Thoughts on using Integrated amps as Preamps?

imsjry
imsjry Posts: 120
edited January 2019 in 2 Channel Audio
So...I recently picked up a B&K 3030 power amp to drive my new Polk LSiM705's. I've always used a great old Kenwood KA-8004 to drive my other Polk speakers (RTi12's), but i wanted to get in on the power amp world.

The Kenwood KA-8004 has a preout as well as the old Pioneer SA-9100 I own.

What are the thoughts on using Intigrateds as your Pre's? These amps are both wonderful on their own, but I assume that does not necessarily mean they make for good Preamps.

Any thoughts and experience are most welcome! Thanks.
Post edited by [Deleted User] on
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Comments

  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    edited January 2019
    Yes you can, but not sure why one would want to, unless your trying to avoid purchasing a pre because of spending money.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    It'll vary from amplifier to amplifier, but the preamp sections in the vintage Japanese massmarket integrated amplifiers were generally nothing special.

    Certainly worth a try, given that you have it already.

    Has the KA-8004 been rehabbed or is it original? If the latter, it will, at the least, be chockablock with tired electrolytic capacitors (which will almost certainly have sonic consequences).
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    Yes you can, but not sure why one would want to, unless your trying to avoid purchasing a pre because of spending money.

    It’s more just because I already own them and they have the capability and they seem to be great intigrateds in their own right.

  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    I'm sure they are since you already own them you might as well try it. I wouldn't start a new system that way though.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    I'm sure they are since you already own them you might as well try it. I wouldn't start a new system that way though.

    So I guess I’m looking for reasons why a decent intigrated wouldn’t make a good Pre. And what makes a “good” vs “bad” preamp? I’m new to all of this.

    If the sound is powerful and clean when using it as an intigrated, what would it make it not so as the Preamp to my B&K?

  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    Integrated serviceable as a pre yes, as good as a standalone pre no, hope that helps.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    The preamps in most integrated amplifiers of that era almost always have compromises in design and components used -- compromises driven by economics and practical considerations (space!).

    Some of the integrated amplfiers had notoriously mediocre preamps -- harman/kardon's A-402, and the earlier, vacuum tube Dynaco SCA-35 are well known examples.
  • delkal
    delkal Posts: 764
    Assuming the B&K amp is better than the internal amp of your Kenwood integrated................

    Using your "decent" integrated as a pre can only sound better. You can do a lot better with separates but stand alone preamps can get expensive and you will have to decide if it is worth it to you.

    Until then crank your new system up and enjoy.
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    Sometimes it is good, sometimes not. I like the way my Denon DRA-835R sounds through its built in amp. However, I tried using the pre-outs going into my Parasound HCA-1000A and it didn't sound so good. I guess they are just a bad match.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    A little outside the lines of this but I had the Marantz AVR acting as a pre for my two from channels running Linn amps. When I stuck the PS Audio Stellar Gain pre in the middle of it (to isolate the 2ch source material) things basically woke up. We don’t know what we don’t know and until I did that, I thought my system sounded great. Trial and error (and a little bit of coin sometimes) all participate.
  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    I used a more modern 2-channel receiver HK 3490. Used the preout to a Parasound and loved it.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    joecoulson wrote: »
    A little outside the lines of this but I had the Marantz AVR acting as a pre for my two from channels running Linn amps. When I stuck the PS Audio Stellar Gain pre in the middle of it (to isolate the 2ch source material) things basically woke up. We don’t know what we don’t know and until I did that, I thought my system sounded great. Trial and error (and a little bit of coin sometimes) all participate.

    Ya do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around....that's what it's all about.

    Got that right Joe.
    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
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    edited January 2019
    So any recommendations for standalone Preamps? I see some people using new ones that cost $100 and some using ones over $1000 so it’s very confusing. Can a Pre vary THAT much in sound since it’s really just supposed be a non-colored signal pass through to the power amp, right?
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    You get what you pay for.
    Ask yourself the same question in regards to speakers. $100 vs $1000 vs $10000 etc.
    Definitely some good options for you in the $500-$1000 range. And even more so used.
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    edited January 2019
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The preamps in most integrated amplifiers of that era almost always have compromises in design and components used -- compromises driven by economics and practical considerations (space!).

