pdf

jtwrace · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 05:51 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 13 Nov 2011, 05:29 pm

Here's a paragraph from their flyer that came with my cable:
"Built-in Diagnostic LED monitors power on the FireWire cable. If too many devices are plugged in without auxiliary power the light will
go dim. If there is no power supplied at all the light is off. Proper operation is indicated by a bright LED. 4 pin cable does not have power LED." And of course 4 pin cables don't have power, so it would seem to indicate what i mentioned earlier.

http://www.granitedigital.com/fs/Firewire%20Cables%20400.pdf

Ok. I still dont see a 6' without LED though.

ted_b · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 05:58 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 13 Nov 2011, 05:51 pm

Ok. I still dont see a 6' without LED though.

If you want powerless, do 4 pin cable-to-6 pin GoldX cable, with 4-to-9 adapter. I can send you mine to try, before you spend the $20.
http://www.firewiredirect.com/product/86/

But, that being said, I don't remember when I had the LIO-8 in here whether it accepted a powerless firewire cable. I think not.

Edit: Yes, MH LIO-8 will run with powerless. I jogged my memory by visiting a thread I participated on 2 yrs ago:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Advice-FW-800-cable

The GoldX cables being discussed here (as being clean, etc) are the 24k ones that I linked to you above. Their standard ones are mediocre.

JDUBS · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Nov 2011, 11:57 pm »

Ted, what are your thoughts on the GoldX vs. the Granite?

-Jim

jtwrace · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 12:19 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 13 Nov 2011, 05:58 pm

If you want powerless, do 4 pin cable-to-6 pin GoldX cable, with 4-to-9 adapter. I can send you mine to try, before you spend the $20.
http://www.firewiredirect.com/product/86/

But, that being said, I don't remember when I had the LIO-8 in here whether it accepted a powerless firewire cable. I think not.

Edit: Yes, MH LIO-8 will run with powerless. I jogged my memory by visiting a thread I participated on 2 yrs ago:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Advice-FW-800-cable

The GoldX cables being discussed here (as being clean, etc) are the 24k ones that I linked to you above. Their standard ones are mediocre.

Thanks. Do you happen to remember where you got your adapter from?

ted_b · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 12:51 am »

Quote from: JDUBS on 13 Nov 2011, 11:57 pm

Ted, what are your thoughts on the GoldX vs. the Granite?

-Jim

I can't compare them, Jim. My Granite (one day old) is being used from Mac Mini to Mytek DSD DAC. My GoldX was being used, many months ago, from Macbook to Weiss.

ted_b · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 12:53 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 14 Nov 2011, 12:19 am

Thanks. Do you happen to remember where you got your adapter from?

Amazon, I think.

jtwrace · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 01:11 pm »

I ordered the GoldX cable that Ted linked and this adapter. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=firewire+9-pin+4-pin+adapter&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15846985258865248752&sa=X&ei=8nHATuC4AcSgtwfDhuGgBg&ved=0CIABEPMCMAU#

It seems as the bottom line was that this cable and the adapter is the way to go and the Oyaide cable doesn't improve sonics. There are a few threads on Computer Audiophile about this and pretty much everyone agrees.

ted_b · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 02:28 pm »

Great! Make sure you let the cable/adapter settle in for a few days. I have found that with firewire cables they don't need 500 hours or anything, but they do need a few days of no plugging/unplugging, and some decent break-in/burn-in to sound their best.

And let me reiterate that if using a fw DAC (as in this case) make sure your storage requirements are NOT firewire, but instead USB, eSATa or NAS.

jtwrace · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 03:36 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 14 Nov 2011, 02:28 pm

And let me reiterate that if using a fw DAC (as in this case) make sure your storage requirements are NOT firewire, but instead USB, eSATa or NAS.

Yes sir!

I'm using my DH Labs USB Cable that I previously was using on my USB Dac.

jtwrace · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 06:15 pm »

Quote from: JDUBS on 13 Nov 2011, 05:22 pm

Awesome, thank you sir!

-Jim

From Granite:

All of our Firewire 400 ( 6 pin )cables have an LED built on the cable.

We do not have any that are without the LED.

Thank you for checking with us.

Regards,

Bob Bhakta

Granite Digital.

jtwrace · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Nov 2011, 07:10 pm »

The link above is out of stock on those. I called JDI who is the importer / manufacturer and this is the latest version.

http://www.ecablesmore.com/singleproduct.asp?itemgrp=GX1394AB

Part # GX1394AB-06

He said it's the same basic cable but with better shielding.

Or Newark.com has them http://www.newark.com/jdi-technologies/gx1394ab-06/goldx-ieee-1394-firewire-cables/dp/88C3963?Ntt=88C3963