which interconnect to choose?

[bcwang]

Hi,

I'm looking for good interconnects around $100-$150 probably 1-2 meters long. Any of you who have heard these please comment and compare. If you have something else you think should be added to the list that is better and in the same price range, please let me know. Reading through the boards has just confused me more as a lot of these get good reviews, but are not compared against each other. I just threw the monsters in there since they're in the same price range.

1. Bettercables Silver Serpent with bullet plugs.
2. ZuCable Oxyfuel
3. Outlaw PCA
4. Bolder Cable m-80
5. Straightwire Encore II
6. Straightwire Rhapsody II
7. Nordost Solar Wind
8. Monster Interlink Reference 2
9. Monster Z200i
10. Monster M1000i

Of these, which have you heard and think are the best? Also, do you guys think running one of these with a radioshack rca to 1/8th adapter at the end cause much audio degradation? It's mainly for my main stereo system, but I need to convert it to 1/8th when I want to use with my headphone amp.

Thanks!

 

[tigger]

Quote:

Originally posted by bcwang Hi, I'm looking for good interconnects around $100-$150 probably 1-2 meters long. Any of you who have heard these please comment and compare. If you have something else you think should be added to the list that is better and in the same price range, please let me know. Reading through the boards has just confused me more as a lot of these get good reviews, but are not compared against each other. I just threw the monsters in there since they're in the same price range. 1. Bettercables Silver Serpent with bullet plugs. 2. ZuCable Oxyfuel 3. Outlaw PCA 4. Bolder Cable m-80 5. Straightwire Encore II 6. Straightwire Rhapsody II 7. Nordost Solar Wind 8. Monster Interlink Reference 2 9. Monster Z200i 10. Monster M1000i Of these, which have you heard and think are the best? Also, do you guys think running one of these with a radioshack rca to 1/8th adapter at the end cause much audio degradation? It's mainly for my main stereo system, but I need to convert it to 1/8th when I want to use with my headphone amp. Thanks!

DiMarzio cable from HeadRoom is excellent for the price

 

[SuperGiraffe]

Try Wireworld Equinox III+. Recently discontinued for new Equinox V, so you may be able to get deals on them. Got them for my main system and love them; they replaced Monster M850i, and even my fiancee noticed a difference without me telling her. Mids simply have the perfect balance of detail and sweetness. My headphone rig uses the Nordost Blue Heaven. I haven't really experimented with this setup and cabling yet. The Blue Heaven seems okay, though. BTW, I think that the Z200 and the M1000 are the same cable with different looks. Don't quote me on that, but I know that many of the Z and M-Series cables are of the same construction. In a similar vein, I think that the Monster M950i and Interlink Reference may be the same as well, in which case the Reference is a much better deal. I find these higher-end monsters very warm sounding, with deep, but not particularly well-controlled bass.

 

[carlo]

bcwang,

Are you familiar with The Cable Company? They have a (great) trial program that allows you to try cables in your home and system, as long as you buy something there's no additional cost (depending on what you buy and how many cables you ask to audition, obviously check the site for information). If you're willing to buy used there's also many more cables in your price range.

What is your main stereo system? If others here have the same equipment they might be able to give a more informed recommendation (asuming that you won't be trying for yourself). Considering the headphone system(s) in your profile I don't think you should worry too much about the adapter to whatever headphone amp you have, running expensive cables in that rig is money that is better spent elsewhere imo.

 

[Bostonears]

I have two pairs of Better Cables Silver Serpent ICs (and two of their S-video cables) in one of my systems, and they are good. However, I use four pairs of Kimber Hero ICs in another system, and I prefer the Heroes. Once the Heroes were broken in (which took a full 1 to 2 weeks of continuous use), I found them to be more revealing, with no apparent tonal contribution of their own. Also, the WBT-0144 locking connectors on the Heroes are the greatest RCA connectors I have ever used!

The Kimber Heroes are in your price range. The least expensive place to buy them that I have found is The Stereo Trading Outlet http://www.tsto.com , with 1 meter pair for $135 including shipping.

 

[bcwang]

Looks like bettercables just came out with a new cable "blue truth" I wonder if anyone has tried that one.

It doesn't look like "The Cable Company" carries many of the wires I'd like to compare. And my current equipment may not show the differences.

The thing is, even though my equipment is not high end now, I upgrade every so often and I'd like to keey buy a pretty good IC now that I can always use in the future without being unsatisfied and needing to buy again. I think my current IC's have been regarded as generally very poor and that may be keeping me from enjoying the full potential of my current setup.