The cable thread.

treitz3

Hello fellow Club Polk members and good afternoon to you all. First off, no, this will not be a cable debate thread as to whether or not they make any difference. If you feel they do or they don't, please do NOT post in this thread.

With that said, for those who have experienced cables beyond what the manufacturer provided or the ol' Rat Shack type cables [IC's, PC's and SC's]......I'm interested to see how many of us here at Club Polk have stopped their journey, at least for the time being, when it comes to cables. In other words, instead of saying that a cable(s) is great only to follow up in a month or two with another great cable that bested the one prior....How many of you have had a particular cable in the rig for years and are completely happy with it?

This is not to say that your journey is done. As time marches on, so do the advances and I understand that. But there have GOT to be a handful of us here at Club Polk that are happy with what they have and would still be happy with what they have for years to come. For those of us whom are happy, would you be willing to share with the rest of us what it is that offers you such satisfaction?

I'll start. My long journey ended when I placed a set of Transparent Reference IC's in the rig, alongside the AudioQuest CV8's with the 72v bp upgrade. The power cords are all different but the combination I have now pleases these ears so much that I do not foresee advancing these cables for some years to come......and yes, they have been in the system for some time.

What say you?

Tom

tonyb

I'm not going to list every cable I've tried over the years. That will look like Santa's gift list....for the good kids.:biggrin: Right now I'm using Stralley reality bi-wires, Audio Metallurgy ga-o digital cable, and Bogden IC'S. Now the Bogden interconnects when I bought them I stuck them in between my cdp and receiver. Hated them, pulled them out and they sat in a box for about 5 years. When one of my cables broke going from the amp to receiver I tried a few others but ultimately left me wanting. One day I just said wtf and stuck the Bogdens in between the receiver and amp. Low and behold I had glorious sound again. Scratched my head a few times, but the lesson was because a cable doesn't sound good in one spot, move it to another. Can't tell you why that is, why it sounds good in one spot and not another, all I know is it does.

BlueFox

I do not see any cable upgrades in the future for either my two channel system, or the HT. I think I have come close to maximizing performance with the current cable setup, and upgrades would at most bring marginal improvements. So, I am going to sit tight and try to rebuild my retirement savings after the massive hardware, cable, and power upgrades done this last year. However, with that said, there is a good chance I will be adding to, not upgrading, the two channel power distribution. What I am thinking of here is adding another dedicated 20 amp line for one of the amps. This would require buying another Shunyata Triton power conditioner, another Shunyata Zytron Anaconda power cable, another Shunyata outlet, and a gray outlet faceplate. This would put each amp on its own circuit, which should keep current use minimal on each circuit under loud playing conditions.

Two channel cables are all Shunyata Zytron models.

Anaconda speaker cables
Anaconda XLR interconnects, 3 pair
Anaconda power cable from wall to Triton
Python power cable (2) for each amp
Cobra power cable (4) for SACD, DAC, music server, pre-amp
ZR-71 outlet

My cable path has been a relatively straight line in performance improvements, and the price also been a linear increase paralleling the performance increase.

The original two channel system was a Denon integrated amp, Sony CD player, Polk SDA-2 speakers, Radio Shack RCA cables, and 12 gauge speaker wire. As the gear went through various evolutionary upgrades I started paying attention to the cable threads here. My first speaker wire upgrade was Mapleshade Clearview Double Helix with Plus upgrade. Although slightly skeptical at first, I was immediately impressed with an increase in sound clarity over the 12 gauge.

When I went from the Denon to a separate pre and amp I also ordered Kimber Kables Hero XLR interconnects. These stayed in place for a couple of years, until I decided to give MIT a try. Replacing the Heros with balanced Shotgun S1.3 was a revelation. As they burnt in the first night, the soundstage literally expanded right in front of me after about 5 hours or so. This was so obvious I just burst out laughing, and still vividly remember that.

I tried to add the MIT Shotgun S1.3 speaker cables, but there was an electrical incompatibility with the cables, and my amps in bridged mono mode. The cables caused the amps/speakers to pop and crackle. I couldn't turn them off fast enough. However, I did want better speaker cables so I ended up with Omega Mikro Planar V cables with an 18v DC bias on the shield. I really liked those cables since they sounded great and were very easy to work with. They are a flat sheet of copper inside an open air wire mesh. The problem is they are very fragile, and a cat ripped one into two pieces. It was at that point I bought the Shunyata Zytron Anaconda cables. I wanted something near the best, not ridiculously expensive, and cat proof.

During this same period of time I was also sticking my toe into the power cable world. I kept reading the debates here, and finally decided to give it a try. Around that time, Audio Advisor was really pushing the Pangea brand, and I bought some AC14 cords for the pre, DAC, and SACD player. Needless to say, this did make a positive improvement, so I accepted that maybe there is something to this power cable business. However, since Pangea did not offer a 20 connector on their cable, the amps stayed with the stock cables. At some point I became aware of the Shunyata brand, did my reading, and bought two low cost Venom cables for the amps. Well, I was floored by the improvement. This was way beyond the Pangea level. I was so impressed that after a month I replaced the $125 cable with the $1300 Python CX cable, and haven't looked back.

