Got $3750 laying around? You could buy a 1M interconnect...

zybar · « **on:** 13 Jun 2006, 02:45 am »

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue25/acrolink.htm

I realize that value is a relative concept and is different for each person, but man, $3750/1M is a lot of scratch!

George

warnerwh · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 03:15 am »

I'd like to hear those interconnects and compare them to some Radio Shack interconnects. What they want for those in my opinion is absolutely ridiculous. I wonder how much it cost to make them?

Folsom · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 03:55 am »

They are copper.... For that price I would expect silver... Purity only goes so far.... Electricity will always follow the best path, so the very slightest impurity will not even conduct anything at such low voltage and current. That is how I see it....

jon_010101 · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 05:12 am »

This "expensive cable" business is so out of control that it makes me want to smash things. Some of the finest lab-grade bulk cable costs in the range of $5-15 a foot, and that is also rated well past 18GHz. I should pilfer some from the lab and try it at home... not sure why this never occurred to me earlier.

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 05:17 am »

Quote from: jon_010101

This "expensive cable" business is so out of control that it makes me want to smash things. Some of the finest lab-grade bulk cable costs in the range of $5-15 a foot, and that is also rated well past 18GHz. I should pilfer some from the lab and try it at home... not sure why this never occurred to me earlier.

Maybe because pilfering can get you fired?

George

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 05:25 am »

Quote from: jon_010101

This "expensive cable" business is so out of control that it makes me want to smash things. Some of the finest lab-grade bulk cable costs in the range of $5-15 a foot, and that is also rated well past 18GHz. I should pilfer some from the lab and try it at home... not sure why this never occurred to me earlier.

Smash things???? You know, you don't have to buy them and if enough people do this, maybe the expensive cables will just go away.

tvad4 · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 05:25 am »

Don't pilfer in a crowded elevator. Bad form.

zybar · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 05:28 am »

Quote from: mcrespo71

...You know, you don't have to buy them and if enough people do this, maybe the expensive cables will just go away.

That is the perfect answer.

George

Agisthos · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 06:30 am »

I love the way that he prefered the Cyberlight cables in most cases, but yet was still willing to give the thousand of $ more expensive Acrolink a big thumbs up recomendation.

Typical gutless reviewers, who cannot say a bad word about any product they hear.

jon_010101 · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 07:00 am »

Quote from: zybar

Maybe because pilfering can get you fired?

George

I didn't mean pilfer in the "steal" sense, or even in the "borrow for the sake of academic comparison with intent to return" sense. My point was that I should acquire some for intentional misuse: with my stereo rather than with a multi-GHz scope or network analyzer. In essence, stealing them from their natural intended habitat, but not in the legal sense.

Honestly, those particular cables look pretty exotic as far as wire goes, and I bet they cost $$$ to make. My biggest complaints about cable profit margins are perhaps unfounded, certainly there are many cablemakers who sell for reasonable prices and with honest intent. And, certainly, it is how capitalism works. But if I were an amplifier maker selling products at 50%-100% markup (for products requiring extensive/expensive support/service over the years) I'd be slightly cranky about the numerous cables sold with 500-1000% markup and cutting peoples' amplifier budgets accordingly. Of course, maybe I'd just start selling high-profit-margin cables to match. Or to find a way to extract 500%-1000% profit margins from an amplifier.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 07:23 am »

Quote from: jon_010101

This "expensive cable" business is so out of control that it makes me want to smash things. Some of the finest lab-grade bulk cable costs in the range of $5-15 a foot, and that is also rated well past 18GHz. I should pilfer some from the lab and try it at home... not sure why this never occurred to me earlier.

It seems to have occurred to these people. Quote from website "passes signals up to 28 GHz":

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=28719.msg256155#256155

amazing timing of these two posts.

jon_010101 · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 08:59 am »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins

It seems to have occurred to these people. Quote from website "passes signals up to 28 GHz":

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=28719.msg256155#256155

amazing timing of these two posts.

It's funny, I saw another post from Nagys earlier, took a quick look, and kinda shuffled by ... it was only when I read "$3750" on the thread title, read the review, etc, that I become motivated to post. I am sure the Nagys cable also sounds and measures great, probably in the same league as this Acrolink cable for a bit of a cost savings too.

But... With all this talk, I do seriously wonder how some comparably-spec'd lab measurement interconnects would sound, perhaps just with some BNC-RCA adapters (why hasn't audio switched to BNC yet?). I'll see if I can find out.

Jim N. · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 09:21 am »

Gotta take this review seriously. Really. After all, he lists a Tice Clock as part of his system. Remarkable synergy, I'm sure, with a cable that a two meter pair of would set you back about same as a new basic Toyota Corolla.

I've always been tempted to do some research of MSRP's to determine the total suggested list price of the audio reviewers listed systems. I mean, take a look at all of the stuff listed there! Yeah, I know they get a courtesy price but still....

WerTicus · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 02:01 pm »

thats why making your own cables a good idea

you can have cheap and good sound in one cably package

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 03:20 pm »

FINALLY - an IC that makes the Cyberlight seem inexpensive (ha)

Now, I'm old enough to remember being at my local dealer in Long Island in the early-80's...and he told me about this 'gotta' hear' product...Monster Cable Interlink A's. He said 'they're expensive', but they are great. I bought them, trusting the guy but thinking that I might have been duped....for all of $79.95.

I think I bought some Distech IC's (all silver) about the same vintage for the same money.

It's amazing how far we've all come...or been conditioned into thinking. No finger pointing from me - I'm just in awe over these numbers for 3' of, essentially, wire, metal, petroleum derivative and/or cloth.

dado5 · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Jun 2006, 05:07 pm »

Quote from: jon_010101

This "expensive cable" business is so out of control that it makes me want to smash things. Some of the finest lab-grade bulk cable costs in the range of $5-15 a foot, and that is also rated well past 18GHz. I should pilfer some from the lab and try it at home... not sure why this never occurred to me earlier.

It's all relative.

I worked at Radio Shack briefly and we were told to offer Monster Cables at every opportunity, especially in conjunction with a DVD/TV/Computer sale. I never saw a customer buy a set....ever. Price was always the reason ….the cables started at $15 and went to about $60 ($100 for DVI cable)

I am always amused by people thinking their personal value scales are universally correct. I guarantee there are folks out there who think $3500 is a bargain for what they deem to be quality cables. Are they wrong?

Hogg · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Jun 2006, 02:08 am »

I would nice to know what the actual Acrolink wire costs in Japan. I sense a huge mark-up with these cables in the US.

Jim

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Jun 2006, 03:05 am »

I wonder if they blend synergistically with the Sonicrock!

warnerwh · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Jun 2006, 05:47 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

I wonder if they blend synergistically with the Sonicrock!

Good One

bhobba · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Jun 2006, 05:53 am »

Quote from: warnerwh

I'd like to hear those interconnects and compare them to some Radio Shack interconnects. What they want for those in my opinion is absolutely ridiculous. I wonder how much it cost to make them?

Even better compare them to a DEQX which does frequency, phase, time alignment, and room correction, which is audible. You would have money left over to boot.

Thanks
Bill