Cable Asylum Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

---

[ Follow Ups ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Cable Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Pricey Jumpers as speaker cable? You bet!

Posted by rathbone (A) on March 27, 2007 at 16:56:07

Howdy,

I have been using various manufacturer's jumper cables from my AMPs to my speakers. I am sure jumpers have been used now and in the past when using monobloc power amps, but my speakers are 10 feet away in a bit more novel approach to using jumpers (roughly foot-long sections of speaker cable).

I "splice" the jumpers (after hook-up to the amp) to my speaker cables using a Cardas CABE connector (accomodates bananas and/or spades), then run the speaker cable to the speaker binding posts. The speaker cable is Kimber 4TC, not really known for anything spectacular (except for being a bit too neutral perhaps?).

I have used a lot of jumpers. Home-brew and factory-prepped Kimber Select 9033, Nordost BH, Analysis Plus Oval 9, and Virtual Dynamic Master jumpers to name a few. What is alarming is, in each case, the character of the jumper cable (i.e. speaker mfg flavor) is what I primarily hear. Yes, the speaker cables sound is there, but they the CONSTANT in the equation (set them to zero). What changes is the jumper, and all the traits associated with Nordost, Analysis Plus, or Kimber cables (and their respective connectors) are borne out. Want Cardas warmth for the day?.....splice on a foot of GR.

Why bother splicing jumpers to regular brand-x cable? Well, it is a cheap and easy way to evaluate different models and makes of speaker cable. Also, it is an impossibility for me to use a stiff cable like the Virual Dynamics or Speltz Anti-cables without this adaptation. I have already ruled out (on sonic terms) the potential purchase of several brands/makes of cable due to this process.

In addition, I really believe that I have cheated the system. In the case of VD Master, a set of 11 ft cables would run several thousand dollars, and I am certain that I am getting a large sonic percentage of the full-length cables effect by only using 10 inch jumpers of the stuff.

Nutty? You may think so, but this is similar to the age old question of "how 6 feet of power cable can make a difference when there is miles of utility cable prior to it".

For those of you that would like to cheat the system, or have hook-up issues which preclude stiff cables but would like to use such brands, the use of jumpers can offer a solution/compromise.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---