After that I just went on a cable and power upgrade path until I ended up with my present system. The Mapleshade speaker cables, and MIT Shotgun interconnects moved into the HT, and I upgraded the HT power with a Shunyata Hydra AV, and various power cables. I even removed the hard wired power cord on the TV so I could install an IEC connector, and use a Shunyata Zytron Cobra on the TV. To answer the question on some minds, yes, with better power on both the Bluray, and TV, the picture quality went up a notch with more vivid colors, and better detail.

Anyway, after all this I am firmly in the cables matter camp. In fact, my thinking on this subject has completely changed to where I now consider power and cables as the foundation for a system. The better the foundation then the better the system will perform. The beauty here is that I can now upgrade gear and know it will perform at its best right from the start.

Although, not part of this thread, vibration control is also an important part of getting the best sound from gear. I use Mapleshade Micropoint brass footers under all electronics, except for the digital file player. My rack is a four shelf, 390 pound, Mapleshade Samson V.3 rack. Between the rack and brass footers there is little vibrational energy to color the sound.

cfrizz

I originally used what came with the gear, but then with all the talk about it here, I got one set of Monster IC's. I noticed an immediate improvement. a few years later I got all of my gear with the exception of my subs all hooked up with Blue Jeans Cable. My subs are hooked up with Monoprice sub cables. Whoops I forgot, my three front speakers are hooked up with Monster M500. (I bought these before I heard what an **** the owner of Monster cable is with suing everyone else that uses Monster in their titles. I think and my surrounds are hooked up with Cambridge Soundworks wire.

I'm happy with it. It certainly sounds better than the cheap wires they provide with the gear.

nooshinjohn

Douglas Connections is the end of the road for me... getting ready to order up some more an the next week or two.

DarqueKnight

AudioQuest LeoPaed 72v DBS phono interconnects since 2006.
AudioQuest Everest 72v DBS speaker cables since 2007.
AudioQuest Sky Gen. 2 XLR 72v DBS interconnects since 2008.PS Audio
Premier SC power cords for source components and preamps since 2008.
PS Audio AC12 power cords since 2009.

doctor r

I use Audience Au24e speaker cables and interconnects with Audience PowerCords and found that they cemented the system synergy that I have been working towards for 10 plus years. I see no reason to look further. It took over 2 years to find the specific cables I wanted at a price I was willing to pay on the used market, but the reward is my confidence that this is a long term and integral part of my system.

leftwinger57

I have stopped w/ I/Cs. I found that Signal Cable 1mt. Analogs are just right for my amp/to pre.I have told this story before, I bought a set of Monster I/Cs and never heard of the grip o' death syndrome. Well since I changed my rack/stack ,set up about 25 times I had to remove said Monster cables and they almost pulled out my input female RCA jacks on my Onkyo P-301.I did call Monster Cable to let them know and that this is happening all over the audio universe.About 6/8 months later w/o a note or anything I get a package from MC w/ 2 brand new I/Cs a better type and I do use them to go from my avr audio out to tuner the section of my pre.Speaker wire, unless someone drops some MITs or Doug's Cables on my head that will wait till my boat, carrier, super tanker, canoe, kyak,Staten Island ferry comes in.

brianle

Harmonic Tech magic link 2 rca for me

headrott

Won't give my whole cable journey, but I am currently using:

MIT Shotgun S3 balanced interconnect cables between DAC and Pre. Also between Pre and Amp.
MIT Shotgun S3 12 foot speaker cables
Cerious Technologies Ceramic conductor digital cable between CD transport and DAC
Acoustic Revive LAN-1.0 CAT 5 ethernet cable between SACD transport and DAC
DCCA Extreme Reference 9AWG power cord on the power conditioner
DCCA Musical Essence 10AWG power cord on the amp
PS Audio AC12 on the pre-amp
JPS Labs "The digital AC" on my CD transport
My own built AC cable made from Neotech NEP-3002 wire and Wattgate 330iAg male and Furutech FI-28(Rh) female connector for SACD transport

mantis

I've traveled down this road for many years after my experience with Monster cable. Then moved to Straight wire. From there it was more Monstercable and then Transparent. Kimber Kable entered my life and stayed for a long time until I discovered Audioquest many many years ago.
Cardas is my newest adventure and I have some in my system at times and take it out and put back Audioquest .
Over the years I have tried just about everything under the sun due to the fact I have worked in the business for the last 15 years. All the different places I have worked , we would get samples sent and I would test the hell out of them. Many custom brands that many online cables are made out of I have had in my system at one time or another.

I currently run a mix of Audioquest and Cardas at any given time. Depending on my mood and if I want to fool around with my wiring.
I basically stopped when Audioquest came into my life. I found my home there but never stop checking out what comes in front of me.

drumminman

Almost totally Venhaus designs diy:

Finesilver IC's with Eichmann silver bullets and 32 awg Teflon coated wire - dac to pre, pre to power amp

Jon Risch design IC - e to subwoofer

Venhaus Flavor 2 PC's for digital (cdp, dac)

Venhaus Flavor 4 PC - power amp

Recently got rid of the Marinco and cheap wattgate IEC and AC plugs on all the PC's and replaced with Furutech F1-11 gold plated. Good improvement!

