Upgrade Sub Cable??

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 17,240
edited June 2009 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
Was thinking about upgrading my Sub's cable's.

Any ideas? was looking at the AQ sub-1's, Would i gain anything by doing so?
What are the advantages here?

Thanks in advance again guys,

Larry.
Post edited by Toolfan66 on
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Comments

  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited February 2009
    I don't think so. Not going to do better than RG6, But who knows maybe I am about to get schooled.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Montoya
    Montoya Posts: 506
    edited February 2009
    As far as I know this is the component that requires the least amount of bandwidth and a special type of cable is not required. I have a sub cable just for the sake of matching cables it made no audible difference in my opinion though.
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  • MKZ
    MKZ Posts: 1,068
    edited February 2009
    I got a great result upgrading from Signal Cable to Sub-1. I didn't hear difference from Monster to Signal.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    I use a standard RG-6 cable for my sub connection. It does just fine, and I have no reason to upgrade it anytime soon.

    When I upgrade my sub, I might pick up a nicer one, but as far as I know it's not really necessary with subs. They're a very low bandwidth signal, so differences in cables aren't going to affect them as much as with other components.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • kneedragger37
    kneedragger37 Posts: 108
    edited February 2009
    +1 on basically what everyone here said -- the sub cable basically has the easiest job of all your HT cables because it's carrying low-frequency, low-bandwidth signals.

    The one caveat is that this cable needs to keep out low-frequency noise (60hz hum from electrical cables and devices, for instance). If you are not hearing any noise through your sub cable now, then there's no reason to change it.
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  • kneedragger37
    kneedragger37 Posts: 108
    edited February 2009
    Just googled "Audioquest Sub-1" -- $125 to $150 for a 10-foot sub cable??? I would like to change my above opinion to "GOOD LORD, NO!!!" BJC makes very nice subwoofer cables of comparable length for about $25.

    If you are having ground-loop or induction (60-cycle hum, etc.) issues and really need a heavily shielded cable or one with the convenience of an additional ground wire (which you could easily run yourself much more inexpensively, or solve with a $15 isolation transformer), MAYBE this wouldn't be a totally ridiculous price -- but it still wreaks of the same stink I get off of $200 "120 Hz" HDMI cables from Monster Cable...
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,240
    edited February 2009
    I did'nt think there was anything else out there but RG6,but i never thought that changing your IC's and speaker wire would make that much of a differance,and this place proved me wrong so i thought i would ask if there is any advantage to a better sub cable. i thought i might be proved wrong again.im not having any issues with what i am running (monster):rolleyes: i do know that i will never buy another monster cable again, Those days are gone. Thanks for the feedback. and for HDMI i did'nt know that as well till i came here. Live and learn i guess.


    LF
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  • kneedragger37
    kneedragger37 Posts: 108
    edited February 2009
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I did'nt think there was anything else out there but RG6,but i never thought that changing your IC's and speaker wire would make that much of a differance,and this place proved me wrong so i thought i would ask if there is any advantage to a better sub cable. i thought i might be proved wrong again.im not having any issues with what i am running (monster):rolleyes: i do know that i will never buy another monster cable again, Those days are gone. Thanks for the feedback. and for HDMI i did'nt know that as well till i came here. Live and learn i guess.


    LF

    Hey, I just hooked up my new subwoofer for my living room system yesterday -- with a Monster Cable I bought back before I knew any better! :mad: That Worst Buy salesman was so damn convincing!!!:D And the living room system's speakers are wired with Monster XP I bought from Nobody Beats the Wiz! back in college. So it took me a while to learn my lesson -- thank goodness for some smart people on internet AV forums, or else I might still be throwing $200 at a Monster Cable instead of my sweet new (well, refurb, but new to me) RTi A3's.

    It would be funnier if it weren't true, but that 3 foot subwoofer cable is the most expensive cable in my entire HT system... it cost more than my DVD player... :(
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  • mdschlayer
    mdschlayer Posts: 209
    edited May 2009
    I noticed a big improvement when I switched from Monster Interlink 400 mk2 to Analysis Plus Sub Oval. The sound was cleaner, tighter, and had more impact. The Monster seemed to have a little more volume, but sounded blurred and incohesive.

    I also tried Tara Labs RSC sub, but the volume went way down, although the quality of the sound was very good. Overall, I prefered the Analysis Plus.
    LSi15's, LSiC, LSiF/x's, LSi7's, vr3 crossover upgrades, SVS PC-12 Plus, SVS SB-16 Ultra, Marantz AV8805, Parasound amps, LG OLED65C9PUA, Clarus Crimson, Signal Cable, Atlas Cable, Shunyata and Synergistic A/C conditioning, dedicated Cardas 30A and Furutech 20A AC lines, Box Furniture, Solid Tech ROS, Symposium roller blocks
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  • jabrax
    jabrax Posts: 315
    edited May 2009
    i noticed a difference in what it took for my sub to wake up out of sleep mode. Started with a rat shack sub cable, and needed to crank the volume up higher to get the sub engaged, and it would go into sleep mode very easily.

