Cable ugrade

keith allen

I have spent money on all kinds of cable upgrades,Ive yet to hear a difference.The reason I bring this up is because my latest was a set of jumpers by Tara Labs for my NAD c370 intergrated...there is no difference in the sound quality,I had a 4 other people listening to it ,and like me they cant hear a difference.I think the cable bussiness is just like the insurance bussiness :mad:

janmike

Here we go again. Happy New Year.

VR3

Its because your a moron. Obviously. (That was sarcasim..btw)

Stop effing talking about cables. The ONLY reason to bring up the cable thing is cause problems. And the way you wrote your post SCREAMS it.

We get you dont like cables and you think they make no difference.

If you want the NICE setup with the HTIB cables.. be our guest. But SHUT UP. We dont slam cables down your throat...you tried them, get over it!

MSkeezer

Don't be hatin on the cable hata, playa... (Don't ask)

RuSsMaN

The best way to 'hear' the difference in cables, or any audio upgrade for that matter, is not simply plugging them in, and saying 'do you hear anything?'. Switching stuff out on the fly seldom works. That's the fallacy in DBT's that everyone seems to want to challenge people on. DBT's are useless. They are useless in everything from the Pepsi challenge, to cable debates. DBT's mean NOTHING.

If you want to see if something makes a difference in your rig, just install it, and go on about your normal listening for a couple of weeks. Don't strain, don't stress, just listen as you normally would. After a couple of weeks, pull the new out, put the old back in - then have a go.

The difference can be enlightening, or subtle - but it's the best way to 'notice' a change, in my experience. To make the change more obvious, if you will.

Don't think of cable upgrades as they are suddenly going to do something extra - wake your system up, make it come alive. Cables don't 'improve' the system in that manner. Think of any cable upgrade as an attempt to 'cause less harm' to the original signal. I hope thats make sense.

Cheers,
Russ

Willow

Russ, nicely put. I never thought of doing that way. In the same breath I'm not one to partake in DBTs either. But when I do get a new set I'll give your way a try.

keith allen

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Its because your a moron. Obviously. (That was sarcasim..btw)

Stop effing talking about cables. The ONLY reason to bring up the cable thing is cause problems. And the way you wrote your post SCREAMS it.

We get you dont like cables and you think they make no difference.

If you want the NICE setup with the HTIB cables.. be our guest. But SHUT UP. We dont slam cables down your throat...you tried them, get over it!

I dont know what your problem is,but what I have concluded is I have wasted a lot of money on cables,I think I'll start using the cheap stuff for now on.And I have also concluded that if me talking about audio cables put your panties in a wad,ya need to seek a little professional help,maybe Dr.Phil would be a good start

mantis

Nicely put Russ.

Like Russ said, cables need to get out of the way of the sound, not fix it. I think many put cables on the spot light and hoping they will fix what they don't like about there systems. They don't do that. When movin from one to another, very small changes happen. It's in these changes you have to decide first if you can hear any of them and second if the changes do justice to your system. Some cables work better in certian systems then others.

If your one not the hear any differences, chances are your wasting your time and efforts. I suggest you just make sure the cables your going to use are of high quality.Look other places for upgrades.

Good luck,

Dan

SCompRacer

Another "nicely put" for Russ.

Bringing up the topic isn't the problem here.

F1nut

Ok Keith, give us a run down on what gear you are using and what cables you have tried, in what combination and where.

I don't understand your using "jumpers" on your integrated, please explain.

amulford

Right. You aren't giving too much information. What have you tried? Where did you put them? Did you try to hear a difference right out of the box with no burn in? Are you trying different brands in the same rig?

We can't agree or disagree with you unless we have more info.....

WilliamM2

I can agree with out more info, as my results have been the same. How would more info help you to agree, or not, that he heard no difference?

F1, I believe by "jumpers", he meant the connection between the pre-out and main-in jacks on the back of his integrated. Common setup.

heiney9

WilliamM2 wrote:

I can agree with out more info, as my results have been the same. How would more info help you to agree, or not, that he heard no difference?

I think the question is about his methodology. If you can agree without anymore info, I'm guessing your mind is in a more closed state than some of the rest of us. Absolutely you won't hear a difference if a flawed approach is used. Even if you use a proper approach you still may not hear, but atleast the experiment was given a proper chance. Makes sense?? Yes...No..Maybe...

H9

danger boy

keith allen wrote:

I have spent money on all kinds of cable upgrades,Ive yet to hear a difference.The reason I bring this up is because my latest was a set of jumpers by Tara Labs for my NAD c370 intergrated...there is no difference in the sound quality,I had a 4 other people listening to it ,and like me they cant hear a difference.I think the cable bussiness is just like the insurance bussiness :mad:

buy the cables you are happy with.. and fit your budget. end of story. :mad:

BobMcG

I prefer to use high quality jumper cables myself.

Mine are large gauge...


100% copper...


12ft long...


remain flexible down to -40* below zero...


and store easily in the back of my truck.

heiney9

BobMcG wrote:

I prefer to use high quality jumper cables myself.

Mine are large gauge...


100% copper...


12ft long...


remain flexible down to -40* below zero...


and store easily in the back of my truck.

Actually I've been thinking about using jumper cables as speaker cables on my main rig. I mean the ends are terminated nicely and will clamp down on almost any terminal. Thick copper cables will very nice sheathing. A bargain if you ask me, on sale right now at Farm & Fleet for $19.99 a pair. I think I'm gonna try it, plus if I need to jump my car I'll have them on-hand.

