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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!

128x128ocinn
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 

@ocinn

I agree with Erik_Squires about the high quality of DIY Connex/DH Labs bulk IC cabling. I’ve migrated from some very high-priced commercial cables(PAD, Audioquest, Synergistics, Goertz, Fono Acustica) to all-Connex BL-Ag DIY silver ICs for a mere $16 per stereo foot plus terminations(Neutric XLRs or KLEI silver RCAs.) If you must purchase commercial cables, at least consider building one pair of BL-Ag for comparison. Constructing them is simpler than the VH and other DIY recipes. Forget about resale value, as the investment is minimal.

electroslacker
375 posts
 
@ocinn, I haven't tried the Vh.  I was thinking of buying a new tube amp and decided to first try tweaking everything from cables, to contacts, to fuses, to outlets.  I was intrigued by the Stagers construction, cost, and reviews, so i tried them.  I tend to judge audio gizmos by watching my behavior more than my thoughts.  What I thought was that they removed congestion. Instruments and voices seemed more separated.  My behavior was to never remove them or even A/B them with the previous cable. But I didn't try a bunch of cables.  Sorry I can't be more help.
ocinn's avatar
ocinn OP
17 posts
 
@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.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,821 posts
 
Try the Belkin PureAV RCA Audio Cable for $10 a pair on Amazon first.
erik_squires
16,122 posts
 
@dgarretson

Thanks for the vote of confidence!! But I must admit I splurge on silver connectors from cardas... real bastards to solder... but beautiful.

For XLR I go with the silver plated Neutrik's. Pretty much the top of the line in the pro world and still reasonably priced. The silver to silver contact minimizes issues going from one metal to another.
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