    Switched to a monster 400 sub thingy. Purchased for about 10 or 15 bucks on ebay. Much better at picking up the signal. Nice cable, but definatly NOT 75 or 100 nice
    TV...............Hitachi 42hdS52a plasma (sexy one with the swival)
    Pre/Processor - Emotiva MMC
    Seven Ch AMP - Emotiva LPA
    Fronts - Tyler Acoustics 7U's
    Center - Polk LSIC
    Sub - DSWPRO600
    DAC - Music Hall 25.3CD - Marantz cc4001
    Blue Ray - PS3
    Speaker cables - Audioquest cv4 dbs
    Interconnects - MIT AVT1's
    Power Filter....Monster HTS 3500 MKII
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2009
    jabrax wrote: »
    i noticed a difference in what it took for my sub to wake up out of sleep mode. Started with a rat shack sub cable, and needed to crank the volume up higher to get the sub engaged, and it would go into sleep mode very easily.

    I had the same issue with an Acoustic Research sub cable. Complete junk.
    "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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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited May 2009
    I had some hum with a cheepo sub cable (run parallel to several power cords), I replaced it with RG6 cable....problem solved
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited May 2009
    Try signal cable. Nice build quality, good 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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  • DanAckerman
    DanAckerman Posts: 70
    edited May 2009
    I have this Belkin

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001XGQTA/

    It was several dollars cheaper when I got it. I've had no real problem with my sub falling asleep or problems with the sound. The cable is solid and has nice connectors. Is it top of the line? No, but it works without a hitch.
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited May 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I had the same issue with an Acoustic Research sub cable. Complete junk.

    +1 Make your own cable before you buy one of those.
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited May 2009
    I noticed a large difference going from Monster to Signal. I really don't see any reason to go up from there.
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited May 2009
    daboys, can you elaborate on the differences discerned from Monster to Signal?

    I used Signal Cable speaker cables for my fronts, and then switched to basic 16gauge Monster speaker wire... honestly didn't hear a difference. Maybe not apples to apples here, but curious nonetheless.
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited May 2009
    dane_peterson wrote: »
    daboys, can you elaborate on the differences discerned from Monster to Signal?

    I used Signal Cable speaker cables for my fronts, and then switched to basic 16gauge Monster speaker wire... honestly didn't hear a difference. Maybe not apples to apples here, but curious nonetheless.

    The bass was muddy, no real definition. It kinda just thumped. When I put in the Signal it was clean and defined. It was a noticable improvment.
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited May 2009
    dane_peterson wrote: »
    daboys, can you elaborate on the differences discerned from Monster to Signal?

    I used Signal Cable speaker cables for my fronts, and then switched to basic 16gauge Monster speaker wire... honestly didn't hear a difference. Maybe not apples to apples here, but curious nonetheless.

    The bass was muddy, no real definition. It kinda just thumped. When I put in the Signal it was clean and defined. It was a noticable improvment.

    ^^^^ooooh,1,000th post for you:D^^^^^
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited May 2009
    ^^^^^oops for me^^^^^
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  • iskandam
    iskandam Posts: 704
    edited May 2009
    Those who said there's no need to upgrade from a generic RG6 cable for your subs, have you actually tried the more expensive alternatives or are you content because you simply don't want to spend more money?

    Not trying to stir the pot here. I started out with Monoprice for all my cabling needs (HDMI, SPDI/F, speaker cables, sub cable) and have upgraded to other brands with very good results (Signal, Audioquest, etc.). Their RG6 is the only thing that's left in my rig and I'm looking to upgrade too
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  • broncsrule21@
    broncsrule21@ Posts: 113
    edited June 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I had the same issue with an Acoustic Research sub cable. Complete junk.

    i had a similar experience. My sub didn't like to wake up using the Monster (400 I think). Switched to Signal Cable and it comes out of sleep better. I didn't notice a difference in SQ though.
    HT-- Denon avr-2808ci,Emotiva UPA-1s, RTi 10's, CSi A6, ERD-1 surrounds, Vizio P50, Yamaha yst-sw300, DVR hr21, 40g PS3, APC-h15

    Downstairs-- Denon avr-3300,Emotiva UPA-2, Toshiba 50" rear projection, Denon 2200 sacd, Emotiva ERM-1s, small Yamaha sub
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  • jemrey81
    jemrey81 Posts: 161
    edited June 2009
    I lucked out and when I bought my Boston sub, my brother was still working for MIT and had a bunch of cables available for me.... I don't know the cable model, but it did make a difference from the junk cable I had prior. Its disgusting how many MIT rca cables are laying around (old models).... I got bored and used some of them for one of my car setups! The wires my brother has in his setup are simply amazing! But anyways, I did notice a difference with a quality cable.
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  • strife1013
    strife1013 Posts: 61
    edited June 2009
    What are your thoughts on this cable?
    Monster Cable THX I100SW-16 THX Certified Subwoofer Cable
    http://www.jr.com/monster-cable/pe/MC_THXI100SW_hy_16/
    Bought it at J&R for $20
    Home Theater:
    Receiver- Yamaha RX-V867
    Front- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surround- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Back- Polk Audio Monitor 60
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer
    T.V.- 56" Samsung DLP 1080P
    Blu-Ray- 60 GB PS3 & Sony BDP S570
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  • strife1013
    strife1013 Posts: 61
    edited June 2009
    well, I guess I will see how it works out, If anything it was only 20 bucks and if it fails I wont buy from them again. =) My acoustic research cable has served me well so I have that as a backup =)
    Home Theater:
    Receiver- Yamaha RX-V867
    Front- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surround- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Back- Polk Audio Monitor 60
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer
    T.V.- 56" Samsung DLP 1080P
    Blu-Ray- 60 GB PS3 & Sony BDP S570
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