Lee go to spearitsound.com on used cables they have kimber ic, they have your price range ,it might make a big improvement, you never know, until you try...
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@leemaze, There is no straightforward answer to your question about appreciable difference between $6 and $50-$60 IC's. A good quality cable should allow you to hear the best possible sound your upstream components are capable of. The Kabledirekt cables offers adequate shielding and quality 24k gold plated connectors. If they already sound great then why mess with something that's already great sounding in your system? I have read comments about your Rega CD player/NAD integrated sounded muddy with your KEF Q speakers in your other thread. Are you trying to fix this issue by switching out to another set of cables? What brand of speaker cables are you currently using? From my experience, there is no hard and fast rule about using same brand of cables, but in your case trying out Signal speaker and IC's may offer better synergy between your components. http://signalcable.com/analogone.html http://signalcable.com/classicspeaker.html They are one the best budget cables I have tried in my system. They punch way beyond their suggested 'budget' price and comes with 30 day in-home audition guarantee. Hope this helps and good luck! |
Ah, in response to your question, I would say that there would be a definite difference. The Kabeldirekt may look very nice and even use OFC oxygen free copper, but they are likely using a very thin stranded conductor. The Kimber cables have their own sound and it may be a nice configuration. The Hero uses their vari-strand (putting about 7 strands of different gauges in a grouping). I have always been a fan of solid-core cables (Pangea / Audioquest). The sound is usually stronger and more solid sounding (no pun intended) than a stranded conductor. Probably any of these cables would be an upgrade. |
Here’s a third recommendation for solid core based cables. The OP doesn’t mention his gear, but it looks like he at least has a Marantz integrated. Morrow Audio MA1 would be under the budget, as would Audioquest Evergreens. But to reap the benefits, all interconnects in the system need to be solid core. I’d suggests solid core cable for the speaker cable too. Audioquest Type 4 or Morrow Audio SP1. |
I like these if you can afford about $80 / pair USD plus shipping. https://www.takefiveaudio.com/products/1358-mogami-2549-gold-performance-rca-deep-cryo-treated/ I also have the same Mogami 2549 wire with KLEI Copper Harmony RCA terminators. |
@213runnin - I don't necessary agree that all interconnects in a system need to be solid core. Granted, that would be the best solution, but even just having one solid core is better than nothing. I would recommend this at the last point before the amplifier to "drive" the final sonic signature of cable charge/discharge characteristics. Another comment. Some of these interconnects use a much larger 18awg solid-core conductor (such as Signal Cable or Beldon 1694 from Blue Jean). I have done a lot of R&D with solid core and have found that when conductors are larger than 20awg, then you start losing high frequency detail and clarity. The larger-core conductors would be very good for a subwoofer cable as the larger solid-core awg will convey much more power in bass notes. However, it's a fine line. I found 20awg to be the best all around. With 22awg and smaller, it will still work, but you start losing bass/midbass impact. |
Thanks for the thoughts guys! People love Signal cable. @lalitk to answer your question - I'm not really solving for anything in particular, just futzing. My speaker wire is 12 AWG Auvio brand I got on deep discount from a closing RadioShack. It was a noticeable improvement when I got it. And the Kablediretk ICs were a noticeable improvement from whatever crap wires I had laying around. So... I guess I'd just have to try something new out! |
If you shop on E-bay, you can find audioquest ICs and speaker cables highly discounted off retail. I believe you can find AQ Sidewinder or the Copperhead ICs and Type 4 speaker cables within your budget. The earlier version of Type 4, lacking the braided sheath, often come up for sale and can be bought very inexpensively. |
If you are ordering Kabledirekt from Amazon, please be careful. I ordered a mini-to-RCA adaptor to use my audio player in the car and it arrived crushed and bent, and the interior packaging was ripped up. Amazon creditied me with the purchase price, but I doubt I would order more cables from Kabledirekt. |
I have all my cables custom made by Amplifier_Surgery. They are on eBay and supply cables in the $30 to $100 range that compete favorably with $500 cables. By the way the cable business is the biggest racket going in the audio business. However be careful of imported cables. Some are good and some have really inferior connectors. With RCA cables the quality of the connectors and the shielding is critical. |
Anybody try this Audtek speaker wire: https://www.parts-express.com/audtek-electronics-skrl-10-100-10-awg-ofc-speaker-wire-100-ft--100-029 I think it was called Dayton before?? @auxinput that is really interesting - does the same hold true with a certain gauge speaker wire? Which RCA's are 20 AWG? @bondmanp That must have been a fluke - I've ordered a lot of those cables from Amazon (they're so cheap!) and never had an issue. |
