Audio Cable Choices?

gotpolks
gotpolks Posts: 6
edited November 2010 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Hello fellow club members,

I am a "newbie", so let me apologize in advance if i am beating a dead horse with this post. I am new to the Polk family of speakers but, I dove in head first and am the proud owner of a pair of SDA 2B's as well as a pair of Monitor 10's. The SDA's will be powered by a newly acquired Adcom GFA 555 MKll amp, coupled with an ESS model l preamp. This is a major step up from my Technics SDA sa8 (100 watts per ch.) receiver previously in use. Now that I have bored you with the details, my question is this; Since I have upgraded my power significantly, I am sure the regular old RCA cables will need an upgrade as well. Any suggestions on audio cables suitible for the components listed. I have seen prices that range from reasonable to absolutely absurd. Bang for my buck is what im after. Thanks in advance to Club Polk family.
Post edited by gotpolks on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited October 2010
    SignalCable. Tell Frank you're a member of Club Polk for a discount.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gotpolks
    gotpolks Posts: 6
    edited October 2010
    Thanks for the fast reply Face. I will get right on it!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • acmf74
    acmf74 Posts: 936
    edited October 2010
    Signal & Blue Jeans Cable are excellent choices.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gotpolks
    gotpolks Posts: 6
    edited October 2010
    Thanks for the input. All things being equal, I will probably go with Signal since there is a club member discount :)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited October 2010
    gotpolks wrote: »
    Thanks for the input. All things being equal, I will probably go with Signal since there is a club member discount :)

    You are assuming that their pricing is the same at Blue Jeans Cable:D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gotpolks
    gotpolks Posts: 6
    edited October 2010
    Ahh... Point taken. Looks like i better research my research LOL. Since the consensus seems to be both companies make outstanding products for the money, Im gonna see which offers the best price and get hooked up!! Cant wait to hear the difference mo' power makes with the SDA's! Thanks for the input :)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited October 2010
    GP, welcome to Club Polk. Yes, you're certainly correct that some of the cable prices are "absolutely absurd", but there're several online sources which offer them at reasonable prices and don't try to rip off the gullible. Among the leaders here are the Tartan division of Blue Jeans Cable and MonoPrice . As a new listener with high quality equipment it's important for you to realize what sources such as these have shown new(and some not so new)listeners: that there's no correlation between price and sound quality in this area.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited October 2010
    Speaking of which ... I decided to try out the Blue Jeans cables today.

    Ordered the Belden Digital Coax, BJC LC1 Stereo cable and BJC LC1 sub cable. Looking forward to trying them out :)

    Is Tartan a more economical division of Blue Jeans?
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited October 2010
    John K. wrote: »
    GP, welcome to Club Polk. Yes, you're certainly correct that some of the cable prices are "absolutely absurd", but there're several online sources which offer them at reasonable prices and don't try to rip off the gullible. Among the leaders here are the Tartan division of Blue Jeans Cable and MonoPrice . As a new listener with high quality equipment it's important for you to realize what sources such as these have shown new(and some not so new)listeners: that there's no correlation between price and sound quality in this area.

    So your recommendation is to run top of the line speakers, and quality amplification with the cheapest wire possible? If that's the case you should recommend that he go to home depot and get the cheapest wire they have. He can probably wire his whole system for 5 bucks. I'm not saying he needs to spend a small fortune on cables, but there is no reason to lie to him and tell him that there is no correlation between price and sound quality. There is a huge correlation between price and sound quality. Of course, there is a point of diminishing returns, and that point is different for all of us, and it depends largely on our financial status. If all you can afford is Tartan and Monoprice, then get it. It will function. If you want something better, you have to pay extra for the extra performance.
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited October 2010
    gotpolks wrote: »
    Thanks for the input. All things being equal, I will probably go with Signal since there is a club member discount :)

    I would not say equal by any means, the signal cable build quality is better than my bluejeans cables, I have a couple sets of bluejeans which lose their ground and fit loosely. Never had a problem with the Signal brand.

    Congrats on your new to you gear. Its always a bit of nirvana when you get something you hear as better and a step up. You will find members here with all levels of audio gear, speakers, cables and so on, of course we love our Polks and the company.

    Those that have opened minds and trust their ears find a great place to hang here, many of us have been here for years and years and it just keeps rolling.

    Have fun.

    RT1
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,723
    edited October 2010
    John K. wrote: »
    GP, welcome to Club Polk. Yes, you're certainly correct that some of the cable prices are "absolutely absurd", but there're several online sources which offer them at reasonable prices and don't try to rip off the gullible. Among the leaders here are the Tartan division of Blue Jeans Cable and MonoPrice . As a new listener with high quality equipment it's important for you to realize what sources such as these have shown new(and some not so new)listeners: that there's no correlation between price and sound quality in this area.

    Once again you prey on a newbie talking about things that you have no actual experience with. :rolleyes:
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited October 2010
    It's like one of our trolls reports cable threads to JK.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • arcam
    arcam Posts: 4
    edited November 2010
    messiah wrote: »
    So your recommendation is to run top of the line speakers, and quality amplification with the cheapest wire possible? If that's the case you should recommend that he go to home depot and get the cheapest wire they have. He can probably wire his whole system for 5 bucks. I'm not saying he needs to spend a small fortune on cables, but there is no reason to lie to him and tell him that there is no correlation between price and sound quality. There is a huge correlation between price and sound quality. Of course, there is a point of diminishing returns, and that point is different for all of us, and it depends largely on our financial status. If all you can afford is Tartan and Monoprice, then get it. It will function. If you want something better, you have to pay extra for the extra performance.

    try ebay I recently picked up a pair of audioquest speaker cables and interconects for $110
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • camp21178
    camp21178 Posts: 273
    edited November 2010
    Wow gotpolks that's diving in with some pretty good gear. Congrats.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • resperc
    resperc Posts: 41
    edited November 2010
    I have a bunch of Signal Cable stuff (power cables, interconnects, speaker cables). The products have been great and doing business with Frank is a pleasure.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter