Audio Quest Copperhead IC's Vs Blue Jeans IC's
nikolas812
Posts: 2,915
Equipment used.
Polk Audio Monitor 7B's
Jolida 302a Tube Amplifier
Oppo 980H DVD/CD player
Blue Jeans Speaker Cables
Audio Quest Copperhead IC's VS Blues Jeans Cables IC's
First of all I am not a experienced reviewer so take this review for what its worth.
Build Quality
The build quality on the AQ's seemed to be better and the looks in general were much nicer. The ends on the AQ's seemed a lot nicer and seemed to fit a little tighter than the Blue Jeans. The Blue Jeans have a cheap rubbery feeling to them. Where the AQ's felt much stronger and stiffer. The biggest difference was in diameter. The BJC's where much larger in diameter than the AQ's. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. Seems like the BJC's might be shielded better. But then again the AQ's where much harder so I don't really know which one would be shielded better. I am guessing the BJC's because of the thickness.
Cost
I bought these used from willow for $30.00 but for review purpose I will post the retail values. Most places are selling the copperheads for around $95.00 and I payed $28.75 for the BJC's straight from BJC's. Both are 1m runs I think. So the copperheads cost a bit more than the BJC's
First listening Session
The first listening session wasn't much of a listening session. I was really just fooling around before we went out for dinner. I was listening to a standard definition CD Alan parsons project. When I decided to hookup the AQ's. Immediately I noticed the difference in the highs. I didn't expect to hear this big of a difference. I was a bit in shock and couldn't really believe what I was hearing. My dad happened to be in the room and I looked at him and asked if he heard the difference. He said he didn't but he wasn't paying attention. So why I had him in there I ask him to pay attention and try to tell me what he heard. He had know idea which cables where being used until after the tests. I used one song off the Alan Parsons CD and I would play about 30 secs and then switch cables. Every time he said the BJC's sounded better and the AQ's had too much treble. Even though I knew which cables where being used I thought the same thing. The AQ's seemed harsh and hard to listen to. The BJC's seemed much warmer and fuller in sound. So my initial impression was the BJC's were beatin the hell out of the more expensive AQ's
Second Listening Session
Today I did another longer listening session by myself. I started off with a SACD Dire Straights Brother in Arms. This is the CD I always go back to for reference. I have heard it a million times and it is still one of the best sounding CD's I have. I listened to the first four songs in a row and then switched cables and listened to the same four songs. I was no longer hearing the harshness I heard yesterday. But I was hearing a more detailed 3D image. I could not understand what was happening. I then would listen to one song and then switch cables and listen to the same song again. Then I would listen for 30 seconds of one song and switch cables. I did this with two CDs. The above mentioned Dire Straights SACD and Madonna Immaculate SD CD. The conclusion I came to was that the reason the BJC's sounded warmer and fuller was because they were less detailed and had less control over the bass and were more forgiving on bad recordings. The Alan Parsons CD we used in the first listening session is of poor quality and with the AQ's being so much more reveling it made the Alan Parsons sound like crap but when you gave the AQ's a decent recording they beat the crap out of the BJC's. After all this listening I realized the AQ's didn't seem as full sounding as the BJC's but this is because of the bass being tightened up. The BJC's sounder fuller but the bass was flabby compared to the AQ's.
The Conclusion
The AQ's are superior to the BJC's. The bass is controlled much better and is much tighter in the AQ's. The highs are much more detailed and are VERY smooth compared to the BJC's. The 3D image of sound produced by the AQ's is quite stunning compared to the BJC's. After the first listening session I couldn't wait to write how my $30.00 cables beat the pants of a $100.00 pair cables. But in the end it was the other way around. Also the BJC's cables are VERY good cables IMO for the price. The Audioquests are better though IMO.
On a side note. I always expected cables made a difference but I have never heard the effects first hand like I did in this test. I am a true believer in cables do make a difference. I never expected to hear what I heard. It was truly amazing.
http://
Polk Audio Monitor 7B's
Jolida 302a Tube Amplifier
Oppo 980H DVD/CD player
Blue Jeans Speaker Cables
Audio Quest Copperhead IC's VS Blues Jeans Cables IC's
First of all I am not a experienced reviewer so take this review for what its worth.
Build Quality
The build quality on the AQ's seemed to be better and the looks in general were much nicer. The ends on the AQ's seemed a lot nicer and seemed to fit a little tighter than the Blue Jeans. The Blue Jeans have a cheap rubbery feeling to them. Where the AQ's felt much stronger and stiffer. The biggest difference was in diameter. The BJC's where much larger in diameter than the AQ's. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. Seems like the BJC's might be shielded better. But then again the AQ's where much harder so I don't really know which one would be shielded better. I am guessing the BJC's because of the thickness.
