Getting ready to pull the trigger.....amp question

angelsfann02

I am getting ready to buy my first dedicated amp. I will be using my Pioneer vsx-23thx as a preamp. Will probably getting the Emotiva xpa-5, unless a local pawnshop decides to sell a Parasound 1205-a they have in stock. My question is what cables do I need to connect the receiver to the amp? It needs to be the cost effective as well. Maybe Monoprice? I will be upgrading them later anyways. Thanks!

dcmartinpc

How cost effective? I really like Audioquest Alpha Snake as a budget interconnect. You can get a 1.0m 5 pack on Audio Advisor for $63.75. I think its a great deal. Their is also the Analog One or Analog Two from Signal Cable that can be had for about $100 for the Analog One and $130 or so for the Analog Two. All quality cable, just depends on your budget.

Outlaw Audio PCA Interconnects are also very nice, but a little more expensive, and they only have 2.0 Meter and up available right now. The 2.0M x 3 Pairs go for about $160...

Don

messiah

Signal is good and cheap, and when you upgrade your amp you will already have decent cables.

angelsfann02

Don, thanks for your input. Does Monoprice (maybe their brand) offer any of these? I am located very close to their warehouse?

dcmartinpc

Not that I am aware of. Most of this stuff besides the Audioquest is online only.

Don

angelsfann02

Does Signal offer the same deals for speaker wire for the fronts and center? If so what model?

mole'

the Monoprice ones are GREAT for their price. i still have some in my Bedroom rig. their ICs and HDMIs are well worth the cheap prices.

angelsfann02

Mole, specifically which ones, I wanna look em up on their website.

edoggrc51

+1 to what mole said. Monoprice has some solid cables at incredible prices.

Btw, you'll love the XPA-5.

angelsfann02

edoggrc51 wrote: »

+1 to what mole said. Monoprice has some solid cables at incredible prices.

Btw, you'll love the XPA-5.

Which cables and wires did you use?

edoggrc51

How long do you need them to be?

mole'

i use these for ICs (bedroom) and for my Sub cables.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=2680&seq=1&format=2

have these in both of my Rigs.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3871&seq=1&format=2

hope this helps ya man

EndersShadow

mole' wrote: »

i use these for ICs (bedroom) and for my Sub cables.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=2680&seq=1&format=2

These are what I used. Very thick and sturdy cables. I am sure there are better, but since I just started out myself and didnt have tons to spend on cables after putting all the money into the amp, they work great for now.

What gauge speaker wire do you currently have?

I suggest 14 gauge from monoprice as well. I purchased a 300ft spool for 78 bucks (I rewired my old place and then moved) and still have tons of it left over.

Also suggest their naner's and spades......

mole'

EndersShadow wrote: »

These are what I used. Very thick and sturdy cables. I am sure there are better, but since I just started out myself and didnt have tons to spend on cables after putting all the money into the amp, they work great for now.

What gauge speaker wire do you currently have?

I suggest 14 gauge from monoprice as well. I purchased a 300ft spool for 78 bucks (I rewired my old place and then moved) and still have tons of it left over.

Also suggest their naner's and spades......

i got the 300ft roll of the 12awg wire and bananas from Monoprice.

i have MIT speaker cables ( front/center for front room and bedroom rigs) now but still use the Monoprice wires for my rears and surrounds

edoggrc51

Same here. The 12ga speaker cable and banana's are tough to argue against considering their price.

EndersShadow

mole' wrote: »

i got the 300ft roll of the 12awg wire and bananas from Monoprice.

i have MIT speaker cables ( front/center for front room and bedroom rigs) now but still use the Monoprice wires for my rears and surrounds

edoggrc51 wrote: »

Same here. The 12ga speaker cable and banana's are tough to argue against considering their price.

Yeah I thought about the 12 gauge, but considering my runs are pretty short, I went with 14 (that and I was pretty new to all this and was moving from 22 gauge to begin with). If I had it to do over again I would have gone w/ 12, but hey I am sure I will run out of the wire eventually......

angelsfann02

My dilema is this guys or maybe im just blind to the obvious, but especially if I buy an older amp, Im supposed to use rca's to connect it to my Pio 23thx? Alot of older amps have another "out" that resembles a svideo output?????

edoggrc51

You should be fine with the RCA's. What older amp were you looking at that had a different kind of output?

angelsfann02

I was looking at a parasound 1205a. Its going for real cheap. Im just used to connecting my stuff with hdmi's because I thought rca' s were outdated. By the way, what are XLR cables for? It looms like older amps have this type of output or are the for microphones?

edoggrc51

No, they by no means are outdated. I did a quick google search and it looks like you'll be just fine with RCA's for the Parasound.

Btw, are you going to the GTG in SD this Saturday?

angelsfann02

I'm trying to get the day off. Hopefully my buddy at work will cover my shift.....

angelsfann02

who are you going with?

edoggrc51

I'm going with a friend of mine to pick up some acoustic panels and to DEMO a sub before the GTG.

Hopefully you can make it out.

angelsfann02

Ya, me too. I have lots of questions!

edoggrc51

Where are you located?

I'm no expert but I'd be more than happy to have you over and help with whatever i could.

angelsfann02

San Berdo.

edoggrc51

Oh ok. Right down the street. I'm off of Beech & Baseline.

Lemme know.

angelsfann02

Kool. We're practically neighbors.

edoggrc51

Ya! :biggrin:

angelsfann02

Any other polkies live by us?

edoggrc51

None that I know of???