Dawgfish

I'm really happy with my current setup of Analysis Plus Solo Crystal ICs and Oval 9 Speaker cables. For grins and giggles I recently tried some MIT Shotgun S3 ICs in my system. They sound really good, but since the rest of my system consists of AP cables, the Solo Crystals sound better overall. I'm sure the Shotguns would sound even better if I were running all MIT cables, but I'm really happy with the AP products and don't see that changing anytime soon, if at all. I'm also running Pepster's PCs and an Acoustic Zen MC2 digital cable when I use my external DAC.

VR3

The best, most transparent, cables I have used to date is DH Labs Air Matrix and Q10 with the speakers internally wired with T16

erniejade

I have also stopped on dh labs air martix ans q10 speaker wire as well. Sold off the last of the mit that I had.

heiney9

Zip cord

AR (Acoustic Research) 12 ga with banana plugs.

IOXS Gamma Geometry with banana plugs

Canare 4S11 with banana plugs

Ben's Silver Resolution cables

Signal Cable

MIT Terminator II's

Finally pulled the trigger on MIT Shotgun S3's a few years ago

Interconnects:

Monster M400i's

Signal Cable Analog II's

MIT Terminator II's

Currently MIT Shotgun S2's and BJC Digital cable.

Also MIT Z power cables.

H9

schwarcw

I've tried zip cord, Rat Shack, Signal Cable, Audioquest, Ben's cables. But I am stuck on MIT Shotgun S1s for interconnects and speaker cables.

I do have a Douglas Connection cable in my phono section. That cable is a real winner!!! I am tempted to try some others.

marvda1

mg audio design planus 2 speaker cable and planus Cu2 interconnects. thunderbird and windigo power cables from 6sons audio of canada. there's one speaker cable that i just can't get rid of , it's the straley reality cable.

steveinaz

I have settled on Kimber Hero (WBT) analog IC's, Kimber 8TC v.2 speaker cables and Belden 1694A digital cables. These have all been in use for well over 6 years in my system, with no need/desire to try anything else. Cables tried in the past have featured AudioQuest (Granite/Copperhead/Sidewinder/Diamondback), Audio Technica (Looooong time ago), Analysis plus, Kimber 4TC & PBJ, Chorus (can't recall the manufacturer), DH Labs, and others that my feeble brain can't seem to remember the names.

Kimber Hero and 8TC seem to do everything right for me. While I really like DH Labs D-75, and think it's a great value at $65, The Belden is ever so slighty more linear in overall presnetation, IMO.

Oh: and my sub cables are 8ft long Belden from Blue Jeans Cable.

sucks2beme

Kimber Hero's, AQ type 6 speaker cables, AQ carbon usb.
My Sennheiser hd650's have a Cardas.
Pretty happy overall. I'd like Kimber 8tc's for the speakers,
but hard to justify. So here I stay.

steveinaz

sucks2beme wrote: »

Kimber Hero's, AQ type 6 speaker cables, AQ carbon usb.
My Sennheiser hd650's have a Cardas.
Pretty happy overall. I'd like Kimber 8tc's for the speakers,
but hard to justify. So here I stay.

4TC gets you 99.5% of the way to 8TC, just sayin..I've owned both.

treitz3

I am pleased to hear that so many have actually stopped to enjoy the cables they have acquired for their system. The input so far has been interesting.....so many different varieties. Is there anybody else that perhaps missed this thread the first go around?

Tom

erniejade

I have a need for some longer speaker cables so I think I am going to give Douglas Connections a try this round.

mantis

treitz3 wrote: »

I am pleased to hear that so many have actually stopped to enjoy the cables they have acquired for their system. The input so far has been interesting.....so many different varieties. Is there anybody else that perhaps missed this thread the first go around?

Tom

It's a good time man , getting new cables or just Demoing them. But finding the ones is better then the journey IMO which I can say now. I actually lost a lot of interest in searching out new and exciting cables to try out.

Erik Tracy

Right now, I'm not swapping ICs and cables out - I've found a combination that seems to have good synergy.

I went thru a phase where I was trying lots of different ICs and speaker cables - and in so doing, was able to hear fairly quickly how the sonics were changed, for better or worse. I even did 'death match' sessions spanning a single afternoon of different ICs - again, quite evident how each were different.

I just don't have that upgrade itch for anything in my rig right now - I'm more into the acquisition of music and enjoying the sound.

For now....:cheesygrin:

Geoff4rfc

Since I'm still fairly new...........my applications are few

Started off with Lowes 14awg RCA brand

upgraded to Monoprice 12/4 center and surrounds, Emotiva X-series 10/2 for mains

Now using Douglas connection 13/4 Vampire Wire for center and Furez 10/2 for surrounds

Emotiva power cords for three amps, Emotiva and Monoprice IC's

polklifer

I have been using Audioquest Hyperlitz cable with Cardias connectors, I really like them! I also use MIT Terminator 2's with great success, just a little short for my current application..