So much for making my own interconnects

Schwingding
Schwingding Posts: 363
edited March 2007 in Electronics
A month or so I posted about making up my own interconnects, and how I was basically surprised they worked at all, much less all of them worked (I made 5 identical cables). They worked.

But I had this nagging feeling, knowing who had done the work, that they weren't done professionally. While ordering other cables anyway, I bought a 5 pair set of the premium interconnects from monoprice.com

I connected them last night, and immediately noticed that my system was playing louder, then went back into the AVR setup to re-level the speakers. I discovered as much as a 3db boost from using the commercially available cables. A couple of them had smaller increases, but across the board, I had to drop the levels in the AVR on all speakers to re-level everything out to my standard 75db reference.

How about that? Just proves that I suck at some things.
HT/music rig
Panasonic PX60U 50" plasma
Yamaha 5990 AVR
Onix SP3 tube amp
bunch of Outlaw 2200 monoblocks
DUAL SVS PB12+/2 subs :eek:
Denon 3910 DVD/SACD/DVD-A
DirecTV HR10-250 DVR
Onix Strata Mini mains
Mirage OM10 surrounds
Polk CSi5 center
Polk SC80 rear surrounds
Samsung BDP1000 blu-ray player

Bedroom rig
Jolida SJ302a tube amp
Denon 2910 universal player
Onix Ref 1 monitors
Velodyne minivee
Post edited by Schwingding on
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Comments

  • MSALLA
    MSALLA Posts: 1,602
    edited March 2007
    Hey, you said it not me;)
    Michael


    Samsung 50" HD DLP
    Yamaha RX-V2500
    (2) Outlaw 200
    Adcom GFA 555
    Sony BDP300
    Denon 2900 DVD
    Lsi9's mains
    Lsi7's rear
    Lsic center
    12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
    Harmony 880
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2007
    it's always nice to realize you suck at something, like we all do. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited March 2007
    I wrote the book on "sucking". I am a renaissance man of suckitude. Find me an endeavor (no matter how small) and I will show you a feeble display of suckiosity.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • TN_Polk_Lover
    TN_Polk_Lover Posts: 243
    edited March 2007
    Hey, I think we've coined a new word here: "Suckiosity".

    Robert
    Robert
    zombie boy 2000 wrote:
    You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.

    Bonus Room Over Garage:
    Toshiba 27" CRT TV
    Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
    DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
    Denon 3806 AV Receiver
    - L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
    Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds

    Living Room: (2ch only)
    TV: Sony KV20-FV12
    DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
    Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited March 2007
    I think Big Ted did a while back in reference to the Glory of Paypal:D
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • PolknPepsi
    PolknPepsi Posts: 781
    edited March 2007
    Remind me never to try that, store bought must be better.
    Denon #2900, Denon stereo receiver, Conrad Johnson Sonographe 120 amp, Blue Jeans cables, and Klipsch RF-7's
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  • cstpeter
    cstpeter Posts: 387
    edited March 2007
    Something else must be causing the difference--all cables are the same ;) .
    Von Schweikert VR4-jr
    Valve Audio Predator
    Denon DVD-2900
    PS Audio Digital Link III w/Cullen Level IV Mods
    Pro-Ject Xpression w/Blue Point No. 2
    Graham Slee Special Edition 2
    PS Audio UPC-200
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited March 2007
    Its like me with a simple plumbing problem. After about 4 trips to Home Depot & 1/2 a Sat. tied up in labor I usually get it fixed. It would take a pro about 1/2 hr. Go figure!!!
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2007
    Try different wiring and try it again. Soon you'll be building cables better than Monster Cable. Also on another note, I know price doesnt always mean better but how would monoprice premium cables compare to Signal Cable, if monoprice is that good, I would give them a go, especially at those prices.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,782
    edited March 2007
    I've ordered monoprice cables for friends, and the premium cable seem to have about the same build as AR pro cables, which for $2.62 a pair seemed like a deal to me.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2007
    What did you use for cable, and connectors?
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited March 2007
    Nobody should expect great results their first time around. That's why they call it a learning curve. Learn from each experience and make another attempt.

    I finally finished my first DIY speaker this evening and they are burning in as I type this.....they aren't perfect cosmetically but I know how I can make improvements the next time.....hell they probably won't sound as good as they could because of being a first time solderer....but I will do better next time (and use a better solder).

    Sooooo anybody want to buy some speakers :D

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited March 2007
    What I find interesting is you didnt say a thing about what change in sound quality they made. If they sound better then it doesnt matter what db output they have. If the store bought sound better use them.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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