Cost
I bought these used from willow for $30.00 but for review purpose I will post the retail values. Most places are selling the copperheads for around $95.00 and I payed $28.75 for the BJC's straight from BJC's. Both are 1m runs I think. So the copperheads cost a bit more than the BJC's
First listening Session
The first listening session wasn't much of a listening session. I was really just fooling around before we went out for dinner. I was listening to a standard definition CD Alan parsons project. When I decided to hookup the AQ's. Immediately I noticed the difference in the highs. I didn't expect to hear this big of a difference. I was a bit in shock and couldn't really believe what I was hearing. My dad happened to be in the room and I looked at him and asked if he heard the difference. He said he didn't but he wasn't paying attention. So why I had him in there I ask him to pay attention and try to tell me what he heard. He had know idea which cables where being used until after the tests. I used one song off the Alan Parsons CD and I would play about 30 secs and then switch cables. Every time he said the BJC's sounded better and the AQ's had too much treble. Even though I knew which cables where being used I thought the same thing. The AQ's seemed harsh and hard to listen to. The BJC's seemed much warmer and fuller in sound. So my initial impression was the BJC's were beatin the hell out of the more expensive AQ's
Second Listening Session
Today I did another longer listening session by myself. I started off with a SACD Dire Straights Brother in Arms. This is the CD I always go back to for reference. I have heard it a million times and it is still one of the best sounding CD's I have. I listened to the first four songs in a row and then switched cables and listened to the same four songs. I was no longer hearing the harshness I heard yesterday. But I was hearing a more detailed 3D image. I could not understand what was happening. I then would listen to one song and then switch cables and listen to the same song again. Then I would listen for 30 seconds of one song and switch cables. I did this with two CDs. The above mentioned Dire Straights SACD and Madonna Immaculate SD CD. The conclusion I came to was that the reason the BJC's sounded warmer and fuller was because they were less detailed and had less control over the bass and were more forgiving on bad recordings. The Alan Parsons CD we used in the first listening session is of poor quality and with the AQ's being so much more reveling it made the Alan Parsons sound like crap but when you gave the AQ's a decent recording they beat the crap out of the BJC's. After all this listening I realized the AQ's didn't seem as full sounding as the BJC's but this is because of the bass being tightened up. The BJC's sounder fuller but the bass was flabby compared to the AQ's.
The Conclusion
The AQ's are superior to the BJC's. The bass is controlled much better and is much tighter in the AQ's. The highs are much more detailed and are VERY smooth compared to the BJC's. The 3D image of sound produced by the AQ's is quite stunning compared to the BJC's. After the first listening session I couldn't wait to write how my $30.00 cables beat the pants of a $100.00 pair cables. But in the end it was the other way around. Also the BJC's cables are VERY good cables IMO for the price. The Audioquests are better though IMO.
On a side note. I always expected cables made a difference but I have never heard the effects first hand like I did in this test. I am a true believer in cables do make a difference. I never expected to hear what I heard. It was truly amazing.
http://
Post edited by nikolas812 on
Comments
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Nice write up,rock on!
Cables are like candy....different flavors to suit anyone's taste.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
The Copperheads are excellent ICs. I have several pairs that I use in my 2 channel rig."Just because youre offended doesnt mean youre right." - Ricky Gervais
"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase
"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson -
Nice review. I have a pair of the copperheads as well. I'll have to compare them to my BJC set someday and see if I hear the difference.
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Nikolas, glad you received the cables and that you seem to like them.
Nice write-up BTW. -
Yeah I got them yesterday. I didn't realize you were in Canada. They got here fairly quick. Thanks again.
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Almost exactly my observations when comparing a generic stranded IC to the AQ copperhead or sidewinder.
What at first seems to be strident treble and less bass is exactly better controlled bass, and an "organizing" (for lack of a better word) of the midrange and treble. Copperheads/Sidewinders need a little break-in time (40 mins or so), then they settle down and the treble is wonderful.
FWIW, I can't tell any audible difference between the Sidewinder and the Copperhead, however, I do hear a difference between Copperhead and Diamondback--I prefer the Copperhead.
The Sidewinder/Copperheads are an excellent value interconnect (esp Sidewinder), but because of the solid copper conductors being soldered, you must HANDLE WITH CARE. Usually the center pin conductor is fine, it's the drain wire that gets broken at the solder joint on the connector. I have broken 2 copperhead IC's, and I wasn't man-handling them.
