New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Changing cables.

post #1 of 12
3/15/05 at 5:50am
Thread Starter 
Okay, I need some high quality RCA interconnects for multiple purposes and I want to keep a relatively limited budget for this.

Question: is it better to get ten decent ($20/ea.) cables, or is it better to get eight cheap cables (say $5/ea.) and two nice (say $80/ea.) cables and move them around / swap them as you are using different equipment? Does anyone do the latter?

I ask because I've heard that if anything makes a difference in terms of cable "burn in" it's not the cable actually but the connector getting seated over time, which the skeptic in me would have less of an issue believing. This would lead me to believe that I should not be swapping cables all the time.
Reply
post #2 of 12
3/15/05 at 11:12am
Quote:
I ask because I've heard that if anything makes a difference in terms of cable "burn in" it's not the cable actually but the connector getting seated over time, which the skeptic in me would have less of an issue believing. This would lead me to believe that I should not be swapping cables all the time.
Frequently plugging and unplugging cables is going to do nothing for you except wear them out.

Just get a good quality, inexpensive cable (or however many of them you need) that looks how you need it to for your setup, plug it (them) in and enjoy.

There is no valid evidence, either theoretical or demonstrative, to support "cable burn in".
Reply
post #3 of 12
3/15/05 at 3:30pm
I'd say that it depends on how often you're talking about switching them. If it's once in a great while then get some good ones. If it's fairly often then I wouldn't risk damaging the cables or the plugs.
Reply
post #4 of 12
3/15/05 at 3:46pm
It seems very well admitted that cables budget should be around 10-15% of your total investment. You need to get decent cables in the signal path to get decent sound! Frequent swapping is a non-sense, you'll wear your cable and connectors, introduce dust in the contacts and favorise corrosion.

Bite the (silver) bullet
Reply
post #5 of 12
3/15/05 at 4:28pm
Quote:
It seems very well admitted that cables budget should be around 10-15% of your total investment.
I don't know who came up with this, but it sounds like marketing crap. The money spent on cables should be the amount to get the job done and enjoy your music. There should be no set percentage that you have to spend. Cable price does not always equal better sound.
Reply
post #6 of 12
3/15/05 at 4:29pm
Quote:
You need to get decent cables in the signal path to get decent sound!
No you don't- just make sure they're not made of chicken wire and attached with bubble gum, and of sufficient gauge for their length and you'll be fine with regards to audio performance.

If you want nicer looking cables, or think you'll wear out inexpensive cables moving them around for whatever reason, buy something beefier.
Reply
post #7 of 12
3/15/05 at 4:35pm
Don't forget capacitance and impedance, rodbac.
Reply
post #8 of 12
3/15/05 at 6:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ooheadsoo
Don't forget capacitance and impedance, rodbac.
I didn't (although I assumed this was a typical home application).

I'm not going to derail the thread further, though.
Reply
post #9 of 12
3/15/05 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ooheadsoo
Don't forget capacitance and impedance, rodbac.
Also, don't forget sound. More expensive cables don't always, or maybe even often, mean better sound, but different cables do sound differently, and some sound better than others, as thousands can testify.
Reply
post #10 of 12
3/15/05 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilS
Also, don't forget sound. More expensive cables don't always, or maybe even often, mean better sound, but different cables do sound differently, and some sound better than others, as thousands can testify.
I didn't forget "sound", either.
Reply
post #11 of 12
3/18/05 at 12:03am
If you want a specific recommendation, then I would recommend that you check out these two websites:

http://www.audioholics.com
http://www.bluejeanscable.com

Read the Audioholics website especially their articles on cables. Then, go to Blue Jeans Cable and do some reading of their articles as well. You should receive a fairly thorough crash course in the art and science of solid cable design fundamentals.

As a man who has invested several hundreds of dollars in boutique cables, I can attest to you that the sonic differences can be audibly discerned and appreciated, but it takes very careful auditioning and testing. We are talking about taking a microscope to the sound when it comes to most tweaks and cables (boutique or otherwise) are no exception.

Get your main components synergized together. Worry about cables last.

I checked your public profile and you have not listed any components whatsoever or music preferences. What kind of system do you have and what are you trying to achieve with the purchase of cables?
Reply
post #12 of 12
3/18/05 at 4:21am
the idea of cable burn in tried to use a theory in which the structure of the dielectric changes on a molecular level over time as electricity passes through.

Im more prone to believe that its mental burn in more. Though the idea of cable burn in and a physical change that actually improves sonic characteristics is a fun idea to play with.

regarding the percentage budget thing, ive spent way more then 10% -15%
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home