cheap, high quality interconnects?

Options
cokewithvanilla
cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
edited July 2008 in Electronics
I need 7 interconnect cables to connet my 7270 to its preamp. Someone around here had pointed me to some good quality cables for around $125 a few months ago, however I have lost the link.

Does anyone know of something in this price range?
Post edited by cokewithvanilla on
· Share on Facebook
«1

Comments

  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited June 2008
    Options
    contact frank at Signal cables. Tell him you're a member of club polk and get a slight discount.

    They're great cables for the dough, in my opinion. Bluejeanscables.com is good as well.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
    · Share on Facebook
  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited June 2008
    Options
    I looked at bluejeanscable, I could not find interconnects. I honestly am too stupid to know the dynamics of these cables, so I do not know if a regular audio cable would work (i mean I know they work, I mean properly). The ones that I was looking at were color coded in 7 different colors, which although is unnecessary for a 3 foot cable, its convenient.

    Is there any difference between an interconnect and an analog RCA cable?
    · Share on Facebook
  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited June 2008
    Options
    ahhh... im stupid. I found them on bluejeanscable. So which do you prefer? bluejeans or signal? I have used bluejeans for the rest of my setup, however, I only wired them in the wall, they have never been plugged in. bluejeans is $20 cheaper, and I can get them any length I want.
    · Share on Facebook
  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited June 2008
    Options
    No, there's not, especially not over a 3 foot run. 4 L-R RCA cables will get you there for a lot less than $125, but if you need to spend money on something the Blue Jeans ICs are sexy and relatively reasonable.

    /out before I'm flamed
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
    · Share on Facebook
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2008
    Options
    IMO, Signal uses better termination. Don't forget, Signal also has a 5% discount for Polkies.
    "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
    · Share on Facebook
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited June 2008
    Options
    I find the bass a little bloated and the highs less detailed and more grainy with Blue Jeans cable. (may be ok or even desireable for home theater, less so for 2 channel though)

    Signal cable has much better clarity in the highs but can almost seem thin in the midbass by comparison. (I find I prefer it over blue jeans cable for both home theater and 2 channel in my system though)

    The less reveling the rest of your system is, the less you will notice the differences. The more reveling, more everything stands out (both the good and the bad). Neither is the be all or end all of cables or good/bad in every system. I prefer the sound of signal and price of blue jeans... The choice is yours.

    Michael.

    BTW - the blue jeans cable I compared to signal was made with the 1505f cable. They did not have their new cable out at the time that I purchased them so they may now be different that what I have experienced. I have since moved on from signal cable to braided silver interconnects that seem to work a little better in my system.
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on Facebook
  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited June 2008
    Options
    I would either be getting bluejeans LC-1 for $100 or signals low end for 120, or high end for 185 i think... what do you all say? My setuip should be a DMC-1 preamp, B&K 7270 Series 2 and LSI25, C, anf FX.
    · Share on Facebook
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited June 2008
    Options
    Might be worth sending a note to ben62670 as well to see what his current price is for 7 interconnects. (those are the ones I am running now (he hand makes them) and they work great with the LSi's imo)

    Edit - just wanted to clarify - the Blue Jeans cables I used were the 1505f cables and the Signal cables I used were the less expensive ones.

    I have not compared the more expensive signals nor the newer LC-1 cables from Blue Jeans.
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on Facebook
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited June 2008
    Options
    I'm satisfied with my BJC's.

    You can't go wrong with either one. I went with BJC's because of the price. They are well built & you don't have to fight with them to get them on & off.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on Facebook
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2008
    Options
    Another vote for Signal Cable. Great service and product.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on Facebook
  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited June 2008
    Options
    Signal Cable Analog II's. great bang for your buck
    · Share on Facebook
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited June 2008
    Options
    Go with the signal.....personally,the words "quality" and "cheap" don't belong in the same post.
    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
    · Share on Facebook
  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited June 2008
    Options
    Coke, interconnecting cables are one of the audio items where there's essentially no correlation between price and quality, and there's no good reason to pay anywhere near the price that you've been quoted. Quality cables at a reasonable price are available from sources such as MonoPrice, in various lengths and combinations. For example, when I got an $1100 sub a little over a year ago, I bought one of these in a longer length for about $4. Seven of them would do the job for you and leave you with money to spend on something that matters.
    · Share on Facebook
  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2008
    Options
    Signal, unless you can scoot the budget up a little more. I did BJC first and regretted it later. The Analog II and Ultra Cables are absolutely excellent.

    If you have some extra money to spend, try Empirical Design Cables. The company shares the same philosophy as Signal Cable in terms of value and giving the customer what he or she wants, but turns the level of detail and clairty up more than a few notches.
    · Share on Facebook
  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited June 2008
    Options
    well, I see what you are saying about "cheap" and quality cannot be in the same sentence. However, cheap is a relative term. When you can spend $1500 on a single interconnect, I just have to mention cheap because I truly would never be able to justify 10,500 on 3 foot cables that connect my preamp to my amp. I would also never believe that there is a HUGE difference in $150 and $1500 cables. Maybe I should have said "the best bang for the buck" cables. and I am sure cheap quality exists, don't honestly tell me that it costs these guys anywhere near $1500 to make a 2 foot cable. At a certain point it’s all markup.