    Some of the integrated amplfiers had notoriously mediocre preamps -- harman/kardon's A-402, and the earlier, vacuum tube Dynaco SCA-35 are well known examples.

    I used an integrated for the longest time as a preamp. When I finally switched to a dedicated pre, the world came alive! If you have the room, separates are the way to go. And that way you can switch em out, upgrade, as you move along your journey. Just my experience.
    Post edited by verb on
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    edited January 2019
    I mean, you can get one for $31.

    http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fx-audio-6j1-tube-preamp-a-31-wonder.848535/

    3i2mj3yuadgs.png


    Not sayin' you should (i.e., I wouldn't -- and I am nothing if not cheap), but you can...

    ;)
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I mean, you can get one for $31.

    http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fx-audio-6j1-tube-preamp-a-31-wonder.848535/

    3i2mj3yuadgs.png


    Not sayin' you should (i.e., I wouldn't -- and I am nothing if not cheap), but you can...

    ;)

    See that’s a case in point. Some people are driving their high end systems with $75 little preamps so back to my original question, why would something like that possibly be better then the preout on my nice old integrated? I mean hell for $75, it would be worth the experiment I suppose. Then there are $2000 preamps so it’s all confusing to me.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    imsjry wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I mean, you can get one for $31.

    http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fx-audio-6j1-tube-preamp-a-31-wonder.848535/

    3i2mj3yuadgs.png


    Not sayin' you should (i.e., I wouldn't -- and I am nothing if not cheap), but you can...

    ;)

    See that’s a case in point. Some people are driving their high end systems with $75 little preamps so back to my original question, why would something like that possibly be better then the preout on my nice old integrated? I mean hell for $75, it would be worth the experiment I suppose. Then there are $2000 preamps so it’s all confusing to me.

    Why would it be confusing ? Pre amps, like any other piece in your system vary in sound quality, and price. You could pay north of 15k for certain pre amps....or 75 bucks, but you certainly aren't going to get the same sound quality.
    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
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    imsjry wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I mean, you can get one for $31.

    http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fx-audio-6j1-tube-preamp-a-31-wonder.848535/

    3i2mj3yuadgs.png


    Not sayin' you should (i.e., I wouldn't -- and I am nothing if not cheap), but you can...

    ;)

    See that’s a case in point. Some people are driving their high end systems with $75 little preamps so back to my original question, why would something like that possibly be better then the preout on my nice old integrated? I mean hell for $75, it would be worth the experiment I suppose. Then there are $2000 preamps so it’s all confusing to me.
    [emphasis added]

    Some people collect AMC Gremlins.

    I am pretty much guarantee that one gets what one pays for -- the folks that run these $31 Asian wonders have probably not compared them to anything that wasn't mediocre.


    Preamps are important. I don't use an active preamp, because I've yet to find one that I really like -- that doesn't take me a notch away from the performance. Some of that is financial (i.e., I am not keen to spend big $ on an active preamp); some of it opportunistic (what I own and what I've had a chance to audition with my own equipment). I am NOT SAYING that there aren't good preamps, vintage or new; storebought or DIY -- I AM SAYING that they aren't necessary easy to find, especially on a (tight) budget).

    Here's the thing: The preamp in your old Kenwood is probably perfectly OK. Dollar for dollar, then or now, it wouldn't match a dedicated preamp -- because those dollars were invested in the power amp, too! In other words, if the MSRP on that KA8004 (probably ca. 1974? I'm guessing here) was $350, probably $100 to150 of that value was in the preamp section. Even in 1974, $150 bought one an entry-level preamp.

    As I mentioned earlier, though, the bigger problem with the KA8004, unless you have rehabb'ed or had it rehabb'ed, is that the passive components in it are
    tired. Especially the electrolytic capacitors. The amp will not sound as new nor as good as it can with forty-plus year old electrolytics in it.

    Until or unless that's been addressed, the preamp may sound perfectly OK, but it will not be performing at its own potential.

    Add that to the fact that its own potential was probably middling when new, and you're not likely to be getting great sound out of the KA8004.

