Hi, I just ordered my first amp the Perreaux SXH-1.

What I will be using it for is to connect it to my PC soundcard Audigy 2 Platinum.

What is the difference between mini-mini, mini-rca, rca-rca, etc. Can anyone explain? Or direct me in the right direction?

The headphones that I have are the Sony CD3000s.

What cables do you recommend?
I was looking at the Zu cables and Headphile but I dunno which I should get. I am looking for the ones that will help mix with the Sony and Perreaux.
Thank You All!

Click here and this should help answer some of your questions. I am not familiar with your HPs or amp, so I'll leave the comments on ICs for someone who is.

Thank You!

I'm trying to find information on the different kind of cables.

Is there any site that can explain what kind of sound you will get by using different types of materials?

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Hey Camelback, congrats on the new amp. It's a great one.

When people talk about mini plugs they usually mean the 3.5mm (or 3/8") stereo phono plug, like the kind that your standard headphones have. A standard phono plug is known as a 1/4" plug.

The RCA connection is the type that your headphone amp uses. It is the circle with the hole in the middle (or two of them).

Most soundcards have their ouput on a 3.5mm jack, so you probably need a mini-rca cable. Just look at your soundcard to see what the output is.

I would recommend with starting out with a less expensive interconnect, especially for computer use. If you are willing to buy used, it's a great way to save money on cables and they are not the type of thing to wear out quickly.

The Zu Cable Pivot would do the job that you are looking for. It is supposed to be a nice cable, although I have never used it. There is one in the for sale forum at the moment and zu cable also lists promotions on these on ebay.

It is difficult to generalize the way interconnects sound based upon what they are made. Silver is considered to sound brighter than copper by some, however this has been refuted by a couple of people who's opinions I trust. I would therefore take cables at a one on one basis.

you know...... forget expensive cables. get yourself a nicer sound card first... or a cd player.

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Even though there are some general accepted sonic qualities to various materials, they usually end up sounding different when placed in "your" system. That's why some people don't think silver is brighter than copper. In fact, I have had it both ways. In my portable the silver is brighter, in my home it gives more detailed bass and no brightness. There is also the consideration as to what the physical properties are. Stranded versus solid core, braided wires, star quad construction, flat line. It all gets mind boggling. Each style and type of cable works well with some systems and badly with others. Trial and error is the only way to know which is best for you.

You will probably need a mini to rca cable. You really aren't going to get the best sound using a soundcard as a source. I would suggest that you get a lower priced cable as they aren't usually to revealing. You may notice some noise issues that you don't hear now when you hook up that amp.

Save money on the cable now and get a better source later.

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Easy for you to say, you DIYed your cables. Let the man spend his moolah! It will only worsen the upgraditis.

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Except for the M-Audio that I have read countless posts about, what other high-end sound cards do you recommend?

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Thank you for your help Dr. PD. I guess experience will have to determine what I like. I do have a couple bucks to burn so I might try headphile's silvers or the Pivots and return one based on any sonic differences I hear.