@leemaze - I don't know if there is a solid-core 20awg RCA cable. Best I can tell, the Audioquest cables are all 22awg solid-core. I have not done a lot of research, but there could be some cables. For example, the Audio Sensibiilty Signature cables use a combination of 20/22/24 awg solid-core silver, but you are looking at $600 plus for an interconnect. All my testing has been done from both interconnect and power cables I have built myself. I have a power cord that uses 6 x 22awg conductors for each leg (making a 14.5 awg cable). I also have another power cord that uses 3 x 20awg conductors for each leg (15.5 awg power cord). Even though the 3x20awg cord has 20% less metal conductor, the bass power and slam is so much more. On the other hand, the 6x22awg power cord has extraordinary amounts of detail and clarity in the mids and highs. However, it is rather thin because there isn't much bass power. The Audioquest power cords appear to use 19awg conductors for hot and 21awg for neutral/ground, which is a great balance between low and high detail. The Audioquest speaker cable also uses multiple gages. The rocket 44 uses 17/18/20/21 awg conductors for difference ranges of frequency. I have used the standard 12awg OFC stranded speaker wire for the longest time. I recently upgraded to a Neotech NES-3002, which is 9awg that uses all 22awg solid-core conductors. It is amazing, but I suppose the Audioquest with larger conductors can be very powerful in bass as well. |
I make my own. They give me eargasms. I used this recipe: http://www.image99.net/blog/files/4127b5fe2694586e383104364360373b-74.html |
When comparing entry level Audioquest, Blue Jean Cables, and Signal Cables, i thought the Www.signalcable.com were the best. The analog Two's in both rca and xlr are really nice cables. |
When I need RCA cables I use these Canare cables from Cable Solutions, you select the length: http://www.cs1.net/products/canare/LV-61S_precision_stereo.htm For XLR cables I use these Canare cables, you choose the color & length; http://www.cs1.net/products/canare/L-4E6S_balanced_audio.htm Speaker cable from Blue Jean Cable, the Belden 5000 series Cable, with BJC locking banana's, best connect there is. No fancy, pricy cables will top these, no one would ever be able to tell the difference in a true, blind AB test. |
Just posted this link in response to a different topic here... My go-to for inexpensive-but-good interconnects (and power cables) is Signal Cable: http://signalcable.com/analog_interconnects.html I have 4-5 prs of analog 2 RCA interconnects. The build quality & sound are excellent. The only criticism I could make (a very faint criticism, at that) is that these interconnects are relatively stiff. Try them. You won't be let down. |
Soundsilver-Trilogy II, these interconnects at one hundred dollar mark are a good investment. Stewart’s auctions are not as frequent as they use to be, try member lookup for soundsilver and see if he has upcoming auction or a pair for sale. Another set of interconnects that are reference quality for budget price would be Belden 8402’s. DIY or have assembled and burn-in by Gene at Take Five Audio. |
Hi guys!! In case you are interested in an update, and for posterity, here is my journey with some budget cables. I purchased 2 new RCA cables: First: Audioquest Evergreen 6ft: I replaced 3ft Kabledirekts, I didn't notice much difference at first, but after going back and forth a lot, I noticed slight improvements, the audioquests sounded much smoother, especially at high volumes. Then, I took the cables downstairs to my other system and put them in place of 6ft Kabledirekts in my second system - no difference. Multiple back and forth - I could literally notice nothing. Second: I ordered Signal Cable - Analog Two 3ft long "Smooth highs, liquid Mids, Real Bass Extension!" Or so they say. I put these in my first system - in place of the Audioquest cables - and they were noticably harsher and mudded at the top. It was immediately apparent. I brought them downstairs and tried them in place of the 6ft Kabledirekts, same result. My wife immediately said, "these sound bad". They made me want to turn down the volume immediately. So, what's up with that? So many folks love the Signal Cables! I know the package says they require 50 hours of break-in, but, well, breaking in cables sounds ridiculous, and I don't want to waste 50 hours of my life listening to those harsh sounds. And also - it seems like, from my sample size of 4, 6ft cables sound much better than 3ft cables. I thought shorter would be better! Any thoughts? |
Do try to let them break in. I have noticed the need to let cables and fuses settle in, break in, whatever.. Not sure about the length thing. I have heard that a slightly longer cable can be better, but only for digital. I believe it was USB. Not sure why it would matter for analog. Same cables, different lengths? Or are the different lengths also different cables? |
You don't have to be in the room as the system is playing. Since you mentioned a harsh sound, I'd stay out too. Run one of your systems about 4-5 hours a day with the cables breaking in, and keep track so you know when you've reached 50 hours. Some cables really do need this to get to their final sound. Morrow cables, of which I own several, recommend over 400 hours. It's because the cables are made up of many small gauge solid copper wire which is plated(or coated) with silver and each wire is then individually insulated. They can sound pretty gross after 100 hours, then take a long time to reach audio nirvana. Solid copper doesn't take that long. |