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Exploring "professional" XLRs and RCAs

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  • audioluvraudioluvr Posts: 2,974
    Tony M wrote: »
    Do you guys and gals believe in the directional style cables? YES

    Have any of you reversed the cable's direction the arrows point towards on those type of cables JUST to see if the sound changes? YES

    When I first got my Wireworld Mini-Eclipse' I was doing A/B comparisons and inadvertently got one swapped the wrong way and the first thing I noticed was a shift off center. There is a significant amount of research on speaker cables done by many companies for decades. Gotta be some benefit going on there somewhere...
    Cambridge Audio 851N Streamer/DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
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  • erniejadeerniejade Posts: 5,472
    You might want to also look at DH labs air matrix xlr on the used market. I have seen them go for 90-150.
    Den: Lumin D1,Wireworld Silver Eclipse RCA, KEF LS50 Wireless, Velodyne SPL1200, Technics 1200, Denon DL160, Jolida D9,

    Living Room:,T+A PA 1530R,Wireworld Silver Eclipse SC, Tyler Highland H2, High Fidelity Reveal RCA, Innuos Zen MK3 , W4S recovery, LKS MH-da004,

    Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac11,Aries Mini
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,263
    Thanks for the tip. Not planning on purchasing any other cables at the moment, but this is not the first time I've heard good things about DH Labs cables.
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  • VR3VR3 Posts: 24,112
    The Air Matrix, IMO is on the best out there.
    - Not Tom

    "No, that's silly talk. Dude, you can't possibly be this audio dumb so quit the act." - Doro
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  • joecoulsonjoecoulson Posts: 4,978
    I’m very happy with my Colorado’s. They are not entry level however but if you can find for $400 or less, grab some!
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  • Tbone289Tbone289 Posts: 673
    edited May 2019
    I build my own directional ICs out of Mogami Neglex 2534 and Neutrik gold XLRs or Neutrik gold RCAs for SE connections, and they sound great to me. This is a very inexpensive route to go with high quality components if you have any soldering skills. It's also a great way to try out different components without emptying your pockets.
    2.1: S/PDIF>Schiit Gungnir MB>Creek Evolution 100a or Yaqin MC-10L>Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1, HSU STF-2
    5.1: HDMI Bitstream>Denon AVR-1910>polkaudio RTE55, CS350-LS, RT3, HSU STF-2, Visio M55-F0
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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 26,929
    Tbone289 wrote: »
    I build my own directional ICs out of Mogami Neglex 2534 and Neutrik gold XLRs or Neutrik gold RCAs for SE connections, and they sound great to me. This is a very inexpensive route to go with high quality components if you have any soldering skills. It's also a great way to try out different components without emptying your pockets.

    FWIW I've recently done this as well (albeit, at least so far, with a cheaper, shielded Mogami cable) :)

    PS @Tbone289, quick -- post something else; that was apparently your 666th post, and that's scary! ;)

    176nmhtpbkft.png

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  • tophatjohnnytophatjohnny Posts: 3,161
    Tried a lot of top flight cables and found the Nordost Frey 2 rca's to work best for my ears.
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,263
    tophatjohnny wrote: »
    Tried a lot of top flight cables and found the Nordost Frey 2 rca's to work best for my ears.

    Over $1k for a .6m pair, I would hope so! ;)
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  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 14,121
    What is a ‘professional’ cable? Unfortunately, because it is a limited market, and good cables are handmade, good cables will be ‘expensive’ compared to cheap, mass produced cables. Basic economics.
    Lumin X1 file player
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,263
    BlueFox wrote: »
    What is a ‘professional’ cable?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_audio
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  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 14,121
    So, that has zero to do with home stereos.
    Lumin X1 file player
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,263
    You asked what a "professional" cable was. I answered succinctly.
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  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 14,121
    :)
    Lumin X1 file player
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 26,929
    These guys sell professional cables -- and I've bought a bunch from them (XLRs mostly).

    https://www.markertek.com/
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,263
    I've finished my listening tests and notes for the 4 XLR cables! Now to collect my thoughts and write up a coherent shootout review!

    Special thanks to my friend @joecoulson for providing the AQ Red River XLRs for this review, I sincerely appreciate it.
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,263
    edited June 2019
    Tonight I started the RCA portion of my listening tests, with the Kopul RCAs to connect my CXN v2 to the pre: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1023115-REG/kopul_src_4003_stereo_rca_cable_3.html

    0bj96kdk4kgj.jpg

    First impressions are good, very good.
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