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CONFESSION - about cables and interconnects

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It seems my question went under the radar, so I am repeating it :)

Maybe someone can explain the following phenomenon. I have got a cassette deck, which I connected to my receiver with a cable having RCA connectors: line out into line in (NOT phone in or mic in). When I played several cassettes I could hear distortion, and I could hear it both on my own recordings as well as on pre-recorded tapes. I could hear it from big floor-standing speakers and from headphone output. I don't know what pushed me to try to replace the cable, because I don't believe in interconnect mumbo-jumbo. But I tried three or four cables, and one of them fixed the issue: there is no distortion anymore. Again, it is not like I am hearing better "stage" or "definition" or "clarity" or other golden-ears type stuff. I heard distortions which are usually caused when you record a tape too hot. And with the cable that works, these distortions are gone. This is not an expensive golden-plated fancy cable, quite the opposite, it looks as cheap as all my other cables, but it fixed my issue.
 
Late Boomer said:
It seems my question went under the radar, so I am repeating it :)

Maybe someone can explain the following phenomenon. I have got a cassette deck, which I connected to my receiver with a cable having RCA connectors: line out into line in (NOT phone in or mic in). When I played several cassettes I could hear distortion, and I could hear it both on my own recordings as well as on pre-recorded tapes. I could hear it from big floor-standing speakers and from headphone output. I don't know what pushed me to try to replace the cable, because I don't believe in interconnect mumbo-jumbo. But I tried three or four cables, and one of them fixed the issue: there is no distortion anymore. Again, it is not like I am hearing better "stage" or "definition" or "clarity" or other golden-ears type stuff. I heard distortions which are usually caused when you record a tape too hot. And with the cable that works, these distortions are gone. This is not an expensive golden-plated fancy cable, quite the opposite, it looks as cheap as all my other cables, but it fixed my issue.
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Nobody knows without having your cassette deck, receiver and cables on hand to check. One possible explanation is a dodgy connection somewhere or an intermittent connection which was made or broken when the interconnects were changed. I'm sure the explanation would be quite mundane and nothing to do with the type or brand of interconnect used.
 
Late Boomer said:
It seems my question went under the radar, so I am repeating it :)

Maybe someone can explain the following phenomenon. I have got a cassette deck, which I connected to my receiver with a cable having RCA connectors: line out into line in (NOT phone in or mic in). When I played several cassettes I could hear distortion, and I could hear it both on my own recordings as well as on pre-recorded tapes. I could hear it from big floor-standing speakers and from headphone output. I don't know what pushed me to try to replace the cable, because I don't believe in interconnect mumbo-jumbo. But I tried three or four cables, and one of them fixed the issue: there is no distortion anymore. Again, it is not like I am hearing better "stage" or "definition" or "clarity" or other golden-ears type stuff. I heard distortions which are usually caused when you record a tape too hot. And with the cable that works, these distortions are gone. This is not an expensive golden-plated fancy cable, quite the opposite, it looks as cheap as all my other cables, but it fixed my issue.
Click to expand...
With a little trouble shooting, you should be able to determine where the problem lies. It's possible, but not probable that all but one set of cables is defective. It's more likely there is an issue with the cassette deck, or receiver. As @rothwellaudio mentioned, a dodgy connection somewhere.

Try the cables with a different source (CDP, turntable, etc.), and different amp (if you have one).
 
Late Boomer said:
It seems my question went under the radar, so I am repeating it :)

Maybe someone can explain the following phenomenon. I have got a cassette deck, which I connected to my receiver with a cable having RCA connectors: line out into line in (NOT phone in or mic in). When I played several cassettes I could hear distortion, and I could hear it both on my own recordings as well as on pre-recorded tapes. I could hear it from big floor-standing speakers and from headphone output. I don't know what pushed me to try to replace the cable, because I don't believe in interconnect mumbo-jumbo. But I tried three or four cables, and one of them fixed the issue: there is no distortion anymore. Again, it is not like I am hearing better "stage" or "definition" or "clarity" or other golden-ears type stuff. I heard distortions which are usually caused when you record a tape too hot. And with the cable that works, these distortions are gone. This is not an expensive golden-plated fancy cable, quite the opposite, it looks as cheap as all my other cables, but it fixed my issue.
Click to expand...

