Audio Cables

[User Name]

How much should an audiophile on a budget (which is what most of us seem to be) spend on cables? Which brands should you stay away from? Which brands do you recommend? And for discussion purposes - why do cables even matter?

Also, could somebody give me a quick rundown on audio connectors? Not to hog the discussion, but banana-plugs, what the heck?

[Terrax]

User,
There is some excellent info on cables the the thread "Cable swap program" that doro started some time back. Signal Cables which you'll see reference to alot, can be had for a price that want break the bank, and they are of very good quality. Takes a bit of reading through, but I'll think you'll find some of what you need there.

[dorokusai]

If you would like to demo some cables, prior to purchase, please join the program....it's free. Signal Cable is a Club Polk supporter.

Thanks for the plug Terry :)

[pjdami]

User Name,

Yes as suggested you should sign up for the cable swap program. The reason being to find out if different cables make a difference for you. I find that different cables make tonal quality changes in my systems. One cable may be darker sounding or another cable may be brighter sounding. Most of my two channel rigs now I have no tone controls (bass / treble) so cables are used to change the sound or I change out and try different tubes.

Popular cable manufacturers that I have tried include, Signal Cable, Transparent, Kimber Kable, Acoustic Zen, and DH Labs. Some others that I haven't tried include Nordost, PS Audio, Audioquest, MIT, and Analysis Plus. Lot's of cable choices man. I found a nice difference in separation and clarity / detail between the $150 ICs and the $50 ICs in my system. Loudspeaker cables I found to affect the tonal quality of how dark / laid back or zippy / exciting the sound gets.

[Mark of Cenla]

I have has good results with Heartland Cables (online) and AR interconnects (Best Buy). The Heartland Cables improved both the sound and picture on my DVD player. Good luck.

[pjdami]

Hey Mark,

What part of La. you from man? Lafayette or Alexandria? Good to see another crawfish eating Polkie on here. I'm near New Orleans.

Welcome to the board by the way.

Paul

[dragon1952]

User,
Speaker cable terminations like banana plugs and spades basically just make it easier to connect up your speaker cables....it's like plug and play, especially if you're like most of us who are constantly swapping different equipment in and out of our systems. Many consider just bare wire the best connection anyway so if you're just going to set it up and not screw with it don't worry about it.
As far as audio cables, just start with Radio Shack or AR's (as mentioned above) and then go from there. Stay away from the cheaper Monster cables, IMO.

[Zero]

You will find there are those who feel cables make little difference in a system, and you will find those who swear by cables. As always, you will have to leave it up to your own personal experience to determine what camp you reside in.

Value wise, I cannot think of any better cable than the Radio Shack FUSION. Despite the Radio Shack name, the Fusion cable is well built and incredibly cheap. (25 bucks?). This cable has always yeilded a positive result in any system I've plugged it into , be it hifi, midfi, or lo-fi.

Ixos Gamma speaker wire is my favorite for inexpensive, yet solid sounding wire. Affordable, gives you performance, and looks good to boot.... Follow this link:

http://www.ac4l.com/Amazing/itemdesc.asp?CartId=EVEREST-13352949FATXN503&ic=IXOS%2D6007P&cc=&tpc=

Whatever you do - stay away from that MONSTER CABLE crap.

[amulford]

Another place I've found to have relatively good cables for a reasonable price is here:

Blue Jeans Cable (http://www.bluejeanscable.com/index.htm)

The actual cables used are well respected brands and they are of a good quality.

I, too, would suggest you join the cable swap. I discovered Signal Cables through it, and wound up getting some for my rig.

[VR3]

Ratshack discontinued the Fusion line of cables - atleast on the website they did, u may still be able to find them in stores though.

IXOS is one to look at as well.

[Mark of Cenla]

Originally posted by pjdami
Hey Mark,

What part of La. you from man? Lafayette or Alexandria? Good to see another crawfish eating Polkie on here. I'm near New Orleans.

Welcome to the board by the way.

Paul

Thanks. I live in a very small town called Plaucheville in Avoyelles Parish, which in between Alexandria and Lafayette and a little east . I am very familar with the N.O. area (lived there for most of the 80s). Where do you live?

P.S. Sorry, but I don't like crawfish although my wife does.