Signal Cables

truant · « **on:** 11 Jul 2004, 01:47 am »

Has anyone tried these? Some strong reviews against some good competition. I ordered two power cables today at $59 each for my IRD monoblocks. If I like them I intend to put their interconnects and speaker cables up against my HT Silver Truthlinks and Pro-11 speaker cables.

ekovalsky · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Jul 2004, 01:51 am »

Well built cords using good connectors and rather unexceptional wire. Good deal for the money. Very good choice if you want to try something other than stock cords without a big investment.

I purchased several power cords from Frank a few years ago and he was a pleasure to deal with.

-Richard- · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Jul 2004, 04:02 pm »

Hi Truant,

I was using Nordost Red Dawn speaker cables
and interconnects but switched to Frank's cables
and power cords over 6 months ago.

Excellent results...smooth...digs into the music
and pulls out the deep bass and details that
always serves the musical idea...

I am very pleased with them and they are
cheap by Hi End standards...and yes Frank
is nice guy and easy to work with.

Warm regards -Richard-

truant · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jul 2004, 01:14 am »

Thanks for the feedback Richard. I've been using Harmonic Technology cables for the couple of years but just bought a pair of the Magic power cables from Frank for my IRD monoblocks. I haven't received them yet but it has got me thinking about matching them with additional Signal cables. Some of the reviews I've read have been intriguing. Which cables are you using?

-Richard- · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Jul 2004, 05:02 pm »

Hi Truant,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner...

As I mentioned I am using Signal Cable for
all of my cable needs...

Ultra (shotgun) Bi-wire speaker cable
Analog Two/Analog interconnects
MagicPower Power AC cord

I am very pleased with the results...
detailed but not "hyper" detailed...there
seems to be a "natural warmth" in the sense
that the sound is not clinical...the bass is
nicely fleshed out...and the highs are not
"bright"...all-in-all, they sound natural, musically
speaking.

However my experience with cables is very
thin...I suppose if you have lots of money you
could go with the reco's of the hi-fi mags and
get the latest the greatest...usually the cost would
far exceed what I have paid for my entire audio
system (no kidding!)...

On the other hand Frank's stuff is a good place to
start in building ones system...in the sense that, to
quote Dr Dan who recommended Frank's cables in
the first place, '...it is made with sensible engineering...'
and then you can work on your system knowing that
your cables are not adding anything or magnifying
anything in an unnatural way...sensible!

And relatively inexpensive...

Warmest regards -Richard-

ctviggen · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Jul 2004, 07:28 pm »

I'm using all Signal Cables now. I do like the way my systems sounds, although it does sound different than before. However, I modified quite a bit of stuff at one time, so I can't be sure what caused the modifications. For now, I recommend the cables. I bought a lot of stuff from Frank for $500, and I paid more than that just for my old speaker cable alone. So, for Frank's cables to sound this good is a plus.

Zero · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Jul 2004, 08:41 pm »

Just tried the Signal Silver Resolution. Great speaker wire, but a tad bright. Didnt match with my system well, so I had to return it.

Frank is a top notch guy - good products, great service, fair prices.

truant · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jul 2004, 04:06 am »

My Magic power cords came yesterday. After one day they are by no means broken in but out of the box certainly a significant step above the stock cords. A more natural sound, more articulate bass. Instruments sound more like they should. So far I've found this to be especially the case with jazz guitar. I've been planning for some time to upgrade the cords for my IRD MB-100s with Shunyata Diamondbacks but came across the ad for Frank's cables while browsing Audiogon for cable deals and decided to same some $. I'm very happy with my Harmonic Technology interconnects and speaker cable so don't know if I'll replace those with Signal cable but I'll add the power strip and maybe another power cord for my preamp.

tbonner1 · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Jul 2004, 05:21 pm »

I have had the power cable and Analog One interconnects for 2 years.

Power cable is very well made and sounds better than other cheap power cords I have tried.

Interconnects are 75 ohm and sound smooth. Not as much detail as my Silver Bullet 4.0 but those were 400% more money. They always answered all my pesky audiophile questions via email right away. Very good build quality.

ASi_TEK · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Jul 2004, 01:06 am »

I tested these a couple years ago when Frank just started out and they definitely hold their claim with bettering cables that cost alot more. Very good performance value for the money, great build quality, customer service. I think to get any better performance from cables (one thing I dont think about anymore) then you would have to spend $$$$ to hear a significant difference.

I assume the new silver versions are alot better then the previous versions which used mediorce materials, but still sounded great for the money spent.

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 Jul 2004, 10:26 am »

I'm assembling a new system for a dedicated listening room that will include single driver speakers using 8 inch Fostex F200A drivers. Without a whizzer cone the highs will obviously beam, but it's a compromise I'm willing to make in order to hold to the single driver ideal. (The speakers should go 25 - 20,000 Hz in room.) These were custom designed and built using mass loaded transmission line cabinets with the driver set to my ear height and finished in quarter sawn cherry veneer.

As digital sources are so up in the air, I'm looking to go cheap. Rick Shultz from tweakaudio.com offers $200 mods on the $99 Panasonic S47 that recently came in 3rd in a comparison with players up to $5000 (without mods). Rick goes way back and is a good guy.

The amp currently under consideration is the Cayin TA-30, a 30 wpc push-pull/ 4 wpc SET tube amp that is beautiful and very well built and costs only $900. Note that to my ears Fostex drivers have always sounded better with tube amps. BTW it is wired in silver.

Thanks for pointing out Signal Cables. I'm still old school enough to not want to spend thousands on cabling. As the amp is already in silver and the highs are a bit of a concern from the speakers I was considering the silver interconnects and cables. Does this make sense?

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Aug 2004, 02:51 pm »

I have used both ICs (1s and 2s) and speaker cable from frank. I second the posts above regarding warmth and overall smoothness. Great deal for the money.

I have not tried his PC cords. However witht he prices and return policy id suggest givng them a try before shelling out long green on some of the pricer stuff.

im currently testing the silver ic and have nothing to complain about at present.

JLM · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Aug 2004, 12:27 am »

kbuzz3,

Please keep us informed as they burn in.