Interconnect recommendations please

kujocku · « **on:** 5 Apr 2004, 09:14 pm »

I was looking for a interconnect about $140. I want it to have a musical and natural sound with good bass. (Doesnt everyone) I just got a Decware modified Cd player with tube output. The soundstage and detail really opened up, but it is showing the weakness of my no name $10 interconnects. My other equipment is: a B&K preamp, Hafler amp, Paradigm studio 40s, old monster cable speaker wires. I am considering VH Audio's pulsars, gronebergs from Klaus, CATcables. Throw me your recommendations please, dont be shy. And tell me why your choice is a good one. Thanks, Neil

gongos · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 09:26 pm »

Don't waste your money. Go to bluejeanscable.com and save yourself $100+. They make cables that simply allow the signal to be transfered as it was originally intended with no additions or subtractions to the sound. I use them with my tube moddified Modwright 999es and couldn't be any more pleased. Do it this way and go buy $110 worth of new cds.

GerryD · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Apr 2004, 10:27 pm »

I highly recommend the IC's from Gregg Staley. Gregg's IC's are $120, and they bettered both HT Truthlinks and PS Audio xStream Statements in my system. Email him at greggstraley@yahoo.com. Another good IC is the Rs Cables Solid Silver at $99.

srclose · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 12:01 am »

You might take a look at the Luminous Audio Monarch Signature II interconnect. Their Synchestra interconnect was noticably better than Acoustic Zen in my system.

nathanm · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 12:21 am »

Mail your cables to me, I will give them a name and then I will sell them back to you for $140.

KeithR · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 01:07 am »

Supras have taken out Valhalla in several friends systems. Dirt cheap too.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 01:52 am »

Quote from: nathanm

Mail your cables to me, I will give them a name and then I will sell them back to you for $140.

vrs · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 01:56 am »

I have 67 dollar cheaper version of Gregg straley 120 dollar cable. It out performed in my system silver lace( home grown audio) and Zu varial cableIit seems to me there is no relation to the cost, pseudo scientific techno explanation
to the cable performance. Rather than spending 1000+ dollars on cables one can buy a tube pre amp, cd and enjoy audio more.

Sa-dono · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 02:33 am »

Quote from: srclose

You might take a look at the Luminous Audio Monarch Signature II interconnect. Their Synchestra interconnect was noticably better than Acoustic Zen in my system.

Which Acoustic Zen interconnect was this in comparison to?

srclose · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 02:43 am »

I origanally had the Silver Reference I and then changed to the Matrix Reference II. That was replaced by the Synchestra Signature XLR, that Timothy said was virtually identical to the Synchestra Reference with XLR. I guess the XLR connectors virtually eliminate the improvement in the Synchestra Reference cable because of the inferiority of the XLR connector.

grub · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 05:21 pm »

Ditto Gregg Straley's cables.

I would put them up against the very best cables out there.

-->grub

maxwalrath · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 06:32 pm »

bolder m-80's gave my system more bass slam, and the highs smoohed out a litle too.

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Apr 2004, 10:33 pm »

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=5195045d0e96333cb8f25aaaba4ca2e7&t=30116

Blue Jeans wire is also good stuff.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Apr 2004, 04:00 pm »

Quote from: kujocku

Throw me your recommendations please, dont be shy. And tell me why your choice is a good one.

I suggest you read up on the different types of cables available in your price range and their respective strengths and weaknesses. Some are made from commercially extruded cable (like Belden, Canare based), others are specialty audio cables extruded to specifications (VenHaus Pulsar, Straightwire Rhapsody II) , some are semi-custom (Decware reference, w/ beeswax insulation) and very few entirely custom made from raw materials ( Ridge Street Audio ).

Why don't you make up a comparison table with the cables I have mentioned? For example, the Rhapsody II uses multiple, individual solid core copper wires with just laquer as dielectric, the VenHaus Pulsar a single 28 ga solid core copper wire w/ solid Teflon dieectric, the Decware is silver Litz wire w/ beeswax, Ridge Street is solid core silver (perhaps polished like their upper end cables) w/ natural fiber dielectric. When you do this you will be able to make an educated choice and accept the compromises. They will all have different sonic signatures and if you are aware of what you are choosing and why you will be happier...and wiser

orthobiz · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Apr 2004, 01:37 am »

amusicdirect.com has psaudio cables on sale 50% off.
Could finally afford some Statement cables at that price, I think
within your range. 30 day MBG if you don't like them. They are
better than the ca. 1980 Radio Shack cables I was using but since
I'm stuck in the boonies, I haven't been able to compare them to
anything else. I do feel better when I look at them, though. They
are jewel-gorgeous!

biz

Gustavo · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Apr 2004, 01:50 pm »

Hello all, Im a new member from Chile and I want to share my recent discovery.

I have been using mit terminator 3, audioquest diamondbacks and my previously favorite audioquest phyton, but my new standard (and cheaper than snakes) are Ecosse maestro MA2:

With a lot of incredible tests in UK magazines.

This cables are in a word breathtaking, absolutely the more warm cable I ever tested, It can control bass and highs, music just flow in the room.

I really dont know the retail price in US, but in UK are 80 pounds for 50 cm.

Just try it.

Regards

Gustavo Villa

rlcordeiro · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Apr 2004, 02:51 pm »

Im new to Hi end and I noted that srclose mentioned xlr is inferior. I have a pair of XLO balanced cables between my preamp and amp, should I change to RCA interconnects. CD to preamp and Speaker cable is currently JPS Labs superconductor FX

srclose · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Apr 2004, 03:58 pm »

rlcordeiro

Just to clarify, I am anything but a cable expert, but just relaying information I had from talking with a couple of cable designers. Both mentioned that they preferred RCA to XLR connectors because they felt that they were better sonically. I haven't made direct comparisons between different terminations on the same equipment. I think some recent discussions here also indicate a growing sense that the quality of the connector can have a great influence on sound. Whether RCA or XLR works the best in a specific application may very well be system dependent. Others here can provide much more definitive information.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Apr 2004, 06:21 pm »

Quote from: kujocku

I was looking for a interconnect about $140. I want it to have a musical and natural sound with good bass.

Save your money. Go to the Outlaw website and pick up a pair of the PCA interconnects in the length of your choice ($35 for a .5m pair). IMO these are the best value in audio interconnects available. Very transparent, do not color or alter the sound, very good build quality and an excellent price. What more could you want in a cable?

JoshK · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 Apr 2004, 07:08 pm »

Quote from: rlcordeiro

Im new to Hi end and I noted that srclose mentioned xlr is inferior. I have a pair of XLO balanced cables between my preamp and amp, should I change to RCA interconnects. CD to preamp and Speaker cable is currently JPS Labs superconductor FX

The short answer is, NO. This is one of the first times I have heard someone say XLR is inferior to RCA, most people will argue the opposite. Truth is, it is based on too many things to give you an answer without know the specifics of the gear in question. Just don't go out and sell your ICs because you heard someone say they are inferior.

As far as Neutrix XLR connectors versus many RCA connectors. I would say the Neutrix would have the edge in performance versus most RCA connectors, in all but maybe some of the best RCA connectors like eichmann, wbt nextgen, etc. But don't take my word for it, read up on the subject.