Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Balanced XLR cables

Where should I be looking to purchase balanced XLR cables from? I'm planning on getting the Axiom A1400-8 mated with the Integra DTC-9.8. I imagine the amp will sit right on top of the preamp, so a couple of feet should be fine. I was going to check out Blue Jeans Cable, but my internet connection is being stupid tonight. I can't access half of the websites I'm trying to go to. eBay works, and I see a couple of people selling sets of seven 1-meter XLR cables using Canare cable and Neutrik connections for around $120. Something tells me I'm not going to find better deals than that, but should I be concerned with the quality? I suppose I could save even more money by putting my own together, but then I'd REALLY be concerned with the quality.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any input you have, and how many people here are using XLR cables, anyway? I just figured if I'm moving to equipment that has the option, I may as well spring for the cables. I'll have to get a longer one to go to the sub as well, I suppose.

Charles, if regular shielded coaxial cables would do the job and there wouldn't be a noise problem(highly likely), then it wouldn't be essential to use XLR cables simply because that option would be available. Nevertheless, if that's what you want, there're quite a few sources that have them at relatively reasonable cost, such as this outfit , and no, you shouldn't be concerned with quality.

Thanks for the reply, John. Yeah, I'm not really expecting any performance gains using XLR. I don't think noise is going to be a problem, especially with such short distance. It's totally just the status symbol thing in this case.

Unfortunately, the site you linked to is one that Charter feels the need to withhold from me at the moment. I'll have to try again tomorrow. It's hard to research purchases when half of the internet is out of reach.

Well, for a brief preview, they have 18 inchers at $12.95.

Ahh, good deal. Thanks again.

If you can get in to Parts Express , their 18 inchers are on special for $7.40.

Nice find. I went with them.

I thought balanced outputs are for unusually long runs? I was not planning on using them.

CV, you might want to hold off on the 9.8. NAD is coming out with a new pre/pro that apears to have everythign the 9.8 has, but more. Including Audysey Pro. Same MSRP.

Thanks for the heads-up on the NAD. I'll have to check out the specs. When is it supposed to come out? I kind of wanted to get the new amp and preamp at the same time, so I wouldn't have to wait to use one. I can't use the amp with my current receiver because my current receiver doesn't have pre outs. It would be lame to have it sitting here doing nothing, especially if I wanted to use it during the 30-day evaluation period.