Cables

MacLeod

I was using Monster Standard Juniors in my system for years - http://monstercable.com/productPage.asp?pin=149 - and have NEVER had a single noise issue. No whine, no headlight hum, no brake light pop, nothing. Well when I was trying to install that Altomobile EQ one of the RCA's got hung behind the dash and I had to rip it out which ruined it. So I figured Id run down to Pep Boys and get some Lightning Audio RCA's. 16' for $15. Twisted AND shielded. I figured if Monster's bottom of the line work flawlessly, surely Lightning Audio, who is a car audio specific manufacturer, will work just as well.

Well, I now have a brake light pop AND head light hum! Unf***ing believable!!!

So now I have to scrape together more money to replace the RCA's...again.

The only other thing it could be is the ground that I left hooked up for the EQ in case I ever get another. Maybe somehow its messed up. Ill pull it out and see if that helps but I kinda doubt it.

exalted512

i have some spare streetwires 5.0 series laying around the house, I was going to ebay them but if you need some I'll give em to you for what youd pay for new ones, $15/cable or whatever. Only thing is i think theyre all 16.4 ft long...ill have to check. Id rather give them to someone whos going to use them for competition anyway. Only thing is i dont know if you want ones that are that long. They were used in my truck going from the radio all the way to the back wall. I have a couple that are brand new, still in the packaging, i think those might be 12'. Just say the word
-Cody

PolkThug

I'm running all Stinger Helix with no problems. The RCA connectors are short so the fit nicely under Polk amp covers.

http://search.ebay.com/Stinger-Helix_W0QQfromZR40

MacLeod

What just kills me is that I was running bone stock basic Monster cables and never heard a peep! Now I get the fancy super master twisted and shielded cables and get all kinds of noise!

Another fun thing is my dome light dims off after a few seconds and that comes thru as a nice BBBBBbbbbbbuuuuuuuzzzzzzz....

I just ran some 6 footers I had straight from the HU to the amp and its quiet as a mouse so I know its the cables and am thankful its not the amp!

Cody - PM sent

Greg Peters

MacLeod wrote:

So I figured Id run down to Pep Boys and get some Lightning Audio RCA's. 16' for $15. Twisted AND shielded. I figured if Monster's bottom of the line work flawlessly, surely Lightning Audio, who is a car audio specific manufacturer, will work just as well.

Well, I now have a brake light pop AND head light hum! Unf***ing believable!!!

I'm not a fan of anything from Lightning Audio- not even because of the Walmart stigma.

I usually spring for middle of the road RCA cables at least, and usually have not been dissappointed.

The last set I bought (three runs) were Scosche EFX.
http://www.infinitecaraudio.com/cgi-bin/icastore.cgi?user_action=list&category=Scosche;RCA%20Interconnects

I was kind of expecting some sort of noise in the system, but absolutely nothing...pleasant surprise. I've had to hunt around for noise on a few previous systems, and it seems some cars generate more unwelcome noises into the audio system than others.

There's an automotive surplus place I've been into from time to time about 45 minutes away from home (Princess Auto). The last time I was in, I was surprised to see Monster RCAs there (and marked right down). I was tempted to pick some up (and still might next time). I'll check what series they were from against the link and see if they're the same- I seem to remember them as being dark reddish-brown colored, whatever series that is.

MacLeod

Im sold on Monster Cables. Yeah they suck for suing Disney and Discover Channel and all that but apparantly they make a great cable.

Wal Mart carries Scoshe cables. I might run down there and see what theyve got.

exalted512

PM sent back
-Cody

exalted512

heres a picture
http://www.shopcartusa.com/Product/15339/Electronics~Car_Audio_&_Radar_Detectors~Car_Audio_Access./Streetwires_StreetWires_Zero_Noise_5.0___1.5-ft._Stereo_RCA_Pat/

these are NOT cheap cables
-Cody

audiobliss

MacLeod wrote:

Im sold on Monster Cables. Yeah they suck for suing Disney and Discover Channel and all that but apparantly they make a great cable.

Whao. Stop right there just a cotton-pickin' minute. Just because Lightning Audio makes crappy RCA's doesn not mean Monster makes 'great' cables.

Go for Cody's cables! You've got a nice SQ system! You deserve some nice cables, too!

