Opinion - Blue Jeans Cable

frdranger

Hey folks. I was wondering if any of you use Blue Jeans cables for your HT and if you would recommend/like them? I'm currently using Acoustic Research 16AWG, looking to upgrade to some BJC Twelve White (5000UE) 12AWG cables, with locking banana plugs.

Ya like em? Thanks!

Conradicles

Like em!

EndersShadow

I have seen them in person (in someone else's rig) and they looked quite nice. Sounded good as well. I use Audioquest FLX cable purchased from a local hi-fi shop for a decent savings (I built my own cables).

frdranger

Ah pretty nice! Thank you all for the responses. These cables will be driving the likes of whats in my sig, so they are probably more than efficient enough. Thanks!

EndersShadow

frdranger wrote: »

Ah pretty nice! Thank you all for the responses. These cables will be driving the likes of whats in my sig, so they are probably more than efficient enough. Thanks!

Interesting center given your fronts (which I am a big fan of BTW). Any particular reason you havent gotten the timbre matched center for those Studio 20's?

frdranger

EndersShadow wrote: »

Interesting center given your fronts (which I am a big fan of BTW). Any particular reason you havent gotten the timbre matched center for those Studio 20's?

Oh trust me, I've got quite a lengthy post on the Speakers forum about this ...lol. It is in progress and should be rectified shortly. Problem is finding a matching version of the studios. I may just bite the bullet and go with the cc-190 v.6 to at least get a series matching Paradigm in there. I may just upgrade the fronts at some point down the road, but I'm very budget restricted right now.

EndersShadow

frdranger wrote: »

Oh trust me, I've got quite a lengthy post on the Speakers forum about this ...lol. It is in progress and should be rectified shortly. Problem is finding a matching version of the studios. I may just bite the bullet and go with the cc-190 v.6 to at least get a series matching Paradigm in there. I may just upgrade the fronts at some point down the road, but I'm very budget restricted right now.

Why upgrade the fronts? I assume to get the same version for all 3? I would assume within each series the timbre would be better matched than your current setup.

And trust me, given the prices on those speakers, I understand budget restrictions. I would suggest once you get them look into seperates. Those Studio 20's really open up the more wattage you give them. You will be source limted with those long before your speakers reach their full potential (which I am sure you realize already ).

Congrats on starting a very good setup!

frdranger

EndersShadow wrote: »

Why upgrade the fronts? I assume to get the same version for all 3? I would assume within each series the timbre would be better matched than your current setup.

And trust me, given the prices on those speakers, I understand budget restrictions. I would suggest once you get them look into seperates. Those Studio 20's really open up the more wattage you give them. You will be source limted with those long before your speakers reach their full potential (which I am sure you realize already ).

Congrats on starting a very good setup!

Well, I've been directed to look for the CC-370 v.2 but I found about one and I think i just missed the bid lol. The Studio 20's that I have are v.2. I don't even know if they made a CC-190 v.2 or not.

Also, my receiver does not have any pre-outs. So what I have - is what I have in terms of power/wattage.

And thank you!

EndersShadow

frdranger wrote: »

Also, my receiver does not have any pre-outs. So what I have - is what I have in terms of power/wattage.

Yup, I know that. I am not suggesting you upgrade anything right now. What I am saying is you will find the need to upgrade your AVR long before you need to upgrade your speakers (long term wise). Those speakers are some keepers for sure, and when you replace your AVR go with one with pre-outs and juice up those Paradigms with some decent power, and you will not want for more speakers.... (and if you do sell em to me )

frdranger

EndersShadow wrote: »

Yup, I know that. I am not suggesting you upgrade anything right now. What I am saying is you will find the need to upgrade your AVR long before you need to upgrade your speakers (long term wise). Those speakers are some keepers for sure, and when you replace your AVR go with one with pre-outs and juice up those Paradigms with some decent power, and you will not want for more speakers.... (and if you do sell em to me )

Haha yea, that was my preception as well. I love my Paradigms, its just a shame I can't listen to them at their full potential. I mean I could try bi-amping them, but the difference is negligible and probably won't notice it. I need to definitely work on the center channel speaker first though.

EndersShadow

frdranger wrote: »

I mean I could try bi-amping them, but the difference is negligible and probably won't notice it.

