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Interconnects - the saga begins.

193.189.192.122
Posted on March 28, 1999 at 07:12:41
Jim Willis


 
Went looking over the weekend. Only 2 real hifi shops in the area. I was looking for some Siltech to bring home and try. One shop only sold house-brand Swiss-made interconnect. Never heard of it. Cheap, though.

The other shop sold a few different brands, but the only "name" interconnect was Kimber. The Kimber Select seemed nice enough, but at 500 SF/pair (about $350) it was a bit more than I planned to spend. Anyhow, not wanting to go into a hifi shop and walk away empty handed, I left with 2 pair of Kimber PBJ. Cheap enough at about 140 SF/pair. Unfortunately they sound MUCH WORSE than my cheap RCA patch cords. This is because some of my stuff is wired for 110V, so I have a big 2KW transformer in the room. Clearly unshielded interconnects will not be the way to go. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I may try the KC-1; I have to take the PBJs back anyhow. If anyone can suggest an inexpensive shielded Kimber, I'll give it a try.

However, it seems like Plan B might be in order - getting some wire and RCAs from the USA and building my own. There are 2 possible ways forward for me. My spousal unit is currently in the Washington DC area (N. Virginia) and could pick some up (if she knew where to go for it). Does anyone out there know who sells Belden 89259??? How about RCA connectors?

The other approach would be for me to take Tom S. or Stephen up on their kind offers to ship me some made in a post down below. Guy's, I'll take you up on it if I can't find a way that's easier on us all!

Thanks for the help.

 

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Re: Interconnects - the saga begins., posted on March 28, 1999 at 07:46:00
BC


 
Look...building and playing around with interconnects may have it's own rewards but improved audio quality isn't one of them. Unless and even if you're capable of hearing sound about about 16000Hz, interconnects aren't going to make a difference (assuming materials and gauge are similar or equal). They look cool but that's all. For all those that are new to this: beg or borrow as many cables as you can get, match levels and try to hear a difference.

 

Re: Interconnects - the saga begins., posted on March 28, 1999 at 08:33:52
Mick Wolfe


 
I've recently found 2 sub-$150 interconnects that outperform a lot of the more expensive and overly hyped crappola.. Galen Carol offered me a fairly liberal audition period and a modest discount on the Alpha Core Triode Quartz. This is an excellent all around cable . Another possibility is the Harmonic Technology Precision Link @ $129 1M pair. I was offered a 30 day audition directly from HT as they had no local dealer near me. I'm not sure how your location will effect auditioning these cables , but they're both worth the effort. As far as the Belden is concerned, I believe they have a website that lists all their distributors.Feel free to e-mail on details of the above.

 

Re: Interconnects - the saga begins., posted on March 28, 1999 at 10:58:41
Rod M


 
>>>>>interconnects aren't going to make a difference (assuming materials and gauge are similar or equal)<<<<<

That's just the point. Jim tried PBJs and found them to be DIFFERENT in sound and construction. Some cables do sound different. Cables can be tone controls. And yes, cables are overpriced.

If you don't hear a difference, then fine. You've saved a lot. If someone thinks they hear a difference and feels the price is worth it, then let them buy them. It's their dough.

While I agree that expensive cables are not worth considering for a typical mid-fi system, Jim has been at this a long time and has a system a few cuts above that.

In the future, please restrain yourself from posting the 'everything sounds the same unless it's broken' rethoric. Been there, done that.

 

Re: Interconnects - the saga begins., posted on March 28, 1999 at 12:34:22
Steve


 
Hi BC,

>>borrow as many cables as you can get, match levels and try to hear a difference<<

I've done what you suggest many times, over many years. Each time I buy a new system I spend days collecting cables from various dealers, invite a couple a friends over and spend hours making individual comparisons, with me changing cables and them listening and vice-versa.

And guess what?

Each and every cable imparts its own character on the sound of the system. Worse than that....a cable you'd reject outright for one system, may be just the ticket for another.

Cable matching is a crucial part of system set-up and fine tuning and anyone who ignores that fact deserves not to get 100% performance from the components he or she purchased.

>>building and playing around with interconnects may have it's own rewards but improved audio quality isn't one of them<< Your statement may be controversial. Its also wrong. Cables can make or break otherwise excellent components and their selection is no less important to the overall result than choosing speakers that match the amp.