MacLeod

audiobliss wrote:

Whao. Stop right there just a cotton-pickin' minute. Just because Lightning Audio makes crappy RCA's doesn not mean Monster makes 'great' cables.

Go for Cody's cables! You've got a nice SQ system! You deserve some nice cables, too!

Well, for 4 years those lowly, bottom of the barrell Monsters have performed flawlessly! Have not had a single noise issue at all in the entire time.

audiobliss

I wouldn't say that being able to reject noise interference makes a cable 'great'. All cables should do that. That's a bare minimum requirement. If they can't do that, they shouldn't make it into a consumer's hands.

imo, of course....I use that way too seldom...thought I might should throw it in there....:p

1996blackmax

Streetwires makes nice cables, if Mac does not pick those up let me know Cody.

VR3

Oh please...

Audiobliss what cables have you even used???

cam5860

Streetwires are decent but I will take tsunami rca cables over streetwires anyday of the week. Best rca's ive ever owned.

1996blackmax

Here we go.......

MacLeod

audiobliss wrote:

I wouldn't say that being able to reject noise interference makes a cable 'great'. All cables should do that. That's a bare minimum requirement. If they can't do that, they shouldn't make it into a consumer's hands.

imo, of course....I use that way too seldom...thought I might should throw it in there....:p

But in a car there are different levels of noise. My $14 Monsters blocked everybit of it but my $20 Lightning Audio shielded and twisted dont. But you read their reviews on Sounddomain and they all love em. So if Monster can make a cable for $14 that can block all the noise Ive got, theyre great cables.

VR3

Audiobliss hasnt even tried Monster's cables before...

Im using some of their best pro cables at the moment...

Awesome cables...

1996blackmax

I really like my Monster Micro-XLN's, no noise issues with these guys. They came in very handy when I was using my Kicker ZR and ZX amps as those guys did not have alot of room under the wiring covers.

MacLeod

I could get some more of the same Monsters I had but honestly Im wanting to go with something different just to have something different.

My wife is letting me spend $100, so Ill hit my local shops tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

I really like the JL cables, but damn, theyre expensive.........shut up Cody!

1996blackmax

Check out Ebay as well Mac. You could find good deals on cables there.

MacLeod

Im going to hit my shops tomorrow. Ill try Tweeter first and see if they can hook me up with some JL cables for under $100. If not, Ill try some of the others.

1996blackmax

How many cables do you need?

exalted512

3, at least 14'
-Cody

Greg Peters

MacLeod wrote:

Im sold on Monster Cables. Yeah they suck for suing Disney and Discover Channel and all that but apparantly they make a great cable.

Wal Mart carries Scoshe cables. I might run down there and see what theyve got.

Not that I would suggest these for competition purposes. I just got lucky.

The ones I've seen in Walmart in the US are not the EFX line, just plain (non-twisted pair) RCAs, smaller gauge too.

cam5860

Hell I use the Scoshe power wire from walmart you get 40 foot of 8 gauge power wire and 8 foot of ground wire for 19.99. Can beat that **** and it's as good as any of the rest ive used good and flexiable and strained copper wire. Ive used there rca's before there kinda built cheap but hell they work never had a problem with them.

audiobliss

MacLeod wrote:

I really like the JL cables, but damn, theyre expensive.........shut up Cody!

Haha! Go ahead and get Cody taken care of before he even chimes in. LOL!

MacLeod

Just stopped by Tweeter on my lunch break and grabbed some JL's. They werent nearly as pricey as I thought they would be. 4 channel, 18' for $40 and 2 channel 18' for $25. Thats the same price as Streetwires, Stinger and Tsunami.

Havent hooked em up yet cause Im in my work truck but will as soon as I get off. They look to be excellent quality.

1996blackmax

Still over priced for that brand .....

MacLeod

Worked like a charm. All noise is gone and Ive got a nice strong signal. BEst thing is, after all these years of praising JL Audio, Im actually using some of their stuff!

Let that be a lesson boys and girls, stay FAR AWAY from Lightning Audio cables.

1996blackmax

I thought that was already pretty evident, the staying away from anything Lightning Audio .

Glad it worked out for you .

MacLeod

Well I got suckered into them because those Monster Cables were cheaper and didnt have all the fancy "noise rejection techonolgy" yet they were 100% noise free. I just figured the LA's wouldve been too.

No matter, I really dig these JL cables and will stick with them from now on. Excellent construction and a pretty good price.