Interconnects to amp and CD...what are you using?

[PHC1]

I met Ray Kimber in 1981 when he was just getting Kimber Kable going. I worked in a high-end stereo store in Beaverton, Oregon, and Ray came to demonstrate his new speaker cable (now known as 4TC). One of his claims was his cable was almost immune to EMI and RFI. He stated that a given length of typical 14 ga. standard speaker cable acted as an antenna, absorbing electrical energy from the air. He said this added coloration to the sound by feeding back into the amplifier, as well as into the speaker crossover circuits.

To demonstrate his cable's resistence to the "antenna effect", he used an oscilliscope. He connected a six foot length of 14 ga. speaker cable to the scope. The zero gain reference straight line on the scope shot up to over an inch above and below the reference line with electrical energy. Next, he connected a six foot length of the Kimber 4TC cable to the scope. The reference line began to show only about one eighth of an inch of electrical energy above and below the reference zero gain point. Impressive. Ray explained that the manner in which the eight seperate, individually insulated conductors were woven back and forth over each other, similar to a chinese finger puzzle, created a constant crossing of the conductors, which nulled the cables sensitivity to electrical energy in the air.

We also listened to the Kimber Kable in an A/B test with the 14 ga. standard speaker cable. I didn't think I would, but I could hear a difference. The bottom end seemed tighter, and the top end cleaner, more crisp.

I bought 20 feet from Ray before he left. It was $1.00 a foot at the time, and I thought damned expensive for speaker cable, but I was a believer. I've been using Kimber speaker cables ever since. I have two systems wired with Kimber 8TC right now (hate to say what I paid for that). One system has the cables in equal length of 35 feet each, both going into the attic space, across AC lines up there, and down again inside the walls to where they come out and connect to the speakers. They pick up zero noise. They are dead silent. They sound wonderful.

I know that's not an interconnect story, but it still deals with the subject of wire and its impact on sound. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks for sharing that story. :thmbsp: Expanding on that topic, I am also a big believer, well, my ears are, that shielded power cords will also block much of EMI and RFI that they themselves emit and pollute the nearby ICs and speaker cables. :yes: If someone doesn't believe it, just think how an electric motor works or the other way around, a generator. Current flowing through wire will create EMI, EMI will induce current into other nearby wires, period. However small that effect is, think of how small the signal is on the ICs from CDP and preamp. :yes:

 

[jdandy]

Until reading everyones responses to this thread, I had not considered the possible benifits of using a shielded power connector. I think I'll experiment with a tick tracer on an unshileded power cable, and then a shielded power cable. It will be interesting to see if the tick tracer can pick up the inductance from the hot lead of a power cable through the shield. This may turn me into a believer on power cords after all. We shall see.

 

[basite]

I'm using Siltech MXT New york IC's for the cd player, and MIT Avt 2 IC's for the TT (from tt to phonopre, and another pair from the phonostage to the amp.)

it took me a while to make up my mind for the Siltechs, I compared like 6 or 7 other cables, which each had their own strengths and weaknesses. In my setup, I was least impressed with the Kimber Hero's (during the comparison...), all the cables had a noticeable different sound, but the siltech's were the biggest improvement for my setup.

wide, open sound,with lot's of details, and not too up front. The soundstage extends deep between the speakers, and make the speakers dissapear...
The sound is slightly colored though (I can imagine that with a tubed Mcintosh setup, and warmer sounding speakers, they could end up making your system sound slightly too dark...)

All of the cables I tested where a noticeable (and big) improvement from the Kimber PBJ's I was using before the siltechs...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

 

[forzaroma]

Thanks Alberto for your invaluable insight......but.... if your next vid-review of your MDA 1000 is any indication of my future purchases.......I'll be selling my car soon....:tears:

na....keep up the great vids.....I'm sure everyone here enjoys them...:thmbsp:

'Cisco, I will try to remember to put a warning at the beginning of the VeeView - like the movies: "This video may contain material that will cause violent upgraditis, marital discord, and financial distress. Watch at your own risk."

Alberto

PS If you are in 'Cisco, you may want to take a trip down to "Silly" Valley and listen in person one of these days.

 

['cisco]

'Cisco, I will try to remember to put a warning at the beginning of the VeeView - like the movies: "This video may contain material that will cause violent upgraditis, marital discord, and financial distress. Watch at your own risk."

Alberto

PS If you are in 'Cisco, you may want to take a trip down to "Silly" Valley and listen in person one of these days.

That pre-warning is an excellent idea....:yes: too bad it wasn't on the 1st video :sigh:

Thanks for the offer.....I miss my city by the bay :sigh:....because of a pretty good job here and a homeowners tax write-off....i'm stuck here :sigh:

I like to return the offer....come on by for the Mac event on the 21 st and enjoy paradise :thmbsp:

 

[Victor]

I found Guerrilla audio to be one of the best audio bargains out there, they do sound great for the money and more than hold their own against others at multiples of the price, (yes I have done extensive A/B comparisons) but how can I recommend a brand any longer when so many have had problems with the turnaround time of their orders? Looks like he is out of business now. :tears: Wish I would have bought more of their products when I had a chance. As it stands I use Guerrilla XLRs and all my gear is powered by their power cords. I am still impressed.

I agree 100%. I also had great results with Guerrilla XLR interconnects.

Now for the sad news. I was doing a system setup for a customer. He needed some cheep XLR cables, so I sold him all my Guerrilla XLR cables. I figured I would just buy some more and now it looks like Guerrilla is gone. I missed the boat again. :tears:

 

[jdandy]

I agree 100%. I also had great results with Guerrilla XLR interconnects.

Now for the sad news. I was doing a system setup for a customer. He needed some cheep XLR cables, so I sold him all my Guerrilla XLR cables. I figured I would just buy some more and now it looks like Guerrilla is gone. I missed the boat again. :tears:

The other golden rule.........Never give your gold away!