If you truly can't hear a difference between cables then I respectfully suggest that your system has larger problems elsewhere as even relatively modest but well set up systems will reveal an interconnect's sonic qualities.

Steve

 

Interconnects Don't Make a Difference! -- Not!, posted on March 28, 1999 at 13:36:22
John K


 
In regards to the notion that interconnects don't make a difference: I have a modest system, and I have found through experimentation that different interconnects sound different. Not only do they sound different, but I perceive a difference that I am willing to pay for.

 

Re: Interconnects Don't Make a Difference! -- Not!, posted on March 28, 1999 at 16:49:15
Monty


 
Amen to that! I would say especially with class "B" type components, intercons are important and are, in fact, a component.

Of course, there are some who don't hear a difference. That's fine, some will be satisfied with less and some will always want more. That's life.

Now if reviewers of expensive components would only tell us which interconnects they use with which components. And keep the cost factor in mind. Hey, what kind of review teams a $600 integrated amp with a $2k interconnect?

 

Re: Interconnects - the saga begins., posted on March 28, 1999 at 21:07:45
BC


 
I know this is a controversial subject. Keep in mind I'm not attacking you. Having said this, let me ask you how you and your friends tested the cables. Were the cables of the same length, were they of the same gauge, were they in good condition? Did you match levels for each cable listening test? How much time passed between each test? Was it morning, noon or night? Was there general agreement among your friends about how each affected the sound? Was there much background noise - barking dogs, traffic, appliances...? There are many factors that can affect the way people hear sound. The illusion of sound we get from our systems is a fragile one. The position we sit in relative to the speakers, room reflections, whether or not a ceiling fan is on, to name a few. Unless you test the cables under very precise conditions, it's almost impossible to say if cables make a difference. Why do you suppose most manufacturers of mid and and even high end equipment furnish plane-jane rca interconnects, generic looking digital interconnects aand bargain basement speaker cable? Not because they feel these will degrade the performance of their product. Lots of magazines have done comparisons, some very precise, others pretty casual. None that I've read have ever discovered a difference in comparably spec'd interconnects. The casual testing I've done has never turned up a difference. If there are cables out there that will significantly improve the performance of my equipment, I'll buy them. I haven't found them yet.

 

Where abouts in Switzerland are you?, posted on March 29, 1999 at 08:02:33
Abeadonis


 
We have a place in Zollikon (essentially Zurich) on Zollikerstrasse.

Regards,
Abe

 

my email as not to clutter the board (nt), posted on March 29, 1999 at 08:04:02
Abeadonis


 


 

Re: Geneva..., posted on March 29, 1999 at 08:10:21
Jim Willis


 
Actually, I live in France and work in Geneva. But you can do that and still have a 10 minute commute. Bloody lot of paperwork, though.

 

Re: Errrrrrrrr......., posted on March 29, 1999 at 08:17:56
Jim Willis


 
You seemed to miss my original post a bit lower down where I indicated that I was going to proceed with new interconnects, and I wanted some opinions on the basis of current system and sound preferences. I fully understand the opinions of a minority that changing wires will make no audible difference. However, I'm actually not interested in engaging in a debate over whether or not wires make a difference, at least not in this forum, which heretofore has remained fairly sane. However, I would welcome some advice as to where I can get certain wires or materials in the Geneva area, if you would care to help.

 

Re: Interconnects - the saga begins., posted on March 30, 1999 at 23:34:50
Keith K


 
Hi Mick, I'd be interested in your findings on the Alpha Core and HT ICs. I tried clicking on your e-mail, but for some reason my mail doesn't recognize it. Thanks!

 

Re: Errrrrrrrr......., posted on March 31, 1999 at 12:50:39
john curl


 
Jim, it would be useful if you can use some resources at your disposal to find out why wires make a difference. Are you working with a company with a good physics library? A good look in the stacks might bring up something important. I live near UC Berkeley. I am not associated with UC at this time, but a friend of mine just got access to the stacks at the UC library. I hope to work with him to find new input on wires, etc. I would look toward Paris to find really interesting wires, etc. Switzerland is always somewhat conservative about such things. One of my ex techs is a principal at Montana Audio near Zurich. He imports audio products and might be able to help.

 

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