best interconnect at decent price
RAM Labs RM-200 Amp
ARC REF 5 Amp
ARC PH 5 Phone Stage
Rega P3 Turntable with Dynavector high output moving coil cartridge
Vandersteen A3 Signature speakers
I just ordered some speaker wires from AntiCable for the Vandersteens. I have some cheap interconnects that will connect the components for a while, but I would like to get input on the make and model of interconnects and cabling that are a good long term solution without spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Let me know if you have any suggestions...thanks
I guess it comes down to what is considered a "decent price". Some of these mfr. recommendations seem to be on the high side of "decent" (Darwin for instance). I'm certainly interested in Grannyring's cables due to the fact that if I like the cable I can afford to switch-out all the cables in my system. |
I had a "below average" experience with the Anti-Cables 6.2 interconnects. While not exactly "budget" they are way more affordable than high end cables it supposedly competes with. After extensive burn-in I could tell NO difference between the 6.2 cables and a set of pro cable stock no-names I had lying around the basement. It could be my cheap 845 SET at the time wasn’t resolving enough to tell the difference but there’s my data point. Luckily AC is easy to deal with and I was able to return the cables for a refund without any fuss. One manufacturer I've never had a dud from is Audio Sensibility out of Canada. The founder has a good price source for Japanese OCC copper due to his family connections with the inventor of OCC so they offer best copper in the world (Japanese OCC) at better prices compared to others. |
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WireWorld. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxvzLrGDVZwCSpfrNNHsLGDmJdfr?compose=new They have been the best bang for the buck in my system and even their entry level ICs sound quite good. You can go as cheap as $20 or into the thousands; but I've not heard anything lower than their Luna 7s. |
I second another poster's comment about Transparent's "The Link." I've also had excellent results with Audioquest's Black Mamba ICs (widely available at sites like Music Fidelity & Audio Advisor). In my experience, the cheapest yet good-sounding cables are Signal Cable's Analog Two (inexpensive): http://signalcable.com/analogtwo.html |
Consider that Western Electric was AT&T’s sole source for cables, and that we were able to hear folks quite well from coast to coast over W.E. cables designed by electrical engineers who could actually do math. Duelund cables are a slight improvement, in build and sound quality, but are otherwise the same thing. |
I wholeheartedly agree with the last 2 posters. If you are unable to solder Grannyring’s Duelunds, or if you for some reason don’t want to go there, several people are selling Duelund cables on eBay, don’t know Grannyring’s prices, but the eBay prices are a little bit high, considering the actual cost and time to make them, but they certainly are not horrible, and are far better than virtually any others mentioned. |
jblselector: You're very correct. Cables do vary in quality and sound characteristics, but beyond a certain level of build quality and material quality lies a sea of craven hype and outright bullsh!t. People often mistake differences for improvements, but usually there's just a give and take set of characteristics based upon your unique setup. I'll say it again, the difference between a well made $300 cable and a $5000 cable are just that-- differences. Confirmation bias usually causes the listener to believe the more expensive model is the winner. There are differences, and you may prefer one over another, but don't kid yourself that that extra $4700 you spent bought you something that's substantially better-- the company that sold you that couple hundred dollars worth of parts soldered together for thousands of dollars is LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. If you can easily afford the expense and like the way it sounds, then who cares, enjoy! Just don't kid yourself. Beyond a certain level of materials and build quality, it's just marketing hype and your own psyche interacting with each other. |
I too have been through various medium priced interconnects and speaker cables in the $500 to $1000 price range. Some have stayed with me for years. Others left me feeling "Ho Hum". Recently did a complete switch over (including Power cable) to Darwin. These are the best cables, by far. They lifted my system performance to a level that has left me enjoying the music more than ever before What is different now is I don't even think about upgrading/tweeking anything. I just listen to the music |
I've gone through a number of interconnects (and speaker-cables) over the decades, however started to look at inexpensive ones just to try, instead of chasing the elusive absolute-sound mega-buck cables ! I stumbled upon Audio Envy cables and have not looked back ! Captain at Audio Envy is easy to work with, will make up cables for you at your desired length and has a 30-day trial period ! So, buy em' and try em' is what I say ! If they don't work to your pleasure, return them ! His cables have low capacitance, and I use a 5-meter RCA pair from preamp to amps as well as 1 - 2 meter interconnects between sources and preamp. You'll notice the difference immediately. I also use his speaker-cables. They are a fraction of what I used to pay for higher-end cables... Good luck in your cable-quest ! |
If you can solder make yourself interconnects from Duelund wire, Partsconnexion carrys it. Since you have inefficient speakers, Duelund is a slightly improved version of Western Electric cables, but they only go to 12 gage, you could use it, or go to eBay and buy W.E. cable from tajacobs, there are now a lot of fake WE cables, so this is the only seller I buy from. It smokes Anti Cables, though it does need some burn in to sound best. |
I have heard very very expensive systems with reference grade cable and sure it's better than what I have but I use Oyaide rca and balanced cables or make cables up from Amphenol ends and Canare cable in quad core or rca based cable. Even the ok $20 Concorde cable from Jaycar is ok. Spend the money on a system on the Speakers first then the amp and a source. Decent cd or multiplayers can be had for $1000. Everyone needs to make a living but some of these hyper cables are marketing first then profit. I wont mention the companies unless they are doing something of quality for a fair price. |
I'd have to agree with mtbrider for a bit more than $200 you could have grannyring make you interconnects made from Duelund tinned copper in cotton oil impregnated wire etc. For the cost these interconnects are excellent, I'm not saying that you can't find better interconnects however one would have to pay considerabley more ($) for them. |
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis97jbi-silnote-audio-new-model-morpheus-reference-classic-rca-si... You may try above cable. Mark of Silnote offers 14 day's return. I found something special in his digital cable with good details and soundstage. Thus it could be excellent in interconnect cable. I had been using Audio Note interconnect for 18 years. They are transparent with nuanced details but expensive( I had paid 1.5K 18 years ago) |
Easy answer go to MusicDirect and buy their Audioquest Colorado interconnects. They are 50% off on clearance and are terrific! I have my entire system connected with them. Better than the Columbias also on sale as the bass is tighter and more impactful. https://www.musicdirect.com/cables/audioquest-colorado-interconnects-pr |