Seeking line-level wire, SE & balanced

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James Romeyn

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Seeking line-level wire, SE & balanced
« on: 12 Mar 2009, 09:01 pm »
What is your favorite line-level wire, single-ended & balanced?  Mismatching is OK.  Source & estimated cost would be helpful. 

Only 10" pigtails, no or minimum shielding is OK 

Hard-wired switchbox requirement: Moderately easy to bend (my favorite, twisted-pair AWG12 is way too stiff); conversely, must be moderately durable (no super-delicate easily broken).   

TIA!

JoshK

Re: Seeking line-level wire, SE & balanced
« Reply #1 on: 12 Mar 2009, 09:31 pm »
I really don't like fretting about wire.  I dislike repeated listening for impact of type A versus type B even more.  I usually pick wire that has good objective characteristics that make me feel good about my choice and leave it at that.

I usually use microphone cable as it is measureably good, as it has to have low capacitance, inductance and impedance for it to do its job well with the fragile signals over long runs.  You also capitalize on economies of scale.  The same amount of R&D and tolerances in the hi-end market would be insanely expensive.   Its super flexible!  Its also shielded.

I have a huge roll of some mic cable I picked up on sale some while ago.  If you want I could cut off some and send it to you.  You then let me know what you think about it.

Mic cable is balanced but you can run it balanced or single ended depending on how you hook it up.

James Romeyn

  • Industry Participant
  • Posts: 3329
  • James Romeyn Music and Audio, LLC
    • James Romeyn Music and Audio, LLC
Re: Seeking line-level wire, SE & balanced
« Reply #2 on: 12 Mar 2009, 09:45 pm »
Maybe great minds think alike.  Mogami was my pick, recommended for ages by a friend/pro audio engineer.  Not to start a wire rant, but this is an area in which I could not agree more w/ Peter Axtel.  After recently switching from speaker wire previously thought to be the cat's meow to generic AWG14 speaker wire, no difference was detected.  The analog-Trinaural 3-ch may minimize or eliminate wire differences.  A friend recently recommended $850 1M SE interconnects; my first reaction was minor offense that he took me to be that dumb (even if I AM that dumb I didn't want him thinking it).  I don't think even solid gold conductors could justify that cost.     

The wire sounds perfect.  Thanks for the offer; I'll drop you (another) PM.



JoshK

Re: Seeking line-level wire, SE & balanced
« Reply #3 on: 12 Mar 2009, 09:49 pm »
Mogami is what all the guys in the Sam Ash pro audio parts shop recommend.