High End Cables Thread (digital, analog, power)

[Roasty]

@FunkyBassMan I think you will have a better result with a different amp than rolling cables. cables to me are just the icing on the cake; unless your current interconnects are horrendously built/deficient in some way, a different cable is not going to magically convert the Anni from something u really dislike to something u suddenly enjoy.

I had exactly the same experience with my Tornado Source cable. Have you tried to compare different levels of the Storm series? I wonder what will change if I switch my Tornado for Firebird or Dragon. It will be the same dark sound, but somehow better, or higher models will be more neutral.

I think the Tornado is as far as I'll go in the AQ range. perhaps Hurricane if I come across a good deal. but anything above that, the price goes way beyond what I'd like to spend on a cord. I'm already questioning my sanity with my current cords.. LOL gotta draw the line somewhere...

 

[Ragnar-BY]

I'm already questioning my sanity with my current cords.. LOL gotta draw the line somewhere...

Line is absolutely necessary

I was recently thinking about trying Siltech power cord. It's been on my mind for a week or two, I guess. At some point, I suddenly realized that although I'm extremely curious about high-end power cords, 3,5k for a cable still feels like nonsense to me. Even if it sounds better. I bought my wife a sapphire ring instead. She was much happier than I would have been with a new cable.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Line is absolutely necessary

I was recently thinking about trying Siltech power cord. It's been on my mind for a week or two, I guess. At some point, I suddenly realized that although I'm extremely curious about high-end power cords, 3,5k for a cable still feels like nonsense to me. Even if it sounds better. I bought my wife a sapphire ring instead. She was much happier than I would have been with a new cable.

Happy wife, Happy life!

 

[FunkyBassMan]

@FunkyBassMan I think you will have a better result with a different amp than rolling cables. cables to me are just the icing on the cake; unless your current interconnects are horrendously built/deficient in some way, a different cable is not going to magically convert the Anni from something u really dislike to something u suddenly enjoy.

Yeah, I didn't think so. I just hate to blow thousands more on another HP amp if I can turn this one around. But I agree, it's unlikely. Probably best to try some basic non-crap cables and if they don't work, write the thing off.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

I had some issues with network connection to the U2 mini but turned out it was due to the ethernet cable not playing nicely with the Sonore Optical Module Deluxe.

Do you still have the Sonore OMD? I have one and I really like it. Straight connection to router sounds way worse in my case.

Taking into account the fact that the optical module should already give a completely clean (in the electrical sense) signal, I somehow didn’t even think about the audiophile ethernet cable. Have you tried different cables with this module? Any recommendations? I looked at Pink Faun, which is praised as "very analogue", but 1200 euros with taxes for a new one... I somehow accepted such prices for power cables, in the end I really hear them. But ethernet cable and after an optically isolated module ... Is there any point in trying?

 

[Roasty]

Do you still have the Sonore OMD? I have one and I really like it. Straight connection to router sounds way worse in my case.

Taking into account the fact that the optical module should already give a completely clean (in the electrical sense) signal, I somehow didn’t even think about the audiophile ethernet cable. Have you tried different cables with this module? Any recommendations? I looked at Pink Faun, which is praised as "very analogue", but 1200 euros with taxes for a new one... I somehow accepted such prices for power cables, in the end I really hear them. But ethernet cable and after an optically isolated module ... Is there any point in trying?

Yep I'm using the OMD v2. it serves as the first converter after router, then fiber into a Melco s100/2 switch.

I too prefer having some fiber in the chain. I tried a Muon Pro ethernet system and preferred having the Uptone ER (connected via fiber from router) in the chain than without.

didn't really experiment with the lan cable going into the OMD; I had to use what was available in terms of length, but between a Melco ethernet and the Furutech Lan NCF, I prefer the Furutech. I think the Furutech Lan NCF is a really good one for the money; not too insanely priced for a 3m length. I got mine 2nd hand for cheap.

I did briefly experiment with the ethernet cable going out of the Uptone ER, and yes there are some differences.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

I don't have any switches after OMD. So it would be the "last" LAN cable between the OMD and transport/DAC. That's why I thought about buying something nice. Which is your favourite for the last link before transport? Was the effect as noticeable as with power cables?

 

[Roasty]

I don't have any switches after OMD. So it would be the "last" LAN cable between the OMD and transport/DAC. That's why I thought about buying something nice. Which is your favourite for the last link before transport? Was the effect as noticeable as with power cables?

I'm using Pink Faun ethernet for my lounge rig, and TQ Black Diamond ethernet from Melco to streamer in my study rig. Will be using the Network Acoustics Muon Pro ethernet from Melco to WD Net (arriving today, hopefully!).

I regret selling my FTA Metis ethernet. didn't particularly enjoy Wireworld ethernet or Sablon 2020 ethernet cables. sotm cat7 was OK maybe a bit forward and detail oriented but cable was way too stiff to work with most of the time. TWL Freedom ethernet is good; neutral uncoloured if that's what you're looking for.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Do you still have the Sonore OMD? I have one and I really like it. Straight connection to router sounds way worse in my case.

Taking into account the fact that the optical module should already give a completely clean (in the electrical sense) signal, I somehow didn’t even think about the audiophile ethernet cable. Have you tried different cables with this module? Any recommendations? I looked at Pink Faun, which is praised as "very analogue", but 1200 euros with taxes for a new one... I somehow accepted such prices for power cables, in the end I really hear them. But ethernet cable and after an optically isolated module ... Is there any point in trying?

Do you have experience with Pink faun power cables?

 

[Ragnar-BY]

Do you have experience with Pink faun power cables?

No. Never had anything from Pink Faun. I’ve just noticed their internet cable is highly praised by many users at WBF and other audiophile resources.

