Connecting AVR to Amp - what RCA cables to use

Sumerian

Hello folks here comes another thread on cables

I would be connecting my AMP Parasound Halo A51 to Receicer Onkyo 709.

My receiver has RCA pre outs.

I dont want to spend a lot on these cables as i am planning to upgrade my receiver some time in near future and want to use XLR connections when i do so.

any suggestions on decent RCA cables which would complement my setup ot atleast which will not screw up my setup.

I would be using MIT S3 cables between my Amp and LSIM speakers.


Thanks in advance appreciate any suggestions and recomendations.

tonyb

Signal cable analog 2's......or give our own Doug a shout out.

Sumerian

tonyb wrote: »

Signal cable analog 2's......or give our own Doug a shout out.

Thanks Tony, you are always quick helping fellow polkies...

Just curious , Is Doug member of this forum?

tonyb

Yes, he is. Here's his web site.

http://www.douglasconnection.com/

EndersShadow

tonyb wrote: »

Yes, he is. Here's his web site.

http://www.douglasconnection.com/

I concur with Tony. Frank at Signal Cable gives Polk Forum members a discount. I would go with his HT Analog 2 setup (link here). Saves you from buying 3 sets of cables and ending up with an extra. Doug's username is helipilotdoug.

I have had both cables in my system and I prefer Dougs, but they are a little bit more. However they may be the last set of Interconnects you need, and he also makes XLR's so who knows maybe a deal could be struck to return some of his RCA IC's and get a reduction in the cost of some XLR IC's.....

Glen B

Sumerian wrote: »

Hello folks here comes another thread on cables

I would be connecting my AMP Parasound Halo A51 to Receicer Onkyo 709.

My receiver has RCA pre outs.

I dont want to spend a lot on these cables as i am planning to upgrade my receiver some time in near future and want to use XLR connections when i do so.

any suggestions on decent RCA cables which would complement my setup ot atleast which will not screw up my setup.

I would be using MIT S3 cables between my Amp and LSIM speakers.


Thanks in advance appreciate any suggestions and recomendations.

I'm just curious why you've predetermined the need to use XLR cables in the future ? Unless all of your equipment will be truly balanced from input to output, using balanced connections realizes no benefit, except with long cable runs, to eliminate noise pickup. AVRs that are truly balanced are few and far between. If you are going to be using one with XLR outputs as a preamp, chances are it will be single ended internally, with balanced converters on the outputs.

Sumerian

DSkip wrote: »

How's about $120 for a quad of MIT EXP1 and another quad of MIT EXP3? Shipping/PP extra, but this will cover all 5 channels plus an analog input. Should be more than enough to cover you until you get XLR's, and they should pair well with the speaker cables.

So we are talking about 8 RCA connections right?

Sumerian

Glen B wrote: »

no benefit, except with long cable runs, to eliminate noise pickup.

That what i thought initially but from what i have read looks like people did noticed considerable difference ?

Sumerian

DSkip wrote: »

Yep. Four total pairs.

Your inbox is full.


Thanks for of the offer let me shortlist my options and i will get back to you.

Spiffyfast

Blue jeans cables is my favorite

CoolJazz

Glen B wrote: »

I'm just curious why you've predetermined the need to use XLR cables in the future ? Unless all of your equipment will be truly balanced from input to output, using balanced connections realizes no benefit, except with long cable runs, to eliminate noise pickup. AVRs that are truly balanced are few and far between. If you are going to be using one with XLR outputs as a preamp, chances are it will be single ended internally, with balanced converters on the outputs.

There's that often repeated line, that simply isn't true! Maybe if it's said often enough it gets more true....

CJ

Glen B

Please explain what sonic benefit there is to driving internally unbalanced gear featuring balanced buffer/converters through 3 or so feet of interconnect? There is nothing in the descriptions of the A21 amp to indicate it is a full differential balanced amp.

