2. cables
  3. 148609-2137

Well ... The Lightbulb Just Went On!

After almost 20 years in this hobby, I have come to realize that the most important IC connection is from preamp to amp. Cables from source components can "color" the sound somewhat and be system dependent,  but a neutral IC from preamp to power amp appears to prevent bloat, roll off, and over-coloration, at least as far as I can tell from a number of systems I've heard. Having tried so many different IC's in the preamp/amp position over the years, I have settled on Belden 1800F for that connection, and my rig sounds excellent to me. Of course, this is my own experience, and YMMV. Sort of glad that I've gotten off of the cable merry-go-round ... for now. 
rlb61
rlb61 OP
745 posts
 
@jtcf  ... thanks for the validation. At first, I was a bit taken aback by this discovery, but it really works for me. Glad I'm not alone on this one.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
So you guys are using interconnects as band-aids, to cover up, hide or ameliorate flaws with your other components, rather than as something to be selected and used as components in their own right.

Interesting.
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

Hi Miller

You're not using very much logic here. Why don't you let the thread continue on the merits it started with. Any part any where has a coloration. That's been established since the 70's. Why not build on reality and move forward from there. If you don't believe parts sound different why don't you start your own thread on that topic instead of crashing others threads that are discovering truths from their own findings?

These threads get too bogged down from guys who haven't experienced things for themselves. Time to let others step it up instead of dumbing (not doing or knowing) something down.

Michael Green

rlb61 OP
745 posts
 
@michaelgreenaudio ... thank you, Michael. I agree that every cable and component has some form of coloration. The trick, at least for me, is to try to balance it all out. I'm only relaying my experience, and am interested to learn what others have found regarding this subject.
mesch
3,419 posts
 
Given that the electronic parameters between output and input of any two components differ, it does not surprise me that one might find different ICs to work best between them. 
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