    ALL THAT SAID, it costs you nothing to try, and it is more than worthy of trial. If you like what you hear, you're all set.

    HTH, as they say!
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    Re: Kenwood KA-8004.
    Stereo Review's redoubtable :) Julian Hirsch tested it in November, 1973.
    You can read the review in this PDF from www.americanradiohistory.com (an amazing site, if you're not familiar with it!).
    https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-HiFI-Stereo/70s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1973-11.pdf

    the review starts on pg. 38 of the magazine :)

    90ga9s2aya18.png
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    You will need decent cables to connect the pre to the amp.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    BlueFox wrote: »
    You will need decent cables to connect the pre to the amp.

    Oh boy. This audiophile hobby is expensive! Recommendations on cables? Thanks everyone already.
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    Shunyata cables are available at various price points. From entry to TOTL they are worth it. The Cable Company has good prices.

    https://www.thecableco.com/
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Re: Kenwood KA-8004.
    Stereo Review's redoubtable :) Julian Hirsch tested it in November, 1973.
    You can read the review in this PDF from www.americanradiohistory.com (an amazing site, if you're not familiar with it!).
    https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-HiFI-Stereo/70s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1973-11.pdf

    the review starts on pg. 38 of the magazine :)

    90ga9s2aya18.png

    How cool was that??!! Thanks for posting. Amazing to read an original review my amp from when I was four years old.
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 434
    edited January 2019
    Not to thread-jack, but I am using the pre-outs from my Kenwood KA-8150 y'd out to my GFA555->SRS2’s and feeding the power amp section of the 8150 so I can use it to drive my KG4’s or RTA12c's (mood dependent I turn off 555/SDA's and turn on either A or B outputs on 8150). I have been very pleased with this configuration vs using my Marantz AVR pre-outs with L/R bypass enabled for 2ch listening. How detrimental to the signal is y'ing the output like that?
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    JayMX wrote: »
    Not to thread-jack, but I am using the pre-outs from my Kenwood KA-8150 y'd out to my GFA555->SRS2’s and feeding the power amp section of the 8150 so I can use it to drive my KG4’s or RTA12c's (mood dependent I turn off 555/SDA's and turn on either A or B outputs on 8150). I have been very pleased with this configuration vs using my Marantz AVR pre-outs with L/R bypass enabled for 2ch listening. How detrimental to the signal is y'ing the output like that?

    If you like what your hearing....does it matter ?
    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
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    edited January 2019
    "Y-ing out" (I like that nomenclature!) is, as we say in my line of work, GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) :)

    Using a "Y" cable to mix signals is not (as we also say in my line of work) a best practice. :|

    Here's the Scripture (IMO) on "Y-ing" :)

    https://www.rane.com/note109.html

    It's a little abstruse, since it is primarily directed at the "pro" industry, using balanced interconnects -- but it's good info. Rane has a whole library of similar white papers on such deceptively-simple-but-not-really considerations as grounding.
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 434
    edited January 2019
    @mhardy6647 - yes combining or mixing two line level signals using a y cable is never a good idea lol. I don’t ever run the amp in the 8150 and the 555 concurrently, so I figured I was safe. It works well and gives me options! 👍🏻
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Shunyata cables are available at various price points. From entry to TOTL they are worth it. The Cable Company has good prices.

    https://www.thecableco.com/

    $350 for the least expensive pair. That's more then my B&K 3030 power amp cost me. I'm all in on this audiophile game, but boutique expensive RCA cables? Can they possibly make that much of an audible difference that warrant the prices I'm seeing? I'm kinda stunned. Maybe I'll start with some Blue Jeans which seem to be a reasonable choice over the $3.00 Monoprice ones I've always used.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,557
    imsjry wrote: »
    $350 for the least expensive pair. That's more then my B&K 3030 power amp cost me. I'm all in on this audiophile game, but boutique expensive RCA cables? Can they possibly make that much of an audible difference that warrant the prices I'm seeing? I'm kinda stunned. Maybe I'll start with some Blue Jeans which seem to be a reasonable choice over the $3.00 Monoprice ones I've always used.

    Blue Jeans or Signal Cable always a great starting point at which you should hear a difference vs. Monoprice.