Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater multiple subs? (ep500 and ep350)

What are these balanced cables you speak of?

Are you suggesting I should get some kind a cable to reduce any noise interference?

I had a low frequency hum with my ep500 that was caused by my cable box. The axiom ground isolator fixed that problem.

Yes. I use balanced when I can. Though your receiver/processor must have balanced outputs. The EP subs have balanced inputs. Going balanced often fixes hums as well. This one: http://www.axiomaudio.com/balancedcable.html Though I have to say those prices look expensive and for a 50ft run you can get better pricing if you look around.

The $65 cable at bluejeans.com says this

"It has an extremely heavy double-braid shield layer for the best possible rejection of induced low-frequency hum"

Does this mean it is a balanced cable?

Balanced cables do not have RCA ends.

Axioms version of coax RCA ended subwoofer cable
http://axiomaudio.com/subcable.html

Axioms version of balanced cables, your AVR may not have balanced outputs.

http://axiomaudio.com/balancedcable.html

I've used both monoprice and bluejeans, and your ears won't tell any difference. It is kinda like buying Monster speaker wire over Home Depot wire, if you have a fat wallet go for it.. I did not get the top of the line bluejeans cable and it seemed to lay very nicely on the floor, don't remember what I paid.

Take a close looks at the connectors in the links Randy posted, that is the most visible difference. Also look at the inputs on your EP500 and you can see the RCA inputs you are currently using and the input for the balanced connection.

The main advantage of balanced cables you can't see. Inside the cable the wires are designed to cancel noise that commonly occurs the longer the run.

It doesn't read like you have balanced connections on your other equipment so don't worry about it just get a RCA cable with really good shielding. Some guys use a unbalanced to balanced adaptor on their RCA output jacks and use balanced for the long run. I never have so I can't speak to its effectiveness. You may not have unwanted noise anyway so it could be a non-event and RCA throughout would be fine.

Here is a quick primer.

http://www.ofsoundmind.com/OSM2/tech/equipment/balanced.html

T, the only significant difference in those two cables is $55. In ordinary home environments the usual shielded coaxial cable is adequate for the amounts of interference which might be present. Extra-heavy shielding or balanced connections wouldn't be of significant benefit. Cables such as those from MonoPrice or similar do the job and there's no good reason to spend more.

Even though they are a little more pricey, you can support Axiom and purchase their cables:

http://axiomaudio.com/subcable.html

Built quality are outstanding.

jj