 

[Victor]

The other golden rule.........Never give your gold away!

It's not that big of a loss. The guy called me back a week later, he repeatedly thanked me and said his system never sounded so good. It was worth it to give a little "gold" away to make someone happy.

 

[Hawkeye]

Since you asked what we're using, here goes:

Mapleshade Double Golden Helix SPeaker wire.

Mapleshade Excalibur Analog Ribbon (RCA) between CDP/Pre/Amps

Not a high dollar piece but quite revealing and work well with the ML's.

Gordon

 

[f1 fan]

I met Ray Kimber in 1981 when he was just getting Kimber Kable going. I worked in a high-end stereo store in Beaverton, Oregon, and Ray came to demonstrate his new speaker cable (now known as 4TC). One of his claims was his cable was almost immune to EMI and RFI. He stated that a given length of typical 14 ga. standard speaker cable acted as an antenna, absorbing electrical energy from the air. He said this added coloration to the sound by feeding back into the amplifier, as well as into the speaker crossover circuits.

To demonstrate his cable's resistence to the "antenna effect", he used an oscilliscope. He connected a six foot length of 14 ga. speaker cable to the scope. The zero gain reference straight line on the scope shot up to over an inch above and below the reference line with electrical energy. Next, he connected a six foot length of the Kimber 4TC cable to the scope. The reference line began to show only about one eighth of an inch of electrical energy above and below the reference zero gain point. Impressive. Ray explained that the manner in which the eight seperate, individually insulated conductors were woven back and forth over each other, similar to a chinese finger puzzle, created a constant crossing of the conductors, which nulled the cables sensitivity to electrical energy in the air.

We also listened to the Kimber Kable in an A/B test with the 14 ga. standard speaker cable. I didn't think I would, but I could hear a difference. The bottom end seemed tighter, and the top end cleaner, more crisp.

I bought 20 feet from Ray before he left. It was $1.00 a foot at the time, and I thought damned expensive for speaker cable, but I was a believer. I've been using Kimber speaker cables ever since. I have two systems wired with Kimber 8TC right now (hate to say what I paid for that). One system has the cables in equal length of 35 feet each, both going into the attic space, across AC lines up there, and down again inside the walls to where they come out and connect to the speakers. They pick up zero noise. They are dead silent. They sound wonderful.

I know that's not an interconnect story, but it still deals with the subject of wire and its impact on sound. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

My old dealer...Nicholsons Hi Fi in Nashville Tn, invited Ray to come down and demo his cables. He did the above demo and folks were amazed. Nicholsons at the time had 5 or 6 different cable brands that were all good but the Kimber Kable did something they did not do and that was put you `there` with the music. They became a Kimber dealer and customers became Kimber followers so to speak. Interconnects, speaker cables from KK took off. The kk power cords followed as well as some outstanding DIY KK power cords made by Nicholsons own Kevin Kirby. Wonderful cables I tell ya:yes:

I use Kimber interconnects (bought some more today), and KK power cords in my system. The system takes on a `new` life`.:thmbsp:

Most of all trust your ears.

happy listening

 

[Cadillac Kid]

For Pre to Power I am using DIY Canare Star Quad with Switchcraft XLR.

 

[winston1156]

guys you are waisting your money .
It is not my buisness but speaker wire just does not make that much of a difference once you get above 14 gauge. Use copper wire and buy music or new speakers or put it
In the bank. Trust me I know how the ear works , you are only kidding yourself. Buying expensive wires is like putting chrome on a Harley, it looks good but has no effect on the ride.

I put lots of chrome on the Harley. I think it goes faster that way.
Hmm... my guess is that SOME cables on some systems make some difference. Probably subtle though. Still, I switched out a 'premium' hdmi type cable between my computer and printer and I swear the printer is slower and less responsive.

 

[two dot]

I agree 100%. I also had great results with Guerrilla XLR interconnects.

Now for the sad news. I was doing a system setup for a customer. He needed some cheep XLR cables, so I sold him all my Guerrilla XLR cables. I figured I would just buy some more and now it looks like Guerrilla is gone. I missed the boat again. :tears:

I am slso using these great Guerilla XLR cables. I love them.

I spoke with Jason, he will be back in business soon with a new name.

PM for his email.

 

[2uberoller]

Anyone like audioquest cables ?

 

[vintage_tube]

Anyone like audioquest cables ?

Heaven forbid -- don't tell us you are thinking of auditioning them & what model are you contemplating.:scratch2:

Honestly though and maybe we can help -- you looking at interconnects or speaker cables??? (I know the thread is IC's).

 

[FB101]

For me it's Zu varial balanced and single-ended - I have yet to find a cable that transparent and neutral at that price. Although they've gone up recently they are still a great value.

For systems that need some taming, the Stealth Nano Carbon is gorgeous (but very pricey).

 

[Klipschpyro]

Anyone like audioquest cables ?

I had some IC's but had several of them with bad solder connections. I am using Bluejean IC's now but will be moving to the Wireworld line soon.

 

[cornhulio]

Anyone like audioquest cables ?

I use balanced AQ jaguars to the amp and rca AQ jaguars to the cd. I've been using them so long I don't remember what anything else sounds like. I use 10 ga romex to the speaks. The clarity and detail is phenominal.

 

[carbonman]

Anyone like audioquest cables ?

I have a pair for my turntable; they're OK stock, but much better with Eichmann Bullet Plugs. I second the ho-hum solder job.
This doesn't mean that audioquest doesn't make a great product line. Try them with your system and see how you like them.

 

[Victor]

This old thread has some great info but the best place for cable threads is the Thinking Out Loud forum, so off to that forum it goes.