Very true statement. Not worth the effort at all.

codyc1ark

EndersShadow wrote: »

I have seen them in person (in someone else's rig) and they looked quite nice. Sounded good as well. I use Audioquest FLX cable purchased from a local hi-fi shop for a decent savings (I built my own cables).

Off topic I guess, but did you finish yours? I didn't see if you did. I need to reorder some stuff for mine, as they are unfinished, and I'm thinking of going with something else for termination...

EndersShadow

codyc1ark wrote: »

Off topic I guess, but did you finish yours? I didn't see if you did. I need to reorder some stuff for mine, as they are unfinished, and I'm thinking of going with something else for termination...

I got the banana plugs on all of em, but havent put on their clothes yet . And even once I do that they might not be finished (I keep going back and forth on making them bi-wire or bi-amp at the amp end).

I might just ask Santa for some Audioquest cable pants (they look better than the PE ones and since its the wire I used they should fit with no issues), and the techflex but I want other things much much more.

Its kinda low on the list since you cant see at all after all the cable management I did in my rack.

Plus I have been trying to keep the audio purchases to zero so next time I want something big I have a large gap between purchases

frdranger

Just made a decision, going with the 10AWG instead. Thank you everyone for your input!

Drenis

frdranger wrote: »

Just made a decision, going with the 10AWG instead. Thank you everyone for your input!

That's very overkill...

frdranger

Keiko wrote: »

12AWG is more than enough in most cases, unless you're running super long runs. How long do yours need to be?

Yea, 10AWG is probably overkill. For my fronts its about 5 - 6 ft., center is right above the receiver basically. Not long runs. I'll stick it with the 12AWG.

acmf74

BJC makes an excellent product. They are also excellent to deal with.

Highly recommended.

disneyjoe7

I use them for my surround speakers, I feel you will be happy.... Nice upgrade IMHO.

John K.

Frdranger, Blue Jeans is a highly reputable source for A/V connections at a relatively moderate cost, especially if you deal with their lower cost Tartan Cable division. However, you say that you're looking for an "upgrade", and buying thicker cables won't do this in your situation. You describe runs of maybe 3-6 feet and even 18 gauge would be plenty for this; your present 16 gauge is more than enough.

Also, you lament that you can't experience the "full potential" of your Studio 20s. If you mean playing them loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss this is correct, but your 609 can certainly drive them to all safe listening levels. The 20s have average sensitivity of 87dB(a quite loud level)for 1 watt of input. Of course brief peaks use far more than 1 watt, but nothing that the 609 can't handle. Buying added maximum amplifier power capacity doesn't necessarily have any audible effect. Unused headroom is simply that: unused.

Looking at your list, the upgrade that jumps out is adding side surround speakers for a 5.1 setup. Using a mode such as DPLII on your 609 to extract natural surround ambience in music mixed into the front channels in 2-channel source material(there was no place else to put it)and direct it to the surrounds where it belongs, significantly increases the naturalness and overall enjoyment of music.

dorokusai

I prefer www.signalcable.com over BJC, mainly due to the use of a better connector/termination and the fact they support Club Polk with a discount if you mention that you're a member. The cost difference is nominal but that's your choice.

The strain relief on the BJC cables is also cheap but it certainly does what it's supposed to do I imagine.

reeltrouble1

I purchased a HT bundle from BJC, two of the cables fit loosely enough over the rca plug to have grounding issues. When I corresponded with BJC about my concern they stated all their connectors meet spec and I should not worry. Well I have had problems with the cables losing connection. I moved on and never bought anymore BJC. The upgrade in build quality with Signal Cable is quite recognizable upon initial inspection.

I have used many other cables, audioquest, anticable, monster, MIT, tributary and signal to name a few off the top.

RT1

tonyb

Signal cable is definately a few steps up from your standard monoprice or BJ cables. There is a build quality aspect to cables as Ted points out, that usualy gets overlooked by pretty pictures.

Conradicles

dorokusai wrote: »

The strain relief on the BJC cables is also cheap but it certainly does what it's supposed to do I imagine.

That is true, the BJC 12 GA I have is a bit stiffer than I thought it would be. From my breif experience here are my favorites:
Low cost = Blue Jeans
Budget Reference = SignalCable
Reference = MIT

tonyb

There's a whole lotta real estate inbetween signal cable and MIT.....just sayin'.

disneyjoe7

I feel Signal Cable do make better cables, but feel BJC make great raw cables, and very nice HDMI cables. I never used speaker cables so ok Signal Cables are better.


Steve