I'm sure the BJC's are good IC's, I just can't get past the cheesey look of them. I do like BJC's HDMI cables, a lot! I'd go with Signal Cable in that price range.
If you want to hear a nice blend of stranded wire "fullness" and solid core treble clarity and bass control, try Kimber PBJ. You'll LOVE it. IMO, the PBJ is the best sub $150 IC on the planet.
Good review.Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 -
I switched some cables around the other day and noticed the lack of highs with the BJC. I also don't like their termination, it's too loose."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Which BJC coax cable is that? The Belden 89259 coax is usually considered the best of the bunch and is what is used for the Signal Cable Analog 2.Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 Low Capacitance Audio Cable
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Nikolas, I'm in the process of breaking in my Analog II and I'll let you know what I think of them combined with my Diamondback.
I did really like the Copperhead. -
Yep....bad recordings will screw you up bigtime in your auditioning of gear if you're not smart enough to figure it out. Good job!2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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dragon1952 wrote: »Yep....bad recordings will screw you up bigtime in your auditioning of gear if you're not smart enough to figure it out. Good job!
Yep! Bring something you are very familiar with you;)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 -
I am glad everybody liked the review and I thank you for your comments. This was pretty much my first review of anything and I was hesitant to write anything. But I now look forward to doing a review on something else sometime down the road. I am not the best with audio terms so I just tried to rely what I was hearing the best I could. Sounds like it came across. I think a couple of people mentioned hearing the same results I did, so I feel confident I know what I was hearing was correct. Thanks for your comments I appreciate them.
And yes the bad recording really threw me off and I am glad I took another day to review them fully or I might not have kept them. After I figured out was going on though, I thought about keeping the BJC's just so it would be easier to listen to some of my poor recordings. But I quickly decided that was a bad idea given the sound was so much better with good recordings.
I also need to thank Willow for selling me a great cable at such a cheap price. Thanks again. -
My pleasure, I'm happy that you are pleased with your purchase
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I am not sure. I have two and one is very superior to the other. The one I used at the beginning I bought in a grocery store check out line. I think it is Alan Parsons Master Hits. Through Arista Records. The other is Ultimate Alan Parsons. They are produced by the same company but for some reason the Ultimate disk sounds 10x's better.
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When I get my new ICs/speaker cable from Ben, I plan on doing an A/B with the signal ultra/analog II....Nice write up man.
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With Audioquest, you get quality right from the start. Every IC they make is designed to do there job well.
The Sidewinders for the money are excellent cheaper cables that just about any mid level on down system could benefit from. I feel for the money they are the best all around IC's.
All the non battery IC's are very close in sound. This is why you can't really hear any difference between them. But when you get to the Jaguar , this is where they seperate.
They sound clearer with better control and seperation.
I make Audioquest Ic's in the field. It's called ATA 1.1 custom audio cable. It's solid core constructed and uses all copper. The ends are push on . No crimping or anything. I find this cable to sound better then most other way higher end cables I have come across. They basically sound exaclty like the Sidewinders and copperheads. What I love about this cable is I can cut it exaclty the length I need. Perfect for larger size head ends or gear racks.
I have been using Audioquest now for a few years and have no desire to go anywhere else. I think they got it right from the bottom line up.
Acutally I just finished a 3 way shootout with Audioquest 14-2 custom cl3 wire, DH labs Silver sonic 14-2 and Audioquest CV8's. I'm gonna write up a full review on my findings.
DanDan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
I have owned Gsnake, Sidewinder,Copperhead and Diamondback. I could tell a difference between the Gsnake and the others. I much prefered the others.
I owned 2pairs of SW, I found their only issue was they were quite flimsy at connector end. They disconnected, I got a guy from work..ShinAce, to solder them, as I didn't have soldering gear back then. In terms of sound, I found them all to have a similar sound, but like others the CH were the best, untill I landed some DB. I like the build of the DB, much thicker cable not as flimsy. I found they have a bit more neutral sound over all the others. I bought all my cables used, but if I had to buy them new, CH would be the cable of choice. But if buying used, I will always buy DB. -
Bill Ayotte wrote: »When I get my new ICs/speaker cable from Ben, I plan on doing an A/B with the signal ultra/analog II....Nice write up man.