 

[BlakeT]

I also need two new ethernet cables. I'm currently running Sablon 2020 in the headphone system, but need something for the new SOtM daisy chained switches in the speaker system. I never really compared Sablon to anything else, other than an older Sablon Panatela.

@Roasty any more comparative thoughts on Pink Faun vs TWL vs Metis vs Eno vs Furutech? Neutral, transparent, detailed, uncolored is what I'm looking for.

My wallet is hurting a bit after a number of recent large audio purchases (including 3 Stealth Audio cables, bought used, but even at used pricing, still very expensive), and speaker amp, so don't want to spend at the Muon level.

 

[The Jester]

Interesting question on shielded cables,
With RCA they are either coaxial or multi conductor with an outer shield usually grounded at only one end, these can be termed as “directional” as the common choice is to have the shield connected at the source end of the cable,
Question is, what about a DC powered source component or ones that are powered by 2 core power connectors, neither of those has a physical ground connection to drain the shield, so in that case would it be more correct to have the shield connected at the destination end, assuming of course that component has a 3 core power cord including a ground connection ?

Further investigation,
After reading up on component grounding and finding my power conditioner had a nice beefy ground terminal I decided to “star ground” everything with an earthed metal casing, during that process discovered that both the power amp and preamp had “lifted” circuit board grounds, as a resistance of around 100 ohms measured between case and RCA socket grounds, hmm , so where is the RCA shield being grounded to, the circuit ground ….
So, for the DAC which is DC powered I modified the RCA (which are all twin connectors plus shield), leads by disconnecting the shield ground and extending it with a good quality wire to connect it to the preamp ground, after that did the same to the RCA between pre and power amps but this time extended the shield with a wire at both ends and fixed one wire to preamp ground, the other end to power amp ground, effectively creating a Faraday Cage for the interconnect, with headphone amp and phono preamp having a direct connection between case and RCA grounds, I installed the interconnects with the shied at the source end so no shield was draining to the preamp RCA grounds or circuit board,
So, moment of truth,
With both headphones and speakers initially everything sounded a little “brighter” but with continued listening it was more a little extra low level detail being revealed, wasn’t until I got to the end of a test with a favourite recording using headphones did I notice the most obvious but so far not really noticed, last track faded out to nothing and then silence, not the usual no noise or signal at the end of the track but a real sense of silence.
May need a few hours use to settle the cables into their new configurations ? ..maybe ?, but for now I’m happy with the effort so far.
Maybe not previously needed with systems from the Vinyl era, but modern systems have to deal with Wifi signals everywhere, computers, mobile phones, just about everything DC powered using a switch mode supply etc ..

 

[RobertSM]

Update on the Cardas clear power cord.

So it's actually pretty easy to discern that the Cardas clear power is superior to what it's replacing, the Shunyata Venom NR V10. It's actually not even close. I'd say the clear power is two levels above the Venom. It adds more energy and dynamics, throws a wider soundstage and adds more precision in localization. It further adds more natural tonal density and adds more meat on the bones. I get the same results when I have it placed on the Weiss DAC501-MKII or on the ALO Studio Six.

An interesting effect I'd not have predicted is that I believe the Cardas clear also does a slightly better job in filtering of noise. I get a quieter sound off my DAC with it and get the same results if I move it over to the headphone amp. A reminder that when you drop the noise floor you can increase dynamic range.

So all of this evaluation leads to me to ordering another Cardas clear power cord. At the moment the one I own is on the DAC. The new one will go on the head amp. I'll still keep the Shunyata 20 amp cord going from the wall into the Hydra Delta D6 as I do believe that match is necessary to keep getting the best our if the power distributor/conditioner. But from here on out, my components will run Cardas for power and Cardas for line level cables.

 

[Roasty]

Update on the Cardas clear power cord.

So it's actually pretty easy to discern that the Cardas clear power is superior to what it's replacing, the Shunyata Venom NR V10. It's actually not even close. I'd say the clear power is two levels above the Venom. It adds more energy and dynamics, throws a wider soundstage and adds more precision in localization. It further adds more natural tonal density and adds more meat on the bones. I get the same results when I have it placed on the Weiss DAC501-MKII or on the ALO Studio Six.

An interesting effect I'd not have predicted is that I believe the Cardas clear also does a slightly better job in filtering of noise. I get a quieter sound off my DAC with it and get the same results if I move it over to the headphone amp. A reminder that when you drop the noise floor you can increase dynamic range.

So all of this evaluation leads to me to ordering another Cardas clear power cord. At the moment the one I own is on the DAC. The new one will go on the head amp. I'll still keep the Shunyata 20 amp cord going from the wall into the Hydra Delta D6 as I do believe that match is necessary to keep getting the best our if the power distributor/conditioner. But from here on out, my components will run Cardas for power and Cardas for line level cables.

awesome findings man. I think that filter on the cord really does a good job. having the Clear is like a double edged sword; I kind of think I no longer need anything else higher up in the price range, and at the same time think if I'm getting these results, what a cord a few tiers up would bring to the table.

maybe will let @RobertSM do the further experimentation.. heh

 

[RobertSM]

awesome findings man. I think that filter on the cord really does a good job. having the Clear is like a double edged sword; I kind of think I no longer need anything else higher up in the price range, and at the same time think if I'm getting these results, what a cord a few tiers up would bring to the table.

maybe will let @RobertSM do the further experimentation.. heh

Lol...

No I'm going to stay at this level. It starts to become silly and too much to move up further. And honestly at the power level there's only one more level in Cardas line, the clear beyond XL and I think that has HUGE conductors, for big monoblocks in a two-channel system.

No, this is a sweet spot for me. I'm happy to have found Cardas. Thanks my friend @Roasty ! They weren't even on my radar and I don't think I'd have found then without you!