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Cable Survey

The idea for this thread came from @sautan 904 op titled “Who thinks $ Speaker cable really better than generic 14awg cable?

My reply:

From op:

SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?

Some are, some are definitely not. It really is a matter of discovering what brands out there (and there a lot) offer the best performance for your money. Some are really worth the money and clearly they offer a big increase in sound quality. It seems the dealers you used were not very discriminating about what brands they carry. This does not surprise me since I have found many are not well informed. You really need to seek out somebody who has compared different makes of cable and really believes in what they are selling.

So I thought it a good idea to pool knowledge on this subject and make a list of what people are using and why. This is my current preferences:

Speaker: Hi Diamond 7

IC XLR: Hi Diamond XLR 3

USB: Vovox

Ethernet: AQVOX, Vovox

Power: Belden

The Hi Diamond speaker cable was so much better than other cables I have tried to date. The increase in musicality, depth and detail in bass, increased sound stage and cleaner more detailed top where some of the benefits I had with this cable. The same can be said of their XLR interconnect.

The Vovox I have only been able to compare with some generic cables, and it is much clearer than those. I intend trying some other brands in the near future and I will post my findings.

Ethernet cables I find make a difference and I am currently using both Vovox and AQVOX, compared to various generic makes and the blue Meicord these are both much preferred, opening the sound stage and lowering the noise floor.

Power cables I haven’t so far experimented with a great deal, I’m using heavy Belden cables that are part of a dedicated mains spur arrangement, so that each individual piece of equipment has its own spur. In order to test cable types I will need to introduce a mains block (Shunyata?).

toetapaudio

Showing 16 responses by toetapaudio

toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
Some interesting input

@lalitk I take your point about system details and had intended listing but ran out of time during op.

So this is my best system as it stands at the moment (please read in conjunction with op)

Boenicke W11 speakers with Bybee speaker bullets
Mola Mola Makua pre/dac and Mola Mola Kaluga Power amps
fidata NS10 server
Lumin S1 (digital out) streamer
Aqvox switch

Inserting the HiDiamond cables into the system really brought the system to life, more energy, more musicality. USB, I would like to experiment with other cables, any suggestions? My weak point at the moment is probably the BNC/BNC studio grade cable to Neutrik 75/110 ohm BNC/AEB adaptor for use with the Lumin. The pending U1 will enable me to use AEB straight through. Having had success with HiDiamond I would choose their cable.

I found that both the Aqvox and Vovox Ethernet cables really helped open up the sound and reduced the noise floor in a similar way the introduction of the Bybee Signal Enhancers produced. Any other makes recommended?

I’m looking at Shunyata power products and cables at the moment, is there anybody that has had experience of these that would like to comment?

@lak Thanks for your comments about Furutech, I’ll take a look.

@grannyring Dueland make very fine components. The distributor here in the UK has had very good feedback on their cotton covered cables. It’s based on an old WE wire. What system are you using it with?

@williewonka Your helix cables sound interesting, I’ll follow that up.

@toddverrone Sonarguest looks good

toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@alanholvey, thanks, interesting, I’ll take a look at those brands.
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@alanhovey what are the Shunyata series that you use?
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@alanholvey, thanks for the information. How many wires altogether and how do you terminate them?
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@alanholvey, what model Shunyata and Audioquest please?
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@lak , I’m interested to find out more about your Furutech Power cables. Are the 55’s better everywhere or only when supplying power to specific components? How do the other Furutech cables compare? Thanks.
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
http://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/cables-reviews/power-cable-reviews/furutech-fp-tcs31-power-ca...
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
At the moment I’m using Vovox and AQVOX Ethernet cables, both are really good. But I have heard good things about the SOtM Ethnet cable dCBL-CAT7. Anybody tried?
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@lak thank you for the information. Glad to hear you like the 22 for the front end. I’ve not heard of the DPS-4, is that new? Hi Fi Advice recently tested another variant called the FP-TCS31 and gave it praise compared with an older Furatech cable called Alpha. I will find the review and post a link. Also, I have read that the best NCF connectors make a significant improvement. Have you any experience of these connectors?

toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
Some info on above, including CAT 6 isolator

http://www.sotm-audio.com/files/Accessories/dCBL-CAT7/dCBL-CAT7_with_iSO-CAT6_SE_Operating_Instructi...
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@lak thanks for the Audiogon link.

I’m preparing for a shoot out between the FP 022, Oyaide f/s 2.0 V2 and my current thick shielded Belden cable.

Anybody had experience of the Oyaide Cable?

Sablon is also something I’m researching at the moment and in particular their Reservation Elite USB.  Feedback please.
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@wig thanks for the heads up on Nanotech sounds interesting.

Anybody had experience with Sablon?
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
Update on my cable array. I am now using Sablon Reserva Elite USB between fidata and Mola Mola. Big improvement in SQ. Everything is better with this cable, more open and natural, better bass definition, very musically engaging, greater transparency etc.
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@lalitk powered
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
Updates: Sablon USB getting even better with use. Never had a cable that made so much difference.

Furutech NCF IEC plug improves sound quality, fitted to one of the five Spurs I have, which are in effect flying leads all the way from the consumer unit. So no plugs or sockets in the way. Just got one to try and so now intend replacing all of them. First plugged into fidata NAS and the top was smoother and more natural. Bigger change when plugged into Mola pre/dac, better everywhere.

As soon as I’ve finished making the silk thread suspension isolation furniture prototype (to be available commercially) I’m going to try one of Marks Sablon Reserva Elite power cables. He’s only selling direct at this time. I’ve heard really good things about them, they are pricey, although apparently comparable to cables that are ridiculously expensive. We will see.
toetapaudio OP
474 posts
 
@david_ten ,the Swiss Vovox Textura USB which was better than several generic cables I tried. The difference between the Vovox and Sablon is quite substantial. More open, better transparency, greater musicality, better separation and the top doesn’t have the digital glare that appears on some testing complex recordings. I have not compared it with even more expensive cables but have read that it stands up well against even more pricey options.

I have the powered version, there is also a signal only version. Length is 1.2m, good flexibility, and twin cables, one signal the other for power. Absolutely no money wasted on fancy packaging, it comes in a padded envelope.

I will lend the cable if you are near. I’m in Gloucestershire, UK.
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