H9

keith allen

F1nut wrote:

Ok Keith, give us a run down on what gear you are using and what cables you have tried, in what combination and where.

I don't understand your using "jumpers" on your integrated, please explain.

Well Nut Im not going to get into all my cable combinations,between my two rigs,that would take a while,and I havta take a look,off the top of my head I cant remember whats where.As far as my intergrated,its a nad c370.. Ya know the jumpers for pre-out and main-in their little chrome pins with plastic tabs,I changed them to jumper cables by Tara Labs,they,re just small interconnects made especially for this purpose.Ive just started using the amp again and thought I would give them a try,every review I ever read on this amp said it was a must...I cant tell any difference.

keith allen

BobMcG wrote:

I prefer to use high quality jumper cables myself.

Mine are large gauge...


100% copper...


12ft long...


remain flexible down to -40* below zero...


and store easily in the back of my truck.

I'll let ya in on a little secret,when it comes to automotive jumper cables,I use old welding leads,ya aint gonna find a better pair knowheres!I also have jumped a many cars/equiptment off my bobcat dc welder...it will start anything!

keith allen

And all joking aside,is it tabo to talk cables in here,I mean why in the heck does this bring out HATE in so many,did you here Vr3MxStyler2k3 reply,what is up with that?Its the holidays and people act like that,Im assuming Santa wasnt good to this feller,either that or that rare tropical disease...Lackanuky :rolleyes:

BobMcG

keith allen wrote:

I'll let ya in on a little secret,when it comes to automotive jumper cables,I use old welding leads,ya aint gonna find a better pair knowheres!I also have jumped a many cars/equiptment off my bobcat dc welder...it will start anything!

I'll have to try a pair. Right now the only leads I can get my hands on are in use....

I can remember the days of using those really cheap, stiff, light weight, alloy jumper cables. Not only did they tend to break in the frigid cold but the worst part was having to listen to the sick sound that would emanate from the vehicle being started!!! :eek: Once I upgraded to the heavier, high quality, flexible, copper models..... what a difference!!! No more stiffness, no more breakage, no more weak current flow and the sweet beautiful sound of that vehicle tuning over!!!!!!

F1nut

Well, without more info no one here can help you and that's what I was trying to do despite our past disagreements. As for the jumpers, got it and thanks.

dorokusai

If you replaced the links or straps from Pre-Out to Main In, you should stick to the motorcycles. That's a complete waste of time and money.

Ferres

Differences in cables are more noticable in certain types of music, I guess. With instrumentals, I can't tell the difference between normal 16awg cables and the Xlo cables. But when I put on something with decent vocals they become very noticable.

LuSh

It is threads like this and a few others that make myself and other's want to abandon Polk Audio forums all together.

steveinaz

People expect too much from cable upgrades. A cable change isn't going to produce a monumental difference in sound; it's going to be subtle if at all. If your system doesn't have the resolution, you may not hear differences either. There's alot of varibles, but I agree 100% with Russman on this one, sometimes it takes time to begin to notice the changes a cable swap has made.

If you want to "hear" the difference cables can make, do this: use some standard OFC 12awg speaker cables for a week, then, take a cable like Audioquest Granite or Bedrock, switch them in----you'll hear a difference, I guarantee it.

keith allen

dorokusai wrote:

If you replaced the links or straps from Pre-Out to Main In, you should stick to the motorcycles. That's a complete waste of time and money.

Took one of the scooters out today,a balmy 62 degrees in Georgia,and I agree,I wasted my $30 on them there things :rolleyes:

WilliamM2

If you can agree without anymore info, I'm guessing your mind is in a more closed state than some of the rest of us.

I had an open mind, or I never would have tried different cables in the first place.

I still buy good quality cables, and I never use the cables that come in the box. I like the better build quality and shielding of after market cables. I just don't think they sound any different.

WilliamM2

It is threads like this and a few others that make myself and other's want to abandon Polk Audio forums all together.

That's sad. This is a discussion board, all opinions should be welcome, it doesn't mean you have to agree with them.

I have never found a discussion forum on ANY topic where everyone held the same views, if I did, that would be a forum I would leave, out of boredom.

LuSh

It's a tired debate, one many of us can do without. Very little info is actually posted on with this forum. Same questions and same answers. It's not even a question of if cables make a difference it's a common sense approach. Having said that there are at least 4 people on here that I respect and really learn from. That is why I still visit and support this forum.

StopherJJ1980

OK here's my two cents on the infamous cable debate

First let me say I had all the same questions on cable swhen I was a "newbie" so I understand why people ask.. It is a confusing area when youre assembling your rig.

Next I can say I think as long as you pay for some decent cables you should be fine. Decent meaning anything more than generic or OTB cables. Speaker or component manufacturers dont extole the virtues of their "intra-connects" or the connections inside their equipment. Why "inter-connects" should be any different, i dont know"

Finally though, I do pay a bit extra for some pretty good matching interconnects but it is mostly for aesthetic reason to make the back of my rig look "pretty". Sure no one else looks back there but I know its there and that makes me feel better. IS that wrong? LOL

mlhm5

keith allen wrote:

I have spent money on all kinds of cable upgrades,Ive yet to hear a difference.The reason I bring this up is because my latest was a set of jumpers by Tara Labs for my NAD c370 intergrated...there is no difference in the sound quality,I had a 4 other people listening to it ,and like me they cant hear a difference.I think the cable bussiness is just like the insurance bussiness :mad:

Cleaning your connections will have more effect than changing cables.