multi-channel interconnects

[jconde]

I presently use standard rca cable (cheap) that came with other components such as my vcr to hook up my sacd player to my receiver. I figure I will get better sound from upgrading my cables. Any recomentdations? I have been to the Monster Cable website but they do not sell a multi-channel cable as such.

 

[mrtanner]

I presently use standard rca cable (cheap) that came with other components such as my vcr to hook up my sacd player to my receiver. I figure I will get better sound from upgrading my cables. Any recomentdations? I have been to the Monster Cable website but they do not sell a multi-channel cable as such.

1. Don't spend the money on Monster. You can do better for less money.

2. You don't need multi-channel cables as such. Three pair of stereo or a pair of component video will do nicely.

3. Go to partsexpress.com and check out Dayton brand or AR audio cables. Nice cables at a savings over Monster.

 

[timbre4]

Monster did make six channel cables; I've had one since 1999. Kinda spendy and I'm usually not like that.

There are alternatives such as the AR audio cables mentioned. Anything's an improvement over the free ones!

 

[Guy Robinson]

I agree with the rest. Three stereo pairs of A/R will do the trick.

 

[MacDaddy]

If you do need real 6 channel interconnects here are a few links I have found. None of them are cheap.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/6channel/index.htm

http://www.monstercable.com/home_av/audio_cables/sacd.asp

http://www.cobaltcable.com/product/multichannel_audio_bundle.htm?source=adwords

 

[ClarkNovak]

Radio Shack has a set of multipair that they sell for about $40 under the RCA name; made in France my Thomson. They're pretty good.

Clark

 

[Scottmoose]

Radio Shack has a set of multipair that they sell for about $40 under the RCA name; made in France my Thomson. They're pretty good.

Clark

You could always try making your own. It's easy enough, decent triple-shielded cable costs very little from your local Maplin / Radio Shack / whatever, as do nice lightweight phonoplugs, and silver-solder costs next to nothing. Even Ken Ishiwata of Marantz fame (the bloke who tweaks all of their kit) doesn't believe in wasting too much money on cables -'cheap soft copper' is his suggestion.
Scott

 

[Relayer]

Or, if you're not able/willing to make them yourself, you should try your local audiophile shop...

I've never been able to reliably solder stuff, and I know that here in Toronto, there are plenty of small places where the fine folks at these shops will custom-build top-quality cables for you while-you-wait, (as long as they're not in the middle of some more important business, like selling someone a $20,000 turntable).

This way, you can choose exactly how much you want to spend on cable (they charge by the foot - you can have them made to whatever length you need) and connectors... spanning a huge price/quality range.

And the best part is that you get to glean a whole lot of great info/knowledge about high-end audio from a real expert while you wait. I could never afford any of the stuff in these shops, so having some cables made gives me a chance to spend some time talking to these guys without totally wasting their time.

Relayer

 

[Thomas Lee]

Or, if you're not able/willing to make them yourself, you should try your local audiophile shop...

I've never been able to reliably solder stuff, and I know that here in Toronto, there are plenty of small places where the fine folks at these shops will custom-build top-quality cables for you while-you-wait, (as long as they're not in the middle of some more important business, like selling someone a $20,000 turntable).

This way, you can choose exactly how much you want to spend on cable (they charge by the foot - you can have them made to whatever length you need) and connectors... spanning a huge price/quality range.

And the best part is that you get to glean a whole lot of great info/knowledge about high-end audio from a real expert while you wait. I could never afford any of the stuff in these shops, so having some cables made gives me a chance to spend some time talking to these guys without totally wasting their time.

Relayer

Hi Relayer,

Can you tell me what shops in Toronto offer this kind of service?

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[Relayer]

Applause on Queen St. E (on the North side, East of Broadview) is the place I'd recommend. The guy there is named Rob, I believe. He'll definitely do them while you wait if you go during a weekday or some other time when he's not too busy. I know he has a pretty good range of cables/connectors for you to choose from, and he's extremely knowledgeable.

There's another place, but I unfortunately don't remember it's name or location -- I was there with a friend. It's the place in town that deals in NAIM stuff, if that rings any bells for you.

I've also heard Executive Audio (on Yonge?) will do it, but I don't have any personal experience with them.

 

[oldsyd]

I've been happy with the AR cables. The Monster cables are horribly overpriced IMHO. I'd get two sets of the stereo-video-RCA AR packs
for 5.1, or you could get the color coded 6 channel cable from
bluejeanscable.com, but it will cost about $40 more. I've also
ordered from partsexpress before, and they have good prices,
but the last in wall S-Video jacks I got were crap! When I pulled
the cable out of the wall socket, the female jack insert came out
too, along with the 4 hair thin wires used to connect it to the other
end! I've never tried the Dayton ones though. I'm guessing Dayton
is PE's flagship, and it's probably good stuff too.

Now, could someone explain this evolution to me:

Quad = 4 pairs analog interconnects
DTS/Dolby Digital = 1 SPDIF or Optical cable
SACD/DVD-Audio = 6 pair analog interconnects

I was just getting used to the single cable....