Also, if you want your message to get the attention it deserves, you should create a new thread in General Audio.

Good luck!
 
Late Boomer said:
It seems my question went under the radar, so I am repeating it :)

Maybe someone can explain the following phenomenon. I have got a cassette deck, which I connected to my receiver with a cable having RCA connectors: line out into line in (NOT phone in or mic in). When I played several cassettes I could hear distortion, and I could hear it both on my own recordings as well as on pre-recorded tapes. I could hear it from big floor-standing speakers and from headphone output. I don't know what pushed me to try to replace the cable, because I don't believe in interconnect mumbo-jumbo. But I tried three or four cables, and one of them fixed the issue: there is no distortion anymore. Again, it is not like I am hearing better "stage" or "definition" or "clarity" or other golden-ears type stuff. I heard distortions which are usually caused when you record a tape too hot. And with the cable that works, these distortions are gone. This is not an expensive golden-plated fancy cable, quite the opposite, it looks as cheap as all my other cables, but it fixed my issue.
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience hooking up an amp to my AVR for 2 channel listening. I used a pair of RCA cables that i'd had for years. The sound was LOUSY, distorted and muddy sounding. I replaced it with cheap cables from Amazon, I can't recall which brand, but only it got marginally better. Used a pair of Amazon Basics interconnects and it sounded incredible. takeaways: the Amazon Basics interconnects are a decent value- they may not be audiophile grade, but they're better than what you can find at off the shelf at the average best buy. 2nd' that cheap cables are often fine, except when they're not and they're not fine more frequently than I'd prefer.
 
onwardjames said:
I got a notification with a post from @RickB which linked this page.

https://alpha-audio.net/background/the-mutual-influence-of-speakers-amplifiers-and-cables/

I've asked for data of this sort for some time now. First time I've gotten it, to the best of my knowledge. I think it confirms my thoughts, which is that if there is deviation of .5 db, then yes, this is audible. Is it worth the outlay?? Well, not for me. To each their own.
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Saying I skimmed over that article would be rather generous; this comment is in regard to the general theme rather than anything specific therein.

I don't think anyone who truly understands this stuff would ever say that cables can't make a difference. As an extreme example you can take an amp with high output impedance and couple it to a speaker with a wild impedance curve for some very audible difference in cables of different lumped-sum characteristics. To show that this exists, regardless of how it was executed in that article, is not revelatory.

What would be interesting is if an ordinary cable with the same lumped-sum characteristics of an exotic cable exhibited any difference in the relevant bandwidth.
 
JP said:
Saying I skimmed over that article would be rather generous; this comment is in regard to the general theme rather than anything specific therein.

I don't think anyone who truly understands this stuff would ever say that cables can't make a difference. As an extreme example you can take an amp with high output impedance and couple it to a speaker with a wild impedance curve for some very audible difference in cables of different lumped-sum characteristics. To show that this exists, regardless of how it was executed in that article, is not revelatory.

What would be interesting is if an ordinary cable with the same lumped-sum characteristics of an exotic cable exhibited any difference in the relevant bandwidth.
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I surely smell what you're steppin' in, JP.

For us laymen, it was nice to see graphs and such. Mostly, on this topic so prickly, all I've seen are opinions. With that said, I always figured they mattered at some point up the chain.

I know I shall not likely get to that point with my rather middle of the road gear.
 
onwardjames said:
I surely smell what you're steppin' in, JP.

For us laymen, it was nice to see graphs and such. Mostly, on this topic so prickly, all I've seen are opinions. With that said, I always figured they mattered at some point up the chain.

