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Best RCA interconnects around $50

grafxdesin

grafxdesin

Super Member
I am looking for some suggestions on interconnects for my system, it's about time I upgarde the monster cables I got a best buy. I am setting my price range around $50 because I don't need the top of the line stuff but I want something that will make a difference. Right now for $50 bucks music direct has Audioquest Sidewinders (4.5m) for $50, is there something that is better in this price range? I also like the Kimber Tonik but they are $80 for 1m. You guys have never lead me astray yet.
Cheers
 
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Back when I used RCA cables, these were what I liked best:

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/

The ground connection on RCAs is one of the weak spots of the design; the Blue Jeans version has multiple spring fingers in each connector to maintain a good connection.
 
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I have seen a lot of suggestions on here and other places for Blue Jean Cables, can someone tell me why? What makes them so much better and keep the price down?
 
They're not really "better", they're pretty much equal to a lot of the high-priced stuff without all the BS attached.

They use Belden and Canare cable (mostly), and the Taversoe connector, which is a superior design.

Other good brands are Audioquest, Kimber, and Cardas but you're paying for the "name" as much as the cable.
 
1tumbleweed said:
They're not really "better", they're pretty much equal to a lot of the high-priced stuff without all the BS attached.

They use Belden and Canare cable (mostly), and the Taversoe connector, which is a superior design.

Other good brands are Audioquest, Kimber, and Cardas but you're paying for the "name" as much as the cable.
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Yep. They're simply a well-constructed cable with low capacity, good shield coverage and good connectors. Nothing boutique about them, but the electrons in my house are very down to Earth.
 
BJC is just a no-nonsence site that offers a variety of cables and info regarding what cables might be better for a particular application. You can choose from different methods of "termination" on the speaker cables -- not too expensive and the type and quality of the materials is known fwiw. Always good service. But, yes, there are other brands, I think AK has Zebra Cables sponsored or at least did. Avanti comes to mind, Monoprice, Morrow are but a few. Seems the consideration that has been hashed out here at AK (and a worthy point) is the type of RCA connectors themselves. "Death grip" (bad) vs ones that provide a firm secure grip but don't rip out your female terminals on the source unit.
 
I bought these from 8Audio. they cost $50 including shipping. Considering that they have locking RCA connectors which when screwed down have a death grip and no grip at all when unscrewed, Silver plated wires and immaculate construction they are IMO a great bang for the buck option.

Locking RCA connectors cost $20 a pair at Parts Express. When you factor the cost of four, the cable cost (for Silver plated wire) and labor they are an outright steal.

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woodj said:
I'm just curious; how many people clean the interface plugs before spending $ on cables?
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I cleaned mine all at once after a multi-cable upgrade - all chassis connectors and all IC ends (old and new). I do think it made a difference, if no more than reducing/eliminating any scratchiness, there was a better connection for the new cables.

I also recommend BJC. I have the Morrow (meh - ask me some time) and the AQ Sidewinders (two sets). I'm not in love with the Sidewinders. The price is right but I really think the BJC has a lower noise floor due to what I am certain (with no facts to back it up) is a better shield. And the BJC connectors are excellent, too. And yes, their website (and philosophy overall) seems to be no-nonsense oriented.

I also have the AQ Diamondback (a pretty expensive cable, actually) and it too is not as quiet as the BJC, though it's possibly more transparent - might be why I still have it in. (Apparently, I forgot.)
 
I like BJC for their reasonable price and marketing honesty.

I have some "Gumby" cables ( Zu Oxyfuels ). Bend them in any direction and they keep their shape. Very handy if you have top mounted RCAs.
 
Thanks guys for all your help, i went with the BJC because of their honesty and no BS info on the website. The quality product also helped, I got the RCA's and the speaker cable as well. Can't wait to try these out.
 
Hello,

I have pretty much ran the gamut of used cables ... I think I stopped about $150 ea (used). I really liked Signal cable brand but over the long haul the braided covers came loose on a number of them, including the Silver Reference sets which I paid a fair amount for. I have had the same problem with the cheaper AQ cables. I'm not a big fan of the Nordost ribbon style cables as they get beat up in my house.

I did like the Bluejean cables and the Emotiva cables both seem to last pretty well. I have tried the Monoprice cables and I don't like the cheaper construction or the RCA connectors. I personally am not a big fan of the locking RCA cables although the above mentioned cables look like they are worth investigation. I really like the old, old, old school Monster cables but you cant hardly find them anymore. I try to avoid the braided nylon jacketed style as the only purpose it serves is to come loose and look like crap. I settled with the lower end Cardas and a mixture of everything else. I am considering stepping into the higher priced market as I might have a source of used Jena Labs cables. they will cost a pretty penny but once I get my system setup and pretty much locked in (I am real close) I will replace the turntable IC cable, preamp to amp cables and the phono pre cable. It would be a nice touch to have them all match and I liked the way the Jena labs look and sound.

Is it worth the expense sonically? Probably not on my system, it 90% esoteric. I wont consider the system done until I have a Timbernation rack and the cables swapped out. Am I nuts? Well probably but this system has taken 15 years to put together and a lot of trying testing and playing. I am ready to get into the fine details now.

My advise is to stay where you're at; $50 gets you a solidly built used cable and try to avoid a lot of swapping around as I did. The sonic differences didn't make up for the expense. I will probably unload the vast majority of the "collection" once I get the Jena Labs deal worked out. I wont come close to getting my money back and that could have been used to purchase more music. I look at it as an education ... just an expensive class that has lasted 15 years, and NO I dont want to see my grade!
 
I have BJC interconnects here The quality is fantastic. What you are getting from BJC are studio grade cables, built to last. The Taversoe RCA plug is custom made for BJC, and is a copy of the Canare RCA plug but sized for the BJC LC-1 Stereo Audio Cable this cable is custom made for BJC by Belden. One thing to think about is recording studios use Belden cables, they have been an industry standard for 60 plus years. All of the Beatles' recordings at the Abbey Road Studio where all done using Belden cables. With a track record like this using Belden cables is a no brainer for me.

If you want to try out Canare cables BJC has them, here is the list:
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/shopbycable/index.htm

Here is a nice paper on why BJC have such a reasonable price
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/do-you-get-what-you-pay-for.htm.

There is one thing I would suggest however. If you are connecting to an older Sound Blaster or ASUS Xonar sound card get a lighter more flexible cable then the LC-1 cable. The reason for this is the cheap plastic 3.5mm jacks on these sound cards have a hard time handling the weight and stiffness of the LC-1 cable and 3.5mm plugs without cracking, check out what you have if the 3.5mm jacks are metal you are OK if not get one of the lighter and more flexible interconnects. I had this happen to two older Sound Blaster cards. They would be easy to repair but I see no point in it, as far as I am concerned if you don't have a modern music system with DLNA capability then a DAC is better then most any internal sound card available.
 
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