Elementtw1023

Audioquest King Cobras sounded wonderful! Just my 2¢

CoolJazz

Glen B wrote: »

Please explain what sonic benefit there is to driving internally unbalanced gear featuring balanced buffer/converters through 3 or so feet of interconnect? There is nothing in the descriptions of the A21 amp to indicate it is a full differential balanced amp.

The real big one is that the units are forced to share ground currents with single ended interconnect.

Another is that the receiving unit starts with twice the audio level even assuming each leg was designed with the same output level as the unbalanced design would have used.


Now as to the almost certain negatives of a fully balanced unit....

Each and every component must have every internal part matched to the opposite phase sides complementary part. This match must be to a very high tolerance as every bit of mismatch contributes to a distortion. Hmmm....


As to the idea that a balanced in only has more parts in the path than the"fully balanced" design...doesn't the fully balanced unit on the input also not have a common mode reject stage? How much design difference and parts count difference is their then between the them?

I'm not saying fully balanced is necessarily a bad thing despite what I'm trying to call attention to. I'm simply saying this belief that you must from one end of the system to the other be fully balanced to have benefits is simply not true. And that the manufacturer of the internally single ended system isn't running a fraud on the unsuspecting. Some of the very, very best gear has balanced connections and is not running symetrical internal designs.

CJ

Speedskater

'CoolJazz' that is one excellent explanation!

tonyb

My take on it, from my experiences with balanced is the fully balanced systems have a remarkable low noise floor, which is the intended purpose anyway. Half balanced systems, not point to point between all equipment, can have a better noise floor but not as good as fully balanced. When compared to non balanced gear, the difference is almost negligible.

With that in mind, I find the variety of balanced cables out there are nowhere near whats available for standard RCA's. Plus they seem to be more expensive. After all, standard rca cables are in sorts a form of tone control and noise rejection depending on build of course. Those old tone controls on gear introduced lots of noise to the signal path which is why you don't see them anymore. Cables have in essence taken their place. I would much rather have the choices available for something like tone control over noise reduction which I feel is more readily apparent in one's system.....more easily heard. Just my .02 on it, you may disagree and that's cool too. Fully balanced comes in at higher end very sensitive gear where every bit of noise is audible.

heiney9

In my rig I actually prefer the single ended sound vs. balanced and I am able to be fully balanced (pre to amp) not dac. But at one time I did have a balanced version of my dac. Just didn't float my boat like single ended. Don't prejudge and always assume balanced will sound the best. Be sure and explore all avenues and decide based on what you hear with your rig, in your room, with your music from your listening position. Nothing can be predetermined in this hobby. Everything matters.

H9

P.s. I used the same exact model cables for single ended and XLR (MIT Terminator II's).

BlueFox

SamanthaS wrote: »

OMG, yes I agree, thanks CJ, one great explanation and just the help I needed!

This is spam with a hidden link. I removed it for this reply.

tonyb

Brock,

I too prefer the single ended approach. In all the balanced systems I've heard, there's a certain level of musicality missing. Could be just me though. Whatever floats your boat, the more revealing your system is, the more that noise floor becomes audible.

helipilotdoug

EndersShadow wrote: »

I concur with Tony. Frank at Signal Cable gives Polk Forum members a discount. I would go with his HT Analog 2 setup (link here). Saves you from buying 3 sets of cables and ending up with an extra. Doug's username is helipilotdoug.

I have had both cables in my system and I prefer Dougs, but they are a little bit more. However they may be the last set of Interconnects you need, and he also makes XLR's so who knows maybe a deal could be struck to return some of his RCA IC's and get a reduction in the cost of some XLR IC's.....

We are also glad to give Club Polk Members a discount. If you need something please contact us. :biggrin:

EndersShadow

helipilotdoug wrote: »

We are also glad to give Club Polk Members a discount. If you need something please contact us. :biggrin:

Yes, my apologies Doug, didnt meant to imply you dont give us Polkies a us a discount.