I know I shall not likely get to that point with my rather middle of the road gear.
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Can matter. With properly engineered interfaces and non-pathological cable, shouldn't matter. Can't do this topic with broad brushes. The signal doesn't know the cost of your kit :)
 
Glad I’ve found an already (or *still* lmao) open thread about this. I’ve read OP’s OP and have to somewhat agree - at least for ICs and maybe speaker cable too but I’m still undecided on that.

Like the OP, I’ve recently been gifted both a number of higher end ICs, and also a really nice set of speaker cables. As they were gifts from the manufacturers, I will publicly withhold the brand names here in the forum as to not sound like I’m schilling their products. But i will say this: the ICs blew me away with the sound quality difference. I’ve experienced this before with ICs and I even wrote about it a few years ago here. (TLDR: I had replaced cheap RadioShack RCAs with a set of heftier but still budget RCAs I had ordered from Amazon and was surprised with the noticeable increase in sound quality.) And in this case, it’s pretty much the same thing. Only this time I’d argue it was a significant leap in both cable quality and sound quality. And once again, it was actually unexpected. I mean I knew the cables I was being sent were much nicer, but I just jumped on them because they were free. I hadn’t even anticipated better sound - and until I hooked them up I’d even forgotten about that thread I posted a few years ago. These new cables replaced that same 15ft run of RCA replacements from the other thread, between my Teac CD-P650 and the Sony GX9ES. The audio improvement was instant and unmistakable - stereo separation and detail, detail, detail. I spent the afternoon listening to all sorts of my faves and just giggling at the difference.

To verify my ears, since I still hadn’t pulled up the older set of RCAs I reconnected those and yeah, they didn’t sound terrible or anything, but nowhere near as vibrant or spacious. Even split the channels R-new L-old (and reverse) and could hear the detail through the newer cable each time.

My uneducated guess on why might be related to the length of the run. I’m guessing on a short run I’d likely not notice much difference if at all really - at a meter or less it probably wouldn’t matter too much, but since I’m running 15ft/5m the quality of the cable becomes quite pronounced (that may be a reason you all mentioned in that other thread - I’d have to reread through it and see). Pretty much the same as before. So yeah, again count me in on nicer ICs = better sound.

Now this set of speaker cables I researched here on AK and found a few of you mention you use that brand of wire. Upon hooking it up in place of the lamp cord I was running, I can’t say I had the audio epiphany of the aforementioned ICs, but it’s nice to know I’m now running what a number of you consider worthy of your own systems.

That’s it, other than the IC company also sent me their 8K HDMI cable which that too was a jaw dropping replacement to my Amazon Basics but that’s a topic for the HT thread. ;)

Cheers, glad to reconnect with you folks… it’s been a while.
 
qdrone said:
I look at interconnects,power cables and speaker cable as tone controls. Find the right ones for your system and reap the benefits. Find the wrong ones and be miserable. Yes it can get costly but I have kind of figured out the difference between Copper configurations vs. Silver configurations,Copper for warmth,silver for frequency extention and air.
If your system is overly warm.go with Silver,overly bright go with Copper. This rule has served me well, it at least gets me close headed in the right direction. I wish I could say I only use this brand or that brand BUT I use whatever brand yields the bust result in my system and ears for that piece of equipment.
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While generally true, there's much more to it than just frequency balance. I was skeptical of speaker cable differences until a friend lent me a lower-end set of Morrows worth around $100 used. The difference was not at all subtle. Imaging and clarity improvement was stunning. I attribute it mainly to the individually insulated strands. Regular stranded wire is going to have multiple paths with oxidized connections between the strands adding phase distortions.
 
congrats on (possibly) the longest running cable thread ever. i was gifted some noble soundlab rca cables by Mr. @pumpkinman. A big upgrade to the DVD cables. The cables connect my Topping DAC to the amp. i noticed a blacker background from the very first moment.
 
