Entry Level Interconnect Reccomendations


Hello all,

I wanted to come here to ask you guys’ advice on some interconnects. This is my system:

Spica TC50 speakers
2x M&K VX-7 II subwoofers
Emotiva XDA-2 digital preamp
Adcom GFA-545 amplifier
Harrison Labs PFMod crossover (soon to be replaced by MiniDSP)

I connect my Emotiva to my crossover via RCA male>male adapter, for the best quality. This means I have only 1 interconnect in my entire system (crossover to the amplifier). I have been using these basic Acoustic Research RCA cables. A friend lent me his Aural Thrills and Tara Labs interconnects and I heard a pretty significant difference when replacing my AR cables with them.

So I now plan to buy my own interconnects, and I wanted to come here for your suggestions. Here are some options I’ve come up with, but feel free to add more:

Cardas Crosslink
Audioquest Diamondback
Audioquest King Cobra (same price as Diamondback right now)
Audioquest Colorado (under $175 right now)
Nordost White Lighting (slightly out of budget, but I can pull it off)
DIY DH Labs Pro Studio
DIY VH Audio Silver Interconnects
Edit: Wireworld Equinox 7


I’d like to keep it under $150USD for 1.0M pair.

Again, if there are any other suitable options, feel free to add them. The above list is just some un-educated guesses I threw out there.

Thanks so much!

ocinn

Showing 16 responses by ocinn

@fourwnds 

Sounds good. If I build the VH audio ones, I can't return them, and the resale market is limited, so I'm pretty sure I'll try the Stagers or one of those Audioquest sales first.

Thanks a lot!
Morrow Audio and Signal Cable both have excellent entry level offerings   

Very intriguing. I'll be sure to take these into consideration. Thanks!
The Parts Connexion brand Connex has solid core silver interconnects. Not very rugged, but great sounding. :)  

Best,

Erik 
These are a little out of my price range at the USD equivalent of $285, I'll see if there are any used. Thanks!
I was suggesting DIY for the Connex cables my friend. Well under that for a self-made pair. 

Ah! I see it now. Since it is made by DH Labs, I wonder how it compares with their ProStudio, which is silver coated stranded OFC vs. solid pure silver.
When Audioquest moved production to China and lowered prices to stay competitive they also changed cable names - Python (that had great reviews) became King Cobra, while Viper became Diamondback.  I had Viper (diamondback) and King Cobra.  Both are neutral sounding but King Cobra is more refined.  
Yeah, the King Cobra is available for super-cheap right now on a Black Friday sale at music direct. I might pick it up, as a stepping stone into a better pair.
i have the Stager's and love them but that's in warmer tube system. That Belden 8402 cable suggestion seems reasonable and what I would try. There is a 1m pair terminated for way under budget and terminated professionally. In fact buy that We16ga speaker cable he has for sale as well and I'm pretty sure that combo would be great at least according to Jeff Day.
Yeah, I'm probably going to pick some of the 8402 up, and build some cables. If I don't like them in my main system, they would be right at home in my desktop system.

My system tends to lean towards the thinner/leaner side, and that's why I'm a little apprehensive about the stagers ibeing a little too bright/thin.
 +1 Stager Silver Solid.  Very clean, open sound, but you'll think they're too skinny to pass big fat bass notes. They do.

My speakers are high-passed, so sub-bass doesn't really matter. The Aural Thrills I had also had tiny silver conductors. These stagers seem really nice.
I have not heard all the cables recommended however I believe the AQ King Cobra's at the Music Direct sale price would be a good fit in your system and a good buy.
I agree. I think I might pick them up and sell them if I upgrade to something like the Stager Silvers.

I think Blue Jeans Cable uses Belden.  BJC builds to your order.  Good value!

They don't have it in Belden 8402 :(
@fourwnds 

@electroslacker 

You were the people (along with others, who I couldn't tag for some reason?) who recommended the Stager Silver Solid. How do you think they would compare to another pure silver interconnect, the VH Audio DIY Silver?

Thanks!
So my suggestion is to do nothing until you replace the PFMod with the MiniDSP, which of course is an active device, and depending on model may have an output impedance of 560 ohms. Then see if your friend’s cables make a difference relative to the ones you are using.


I want to point out that when I was doing the cable testing, I was using a "Pointe Series HTX-V2" which is an active two way. I still have it and might bring it out to do an a/b with the Harrison Labs one. I've never done it before. Might play better with new cables.
@dgarretson 

They are marked down to $7.95 a foot right now. Insane. Paired with WBT 0144s for $25 for a set of 4. That's a pretty great deal.
@erik_squires 

Yes, the SRCA seems great, but $46 for a set of four at the soniccraft price. That's about as much as it costs for the bulk cable. Is it worth it?
Thanks a lot spenrock. I already bought a pair of Cerious Technologies Graphene Extremes, which are supposed to be excellent.

Over time, I plan to experiment with more IC's, and both of those seem excellent, so I'll keep them in mind. I like the look of the silver SignalCables.
@yping 

They are $230 USD. A little out of my price range. Thanks for the link though!
@heinrichmilw 

They are $295 for 1m RCA, a little out of my budget, but thanks a lot for the info. I'll keep them in mind for later.