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Shopping for Interconnects

Now that I am building two, two speaker stereo systems in my home, I will need some more IC's.  Here are the pieces of equipment I will be using.  Unsure yet about how to pair the amps to speakers but will try both with each pair of speakers to see which sounds best with which pair.

Denon PMA 520  Integrated amp circa 1989
Yamaha A 500 Integrated amp circa 1984
Yamaha S300 CD player.  Two years old.
Onkyo TA-RW311 Cassette Deck.  circa 1997
Carver TX 11a Tuner.  circa 1986

Budge for a pair of IC's is under $100 for each pair.  Will likely buy two.

Currently have Audio Art IC3's which are nice.  Going to still use them.  Also have a pair of Blue Jeans Cable LC-! which I plan to keep.  

Any suggestions?  Not exactly sure how to shop for cables of this nature since each manufacturer seems to claim different sonic characteristics for each cable.  


will62
64 responses Add your response
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Thanks for the tips and suggestions.   

Morrow looks quite interesting as well.  With that Return Policy it is a no lose situation to give them a try.  Most of the reviews of their budget priced cables are good.  Expensive cables seem to be more hit and miss with people.  But I am shopping for affordable cables and don't have to worry about that too much.

Will read some reviews of the Cullen cables when I have time.  


scorpio1951
189 posts
 
 Will62, you may get as many suggestions as there are members of the site!) In  the end, trust your own judgment and ears. 
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,758 posts
 
I agree with @firstgrowth's suggestion about making your own, and it's satisfying to have done it.
I've made quite a few pair and found the Vampire Wire RCAs to be the easiest to work with and very good quality. Those, along with some shrink-wrap tubing and some Mogami microphone cable, available in bulk online, make a very nice pair of cables at a very low price.
If you don't want to do the work yourself, these look like a good alternative.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00B86GD2O/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all
nutty
2,865 posts
 
will62,

Also keep in mind, Morrow offers a "Trade Up" program on all of their cables. Many people use it to minimize any large initial outlay of funds. 

N
samac's avatar
samac
499 posts
 
@will62 

I have been very pleased with cables from Cullen Cable.

http://http//www.cullencable.com

Cheers,

Scott

will62 OP
177 posts
 
Whitestix.  Thanks for the suggestion.  Have not heard of Shunyata before.  Will look into these as well.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Nutty.  Yeah, I've read some reviews on the Morrow IC's and they seem to be well received by all that have used them.  The entry level cables get very good reviews.  May try a pair in light of the fact I would prefer to own some different cables since they do seem to offer different characteristics in sound.  Can mix and match and then purchase duplicates of any that I really like.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
First growth.  Found this.  You may be on to something.

http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/?p=10696

Nope, never really tried to solder anything.  Used the Liquid stuff that Radio Shack sold years ago to do some things.  I would guess that would not work well for these kind of cables.  

There is a local shop where I am going to bring the Yamaha A 500 for service.  Going to have it cleaned out and possibly some of the Capacitors replaced if they are defective or close to failing.  Will ask the owner if this is something he would be willing to do.

Where can I find the copper that is required for this?
nutty
2,865 posts
 
will62,

I don’t own any Morrow Cables. They offer a trial period and start around $100 bucks. However many on this site use them and reviews on this forum claim that the MA4 is really good for the money. See the link provided and good luck.

http://morrowaudio.com/audiophile-and-home-theater/interconnects

N


whitestix
710 posts
 
I think the low-end of the Shunyata's, the Venom 3's, are a real step above the Blue Jeans IC's.  The Venom 3's are about $100.  Next are the $100 Silnote IC's, also excellent.   Both these can be auditioned for a full-money back guarantee and worth your time listening to.   These cables may reveal music in your system that budget IC's will not.  Cheers.   
firstgrowth
87 posts
 
If you're any good with a soldering iron, I'd buy some Duelund 20ga tinned copper wire and some RCA plugs and make my own.  It will take about 1/2 hour and IMHO they'll kick the crap out of anything in their price range.  http://www.partsconnexion.com  I'm using the $4 switchcraft RCA's.  This setup is the true snake oil antidote.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Slim picker's on that site for budget priced IC's.  I may be better off buying new.  Have to be RCA connectors.
rodman99999
6,130 posts
 
There’s a sort function, that will allow you to look at available used interconnects, $ to $$, here: https://www.usedcable.com/Catalog/Interconnect-Cables  They've got some, starting at $19.00.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
PS.  Here are my speakers.

Mirage OM 10 Towers circa 2001
Castle Conway 3 Towers circa 2003
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