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This may be a random question to throw into this conversation string, but I'll give it a try. I have my stereo equipment located next to one speaker and the other is on the opposite side of the room. I kept the speaker wires at an equal length ~ 25 ft., based on what I've read elsewhere in AK. So my question is, what is the best way to arrange the excessive length of speaker wire going to the speaker next to the stereo equipment? Coil it, or just a random toss? I know the obvious answer is to move the speaker to a proper location, but it would not work for the room, furniture arrangement and with all due respect to the WAF.
 
Shouldn’t be any issue with coiling at audio frequencies. The typical argument is that you’re creating an inductor, but the minuscule added inductance from a loose coil isn’t really a concern and it’s going to cancel anyway with two conductors with AC signal.

Regardless, isn’t going to hurt a thing to try it.
 
hh66 said:
While generally true, there's much more to it than just frequency balance. I was skeptical of speaker cable differences until a friend lent me a lower-end set of Morrows worth around $100 used. The difference was not at all subtle. Imaging and clarity improvement was stunning. I attribute it mainly to the individually insulated strands. Regular stranded wire is going to have multiple paths with oxidized connections between the strands adding phase distortions.
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Interesting, what are your speakers and amp and what type of cables did you replace with the Morrows?

I had a different experience with Morrow speaker cables. A couple of friends and myself auditioned a pair of Morrow sp4 speaker cables which are in the middle of their speaker cable product line (they call this the sweet spot of their speaker cable line). We tried them in 4 different systems. None of us could detect any difference between the Morrow cables and 12 AWG stranded OFC cables in any of the systems.

The 4 systems consisted of:
KEF Reference Model One, KEF 104/2, KEF Calinda and Wharfedale Evo 4.3 speakers.
McCormack DNA125, Belles 150A Reference, Acurus A200 and Peachtree Nova 300 amps
 
hh66 said:
While generally true, there's much more to it than just frequency balance. I was skeptical of speaker cable differences until a friend lent me a lower-end set of Morrows worth around $100 used. The difference was not at all subtle. Imaging and clarity improvement was stunning. I attribute it mainly to the individually insulated strands. Regular stranded wire is going to have multiple paths with oxidized connections between the strands adding phase distortions.
Click to expand...
Morrow claims those phase distortions are too small to be measured by existing lab equipment ( how convenient). That makes me wonder…
How does Morrow know that is what is going on if they can’t confirm it?
What about all of the other boutique cable manufacturers that use stranded wire?
How is it that lab equipment can’t measure something, but lots of speakers can easily reproduce it?
Why is it that nobody seems to be able to pick out those “not at all subtle” differences in blind tests?
Cable manufacturers make some pretty outlandish claims that none seem to be able to show evidence of, but they still somehow master those same secrets.
 
Lou G said:
Interesting, what are your speakers and amp and what type of cables did you replace with the Morrows?

I had a different experience with Morrow speaker cables. A couple of friends and myself auditioned a pair of Morrow sp4 speaker cables which are in the middle of their speaker cable product line (they call this the sweet spot of their speaker cable line). We tried them in 4 different systems. None of us could detect any difference between the Morrow cables and 12 AWG stranded OFC cables in any of the systems.

The 4 systems consisted of:
KEF Reference Model One, KEF 104/2, KEF Calinda and Wharfedale Evo 4.3 speakers.
McCormack DNA125, Belles 150A Reference, Acurus A200 and Peachtree Nova 300 amps
Click to expand...

FWIW, when I first made the change from a set of Zu Audio Mission speaker cables to a pair of fairly high-end Synergistic Research biwire cables, I did notice a difference but but didn’t feel that the improvement justified the expenditure I had made. It wasn’t until I picked up a set of the corresponding ICs from the same guy that I found out what the new cables really sounded like.

Your experiment was done with some pretty good components and I have zero interest in getting mired in yet another cable debate, but you don’t mention the ICs used. Had you installed some pretty good ICs first and then performed your test, the results may well have been different. You can put the best speaker cables on the planet in there, but they’re still the last link. All they can do is show you what the rest of the system upstream sounds like, be it excellent or not so much.
 
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