RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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OP
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044 |
Because I desperately needed to get something off the Tivo and onto videotape, I, um, went to Radio Shack to get a set of AV cables. They have a new line called Fusion AV. Because I was curious, I bought a set of those ($30 for 3 ft, standard RCA all the way around). They actually look to be of decent quality; about 1/4 inch thick, with good connectors, that, unlike other RS cables, don't seem to want to clamp onto my jacks like Marlon Brando on a piece of beef jerky. They've also got those little cylinders at one end of the cable that's supposed to work some sort of magic. So, has anyone tried these things, and what did you think?
Ken
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 345
devotee
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devotee
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 345 |
Interconnects are interconnects. I usually buy Acoustic Research Pro cables, but that's because my cats chew up the flimsy el cheapo cables that are packaged with most electronics. I'm sure your Radio shack cables will do the job fine.
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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OP
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044 |
Oi! You sure you're an audiophile? ;-) I'm used to people going off about how great $300+ interconnects are. Thanks for the support! Unfortunately, since I bought this shiny new computer, I can't even afford to replace the flimsy cables with these Radio Shack ones... Ah well.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Yes, Ken, as fhw said, your RadioShack cables will be fine. Sounds like you've been reading too much from the charlatans who peddle exotic cables, or maybe from those taken in by their line. The little cylinders on your cables are to hold the snake oil. Just kidding; they're interference filters, but with well-shielded cables like that there isn't any interference to filter. Actually you could have gone a few dollars lower for the cables with equal results, but that isn't bad.
-----------------------------------
Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,760 Likes: 40
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,760 Likes: 40 |
The block thing on the RS Fusion cable is a ferrite 'filter.' It's supposed to filter out Radio Frequency. I've heard of them used on power cords, but have also heard they dull the sound when used on speaker cables or interconnects.
This forum isn't the friendliest place for discussing cables. I've observed a noticeable difference in sound quality between different interconnects and speaker cable, although more expensive does not always mean better.
My personal favorite speaker wire are the Mapleshade Clearview Double Golden Helix Plus and Monster micro flat elect. That's just me, your opinions sure may differ.
There are some terrific values out there for interconnects - my favorite for the dollar are the Tara Labs Prism 300i's, which can be had from a fellow named audiovideoman on ebay for a song - much, much less than the RS Fusion cables.
Enjoy the Music. Trust your ears. Laugh at Folks Who Claim to Know it All.
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sort of related
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 46
buff
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buff
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 46 |
Here's a tip for those who hate cable spaghetti and find it irritating that they've got to use a pile of RCAs for analog output from their DVD-Audio or SACD player....
Monster MicroXLN. Intended for car audio applications, you can get them in 4 channel and 6 channel models. The nifty thing is that you can get 6 analog channels in a cable the thickness of a typical good single RCA cable. The connectors are also very durable but very small. Use a pair of the 4-channel models for 7.1. Induced noise levels are very low; they're meant for a noisy environment. However, I don't know what the crosstalk looks like. I use a 6-channel one in my car and love it (Alpine CDA-7878 to Alpine MRD-F752 to MB Quart components and a Sunfire subwoofer). I'm going to try some in the family room for SACD soon, in the interest of less cabling behind my gear.
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,041
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,041 |
The Tara Labs are great! I'm not really sold on older Monsters. I found no difference between ratshack 12g and Monsters. Actually Monsters seemed vieled (I have older monster bi-wire with that super think grey jacket). Another relatively cheap wire is Kimber 4TC. The dynamics seemed great to me. Very revealing but sometimes too much if speakers are of metal type. I like it. I own a pair. Interconnects either Kimber Hero (a little too overpriced) or Vandenhul Bay C5 Hybrid which also is used for cars is a general purpose interlink. Remember these cables may not necessarily be better than ratshack 12g cables. But to me personally I thought I heard a discernable difference. A difference that I actually liked. If you have a good dealer you should be able to bring in your ratshack 12g and test them against any wire they are trying to sell you and then you can do a A-B comparison. If you could not tell the difference stick to the the ratshack 12g and spend your money elsewhere like on DVD and CDs. My 2 cents.
Saturn
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 97
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 97 |
I'm sure your Radio Shack cables are plenty good... I don't beleive in super-hype cables, but I do think that people should generally use quality cabling.
Having said that - if you are not afraid of a soldering iron, buy some Canare Star Quad cabling... can usually be had for around 30 cents or so a foot ( like here http://www.electroniccity.com/brands/23.asp). It's quite good... just pair it with some decent connectors and you've some pro-quality cables really cheap. Plus, it comes in lots of colors... I think www.markertek.com sells it in about any color you could want. I generally think white cables sound the best - they do very little to color the sound
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,951
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,951 |
Your views on speaker wire don't jibe with those of some old coot named roger russell (roger-russell.com). He has impressive credentials and asserts that fancy speaker wire is a waste of money.
How exactly do different brands of copper wire affect sound quality (assuming same length and thickness of wire)?
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Re: RS cables... don't laugh too hard...
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,760 Likes: 40
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,760 Likes: 40 |
Well, I wouldn't call Monster flat cable micro elect fancy, and clearly there is a difference of opinion as to what effect if any cable has on audio sound reproduction. I think cable (speaker wire/interconnects) make a difference, others laugh and contend that electrons don't care whether they're doing their thing, whatever that is, in lamp cord or $10,000 cables.
I'm not qualified to offer any theory as to why there would be a difference in sound between one cable or another. I've already been told, on this site, that I shouldn't even trust my ears (way too subjective) in judging the quality of one CD player against another, so I don't want to get too far into what I've heard and what I've judged except for my recommendations which I posted above.
Enjoy the Music. Trust your ears. Laugh at Folks Who Claim to Know it All.
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