    So, basically if you draw a graph that shows quality and markup, I want to land myself right at the point where markup shoots up, while quality stops rapidly progressing.... is that a better way to put it? :)

    Thanks for the feedback on the cables. I looked at the higher end non silver cables from Signal, they are $55 more than bluejeans, and considering the bulk of you say Signal, signal it is. Kinda makes me feel bad about buying my other cables from bluejeans, and then running them all in the walls…

    Oh, and besides… a cable that is better quality than the equipment that you own will not improve the sound of your equipment, right? Can’t your whole system only be as strong as the weakest link?
    · Share on Facebook
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited July 2008
    Options
    you may want to pm ben62670,, can't hurt.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
    · Share on Facebook
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited July 2008
    Options
    Unless you are experiencing some problem with your BJC's there is no need to feel bad about buying them or to think they are inferior. If you are happy with the job they have done, there is NO reason not to get more of them.

    This is an area where you have to do what's best for you and not necessarily follow the crowd.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on Facebook
  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,811
    edited July 2008
    Options
    Just get four sets of Tartan cables, a division of Blue Jeans Cable.

    http://www.tartancable.com/stereo-cables/index.htm
    · Share on Facebook
  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited July 2008
    Options
    cokewithvanilla wrote: »

    Thanks for the feedback on the cables. I looked at the higher end non silver cables from Signal, they are $55 more than bluejeans, and considering the bulk of you say Signal, signal it is. Kinda makes me feel bad about buying my other cables from bluejeans, and then running them all in the walls…

    Oh, and besides… a cable that is better quality than the equipment that you own will not improve the sound of your equipment, right? Can’t your whole system only be as strong as the weakest link?


    I think you'll be very satisfied with the Signal Cables. For a Home Theater I won't use anything but Signal. I used to use BJC's, so I have experience with both. But when I got my first cable from signal I decided never to go back to BJC's. The quality and look and feel of the Signals was well worth the extra money to me. Don't get me wrong. BJC's are a decent budget cable and served me well for quite a long time. But IMO they just don't compare to the Signal Cables.



    Nick
    · Share on Facebook
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2008
    Options
    The blue jeans cables are great cables for the price. Like everything else in audio, you will be really happy with them until you hear something better.

    Enjoy your new cables.
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on Facebook
  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited July 2008
    Options
    cheap, high quality interconnects?

    are you sure talking about audio here ;)

    p.s. I thought cheap and high quality were oxymorons.
    · Share on Facebook
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,292
    edited July 2008
    Options
    I would also never believe that there is a HUGE difference in $150 and $1500 cables.

    You couldn't be more wrong.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on Facebook
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2008
    Options
    CWV - I assume that you are speaking from personal experience and not just your assumption.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on Facebook
  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2008
    Options
    F1nut wrote: »
    You couldn't be more wrong.

    well, I could be wrong, but if you could make a list of the real cost that goes into a 1500 dollar cable, I am sure that it would be about 80% profit, thats all I am saying... for ten times the price, you probably arent getting ten times the cable.. I can't even think of what could go into a cable that could make it cost that much... I am willing to bet that most of the breakdown would be considered "research and development" which is only as expensive as you make it.

    Ah, thats beside the point... I am certainly not going to purchase cables that cost as much as my gear. Since I am not even considering these options, no point in talking about them... at least not in this thread :)

    I guess what I am saying is my equipment isn't even as good as that cable, so at a certain point *I* wouldn't be gaining anything without upgrading my current system. I know nothing about amps/preamps, but if anyone understands this its almost as if you buy a videocard three times as fast as your processor (for your computer, i know I changed subjects) you would not gaining anything; you would be limited by your processor in most applications, and you would not see considerable gains until you first upgraded your processor. So, consider the video card the cables, and the processor my equipment. Thats the best way I can explain my situation, I want cable EQUAL to my equipment, and no more.

    However, at this point I think I am still sticking with Signal cable. If I notice my equipment sounds terrible, I will buy a $500 dollar cable and do a side by side test, if I don't notice a difference, I will return it.
    · Share on Facebook
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2008
    Options
    cokewithvanilla wrote: »
    However, at this point I think I am still sticking with Signal cable. If I notice my equipment sounds terrible, I will buy a $500 dollar cable and do a side by side test, if I don't notice a difference, I will return it.

    And thats how it is supposed to work. Try it yourself. If you hear a difference, great. If not - no harm, no foul.

    You do have to share your experience either way though.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on Facebook
  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited July 2008
    Options
    Just get the Signal A II's or Ben's silvers and forget about the rest.
    · Share on Facebook
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited July 2008
    Options
    daboyz wrote: »
    Just get the Signal A II's or Ben's silvers and forget about the rest.


    Good advice.

    Great bang for the buck.
    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
    · Share on Facebook
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,292
    edited July 2008
    Options
    for ten times the price, you probably arent getting ten times the cable.

    Yeah, I am.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on Facebook
  • grumlenz
    grumlenz Posts: 27
    edited July 2008
    Options
    On Signal Cable's website they have Analog II and Analog II Balanced. The Balanced ones cost more, what does that actually mean being "Balanced" or what is the benefit vs. the regular Analog II's. I have an Onkyo TX-SR805 and just ordered an Adcom GFA-5500 Amp, which interconnects would be best for that setup? Thanks!
    · Share on Facebook
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2008
    Options
    Balanced referes to the type of cable (and more importantly to you, the type of connector). Without getting into alot of design theory, the 805 does not have balanced connectors so I would stick with normal RCA's.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on Facebook