 

[GaryP]

I'd recommend Applause Audio on Queen St. E, too. Rob is very knowledgable.

 

[Whitehall]

I've bought Monster, RCA, and AR. They all work but the RCA cables had VERY tight, heavy metal connectors that are very difficult to insert/remove. I'll not buy any more RCA cables.

The ARs are the best value of the three to my mind. None of them have detectable (so far) effects on the sound - but then, I can't say that the cheapo interconnects are sonically noticeable either. The ARs have finish-and-fit quality as good or better than the other two. The color coding is a bit too low-key on the ARs but usable.

 

[Guy Robinson]

I've bought Monster, RCA, and AR. They all work but the RCA cables had VERY tight, heavy metal connectors that are very difficult to insert/remove. I'll not buy any more RCA cables.

The ARs are the best value of the three to my mind. None of them have detectable (so far) effects on the sound - but then, I can't say that the cheapo interconnects are sonically noticeable either. The ARs have finish-and-fit quality as good or better than the other two. The color coding is a bit too low-key on the ARs but usable.

I don't want to turn this into "whether cable makes any difference" debate but as you said, I would just go for the A/R's. I have had a lot of different cables as well, some of them costing a lot of money and the A/R's will do the trick and sound great.

 

[Seaclam]

Monster cable sucks. the AR's will be great and you will hear a difference. At first, I was using Monster Cable and thought it would be fine, but I spent some more money and got some Transparent Audio cables and I was amazed at the difference. Monster Cable is way too hyped. Do your ears a favor, you won't regret the purchase. Also, I don't know what kind of speaker cable you have, but that is another way to getting a clearer, warmer sound with a better soundstage.

 

[ssully]

Since we're telling people what they *will* hear, I'll add that 99% of the time, differences perceived between cables *will* be due to psychological factors, rather than actual sonic differences between them. If you listen to them without knowing which is which in advance, the 'differences' will disappear.

For my 5.1 connections I found 1.5' gold-plated RCA-terminated cables by AR at partsexpress.com. I bought a bunch of them and they work fine. Cost $1.35 each (way below list price)

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=249-076

 

[Scottmoose]

Since we're telling people what they *will* hear, I'll add that 99% of the time, differences perceived between cables *will* be due to psychological factors, rather than actual sonic differences between them. If you listen to them without knowing which is which in advance, the 'differences' will disappear.

For my 5.1 connections I found 1.5' gold-plated RCA-terminated cables by AR at partsexpress.com. I bought a bunch of them and they work fine. Cost $1.35 each (way below list price)

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=249-076

Amen. (Paula Cole -where are you, and why aren't you in surround sound yet?! Ahem.)
Even the pros point out gently that the first $10,000 should really go on the equipment. Yup, there are "differences" (that's as in "differences", not "improvements") -but not very many, unless you're using either very thin, or utterly daft combinations, and they are only worth a percentage point or two at best. Try a few cheap, sensibly designed varieties if you feel like it, or try enjoying your music. Whilst you're at it, ask yourself exactly what marketing terms such as "time wound", "turbine textured" "tubular conductor" (fair enough actually, but exactly why would we want one?) et al actually mean scientifically. Quick answer -damn all!

 

[Guy Robinson]

Amen. (Paula Cole -where are you, and why aren't you in surround sound yet?! Ahem.)
Whilst you're at it, ask yourself exactly what marketing terms such as "time wound", "turbine textured" "tubular conductor" (fair enough actually, but exactly why would we want one?) et al actually mean scientifically. Quick answer -damn all!

You mean flat cable doesn't give you a flat sound and round cables don't give you a fuller rounder sound?

 

[Quadzilla]

You mean flat cable doesn't give you a flat sound and round cables don't give you a fuller rounder sound?

Kinda reminds me that I am getting old. I am a bass player, but I hadn't bought strings for a while until I happened on a decent used instrument that needed a set. When I was playing gigs a 'few' years back, I used to use round-wound strings rather than flat-wound because they sounded snappier ... even though they hurt to play, and they would raise hell with frets. When I went to the local rock-and-roller store a few weekends ago and asked for a set of round-wound strings, the kid looked at me with a straight face and said ... "I didn't know they came any other way". Yikes, where is my Viagra. I think I might have to screw something one of these days. Mike.

 

[Guy Robinson]

Kinda reminds me that I am getting old. I am a bass player, but I hadn't bought strings for a while until I happened on a decent used instrument that needed a set. When I was playing gigs a 'few' years back, I used to use round-wound strings rather than flat-wound because they sounded snappier ... even though they hurt to play, and they would raise hell with frets. When I went to the local rock-and-roller store a few weekends ago and asked for a set of round-wound strings, the kid looked at me with a straight face and said ... "I didn't know they came any other way". Yikes, where is my Viagra. I think I might have to screw something one of these days. Mike.

Apply the Viagra to your cables in order to get that "hard" digital sound.