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Inter Connects - What I know and don't know

I've been researching Balanced Cables in anticipation of adding a new pair of mono-blocks (Atma Sphere Class - D) to my system. I'm hoping some of you who know a thing or two about cables might help me (us) clarify or demystify certain assumptions.   

 

My assumptions:

- You get what you pay for ($300 Brand X will produce more detail than say $60 Mogami Gold).

- The larger the gauge the better.

- Crimped and soldered connectors are better than screw tightened.

- Two or more large braided strands are better than several smaller gauge braided strands (all things being equal).

- Silver conductors are better sounding and measuring than Copper conductors.  

- Rhodium, Gold, Silver, Copper, & Brass, connectors objectively sound different. (as opposed to in your system).  

 

Remember, the more objective your responses are the more helpful they'll be to a majority of readers. 

Thanks in advance for your "feedback"

 

 

 

69zoso69

Showing 1 response by fleschler

fleschler
2,041 posts
 

I tried Mogami Gold XLR balanced ICs because they are cheap ($125) and so many postings indicating that balanced ICs don't make a difference if well constructed.  Baloney!!!  After breaking in 100 hours, they sounded like crap in my high end system (let them play without me in the room).  Flat, tonally thin, lacking dynamic contrast, totally uninteresting for domestic home use.  They are touted as the best studio recording cable.  I grant them their neutral tonal balance, clean and noise free qualities.  Maybe that's what is needed in a recording studio.  For listening pleasure (lack of), they are awful!  Monster 300s sound superior (light in the highs, very rich bottom, dynamic, not neutral but very listenable for a $15 cable).

My ICs cost $700 and have patented air core suspended wires (Grover Huffman) with a very elaborate construction.  I've heard other moderate and high end cables (I'm a cable beta tester).   Some are awful (High Fidelity-dead company) and some are quite good with wide range of price. 

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