When do you expect to be doing a write up on Bens cables? I am ready to buy some stuff from Ben and have been for a while now. But I am a little scared. I don't want the silver wires to push my rig to far to the bright side. I am already border line too bright. I have got some new pre amp tubes on the way that will hopefully make it just right. Most of the stuff I buy I make sure it has a good resale value so if I don't like it I can recoop most or all of my money back. I am in no position to take a loss on a componet that does not work out. I wish Ben could let me do a in home tiral but I know most or all of his cables are custom made and he probably wouldn't be comfortablr with the idea anyway. Chime in anytime Ben.:D -
Everyone who has tried Ben's cables,keep them,including myself,but if copper is up your alley,I'm sure Ben can take care of you.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
SteveinazThe Sidewinder/Copperheads are an excellent value interconnect (esp Sidewinder), but because of the solid copper conductors being soldered, you must HANDLE WITH CARE. Usually the center pin conductor is fine, it's the drain wire that gets broken at the solder joint on the connector. I have broken 2 copperhead IC's, and I wasn't man-handling them.
Last night I started to get a real nasty hum out of my system. Come to find out those exact wires you mentioned were broke. I guess those are the ground wires. Anyway I took them out to the garage and got them fixed up. I never would have thought to look at the ends had you not said anything. -
nikolas812 wrote: »When do you expect to be doing a write up on Bens cables? I am ready to buy some stuff from Ben and have been for a while now. But I am a little scared. I don't want the silver wires to push my rig to far to the bright side. I am already border line too bright. I have got some new pre amp tubes on the way that will hopefully make it just right. Most of the stuff I buy I make sure it has a good resale value so if I don't like it I can recoop most or all of my money back. I am in no position to take a loss on a componet that does not work out. I wish Ben could let me do a in home tiral but I know most or all of his cables are custom made and he probably wouldn't be comfortablr with the idea anyway. Chime in anytime Ben.:D
It's gonna be a decent amount of time before I do any A/B at this point, everything is still basically new and needs to break in. The only thing that started in the rack three weeks ago that is still there is the tuner and the analog IIs..... -
Correct me if I'm wrong, But I thought BJC made some cables for Audio Quest? I think I had purchased some HDMI cables from BJC one time and they told me that they were made for Audioquest but got returned or something.
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I have owned Gsnake, Sidewinder,Copperhead and Diamondback. I could tell a difference between the Gsnake and the others. I much prefered the others.
I owned 2pairs of SW, I found their only issue was they were quite flimsy at connector end. They disconnected, I got a guy from work..ShinAce, to solder them, as I didn't have soldering gear back then. In terms of sound, I found them all to have a similar sound, but like others the CH were the best, untill I landed some DB. I like the build of the DB, much thicker cable not as flimsy. I found they have a bit more neutral sound over all the others. I bought all my cables used, but if I had to buy them new, CH would be the cable of choice. But if buying used, I will always buy DB.
I remember resoldering those bad boys(SW). The center conductor was solid and there's not much there for strain relief, so it's a matter of time and bending before they break. Very easy to repair though. -
It was a lot easier than I thought. I was kind of scared at first. But it turned out to be a breeeze.
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I remember resoldering those bad boys(SW). The center conductor was solid and there's not much there for strain relief, so it's a matter of time and bending before they break. Very easy to repair though.
yup I sold that pair right after you fixed them.
I think the pair I sold to Nikolas I had maybe for a couple mths and those were minty fresh condition -
nikolas812 wrote: »When do you expect to be doing a write up on Bens cables? I am ready to buy some stuff from Ben and have been for a while now. But I am a little scared. I don't want the silver wires to push my rig to far to the bright side. I am already border line too bright. I have got some new pre amp tubes on the way that will hopefully make it just right. Most of the stuff I buy I make sure it has a good resale value so if I don't like it I can recoop most or all of my money back. I am in no position to take a loss on a componet that does not work out. I wish Ben could let me do a in home tiral but I know most or all of his cables are custom made and he probably wouldn't be comfortablr with the idea anyway. Chime in anytime Ben.:D
Detailed, not bright. When I first started playing with silver I had heard about them being bright. I am assuming this comes from people who just hook them up, and turn them on, and expect this is it. In general (1 exception I know of) they are a little disorganized in the mids and highs, and bass thin at first. After about 80 hrs they are at near full potential. This does not mean that they are unlistenable for 80hrs, but not up to snuff. There are plenty of reviews on my cables. At Polkie prices I can't afford to send trials out. A meter pair consist of 6 meters of wire, sheathing, and time consuming tight braids. You will hear details you never heard before.
BTW I gave away of all my other IC's.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 -
One day I wil try one of your silvers Ben.
