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Interconnects

What interconnect should I use?

  • Total voters
    23
  • Poll closed .
D

Daniel Siden

New Member
Hello Everyone. This is my first post.

My father died nearly a decade ago, and in the process I inherited his epic stereo system.

Mcintosh 270 amp - 1960's all original
Mcintosh C-22 Pre Amp - 1960's al original
Mcintosh tube tuner - 1960's
Altec Lansing A7-500 speakers - all original
ESS AMT 1B book shelf speakers - all original

I've now shipped the items to the UK and built a transformer to power them and I'm now working to find the right interconnects between the system.

This is my question. What spec should I be searching for on the interconnects and what at what price point? I really don't want to go beyond $100 per interconnect if I can... it pains me.

I would really like to know what Ohm to look for and what everyone's general opinions are on this subject?

Second question. Is there really any difference between a "digtital" rca cable and otherwise? Somehow I doubt there is.

Thank you in advance.
 
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I bought McIntosh unbalanced (RCA pin plugs) 2 meter connectors and a pair of McIntosh 3 meter speaker cables. They are aesthetically beautiful but give no better sound than cheap zip cord and unbalanced cables from Amazon. I was experiencing quite a bit of hum on my turntable's MT-5 to MX-121 connection. I tried all sorts of expensive cables to no avail. Then, I ran across these $9.00 cables from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016QVZF06/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solved my hum problem in an instant and my phono sounds great. I believe that Gordon Gow said that cheap speaker wire is no different than expensive speaker wire.....

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
 
feinstei said:
I bought McIntosh unbalanced (RCA pin plugs) 2 meter connectors and a pair of McIntosh 3 meter speaker cables. They are aesthetically beautiful but give no better sound than cheap zip cord and unbalanced cables from Amazon. I was experiencing quite a bit of hum on my turntable's MT-5 to MX-121 connection. I tried all sorts of expensive cables to no avail. Then, I ran across these $9.00 cables from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016QVZF06/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solved my hum problem in an instant and my phono sounds great. I believe that Gordon Gow said that cheap speaker wire is no different than expensive speaker wire.....

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
Click to expand...
McIntosh cables are rebranded Tributaries. The Mac dealer I frequent says the salespeople dislike the cables but are pushed to to sell them due to the markup.
 
Last edited:
Daniel Siden said:
Hello Everyone. This is my first post.

My father died nearly a decade ago, and in the process I inherited his epic stereo system.

Mcintosh 270 amp - 1960's all original
Mcintosh C-22 Pre Amp - 1960's al original
Mcintosh tube tuner - 1960's
Altec Lansing A7-500 speakers - all original
ESS AMT 1B book shelf speakers - all original

I've now shipped the items to the UK and built a transformer to power them and I'm now working to find the right interconnects between the system.

This is my question. What spec should I be searching for on the interconnects and what at what price point? I really don't want to go beyond $100 per interconnect if I can... it pains me.

I would really like to know what Ohm to look for and what everyone's general opinions are on this subject?

Second question. Is there really any difference between a "digtital" rca cable and otherwise? Somehow I doubt there is.

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
If you live in the U.K., the Chord brand seems to have various price points. A digital coaxial cable will be rated for 75 ohms.
 
I bet that you meant MC275 amplifier. The tuner would likely be the MR71. At the time of purchase, your father chose the very best units McIntosh and Altec offered so he had very good taste indeed.

As for interconnects, I've used the Kimber PBJs with excellent results. I simply can't sleep well at night spending more than that on interconnects. I've also been making my own cables for 30 years too with equally good results.

Enjoy and please share some pics when you get it set up.
 
My take:
  • Blue Jeans Cable for interconnects. They don't break the bank, do use quality materials. These are equivalent to what the recording studios are sporting. I've looked into building my own, but can't beat BJC by any significant amount. Anything beyond this is wasting money.
  • "Digital RCA" cables are not at all the same as standard RCA interconnects. Theses are digital coaxial cables, which happen to unfortunately share the same plug. They are NOT designed to carry analog RCA signals! They are designed to have a 75 Ohm impedance, but should only be used for digital signals. Your vintage system is entirely analog. Do not use these.
  • Resistance (ohms) should be as low as possible for true RCA interconnects - which covers anything connected directly to any components you list above. Realistically it'll be zero for anything worth considering, and most don't even bother to cite this spec.
 
It's all psychological, so long as the cables are mechanically sound. Still, if it makes you feel any better, don't by the cheapest cables, but, on the other hand, don't get carried away. $100 sounds like a good price point.
 
In the days of tubes and early SS Mcintosh included a Barker D4 cable for each piece, excluding mono power amps. The had very low capacitance and were rugged well built value based cables. Later on when cables became the new answer for sound systems supplying cables was deleted. A lot of dealers wanted to sell custom cables with high profit margins. Some were tuned to give a specific sound, add a db here or there and you have a better sound. REALLY!

Its hard enough dealing with amps, pre-amps and sources with a massaged sound! Then we are supposed to deal with shaded cables. Give me a brake!.
 
Cables play major role in my system, each sounds different, I use them to tone my system. I don't get that people spent tenth of thousands on a Mac system use the cheapest cable, what a waste of potential IMHO. BTW, even USB cables sound different
 
I make my own cables, I use Belden, Sommer, or Pro-co cable, and Neutrik XLR and Phono connectors....Make them to the exact length you want, take your time, use a bit of heatshrink here and there for cable ID.....the world is your oyster...
 
A few years ago I went off the deep end, purchasing expensive cables. Now, I use Canare or Mogami. There are recoding studios with miles of cables from these two companies. My logic is how can I improve over what was likely used in the studio. Belden is another good manufacturer. I'm using these cables will fairly expensive gear; current model McIntosh, and feel no need to spend more money.
 
SilverTpt999 said:
My take:
  • Blue Jeans Cable for interconnects. They don't break the bank, do use quality materials. These are equivalent to what the recording studios are sporting. I've looked into building my own, but can't beat BJC by any significant amount. Anything beyond this is wasting money.
  • "Digital RCA" cables are not at all the same as standard RCA interconnects. Theses are digital coaxial cables, which happen to unfortunately share the same plug. They are NOT designed to carry analog RCA signals! They are designed to have a 75 Ohm impedance, but should only be used for digital signals. Your vintage system is entirely analog. Do not use these.
  • Resistance (ohms) should be as low as possible for true RCA interconnects - which covers anything connected directly to any components you list above. Realistically it'll be zero for anything worth considering, and most don't even bother to cite this spec.
Click to expand...
So, I've used dampeners, isolation techniques, upgraded interconnects, and am quite happy with the sound, not wowed. I've only recently realized I'm still using low-end (really low-end) splitters between my pre-amp and amps. It's got to be my weakest link. I've heard the immediate change in sound from good interconnects, and it can be profound. I was given a pair of interconnects to use on a cd player, (I won't say what they are) they go for $350 a pair, immediately knew they were expensive cables, but the shrill was unbelievable. I think it was an issue of cables that were suited for digital, vs analog. Now this is my assumption, but they were so painful to listen to, I've never eaver tried them again. The more I search for interconnects specific to analog, the more confused I am regarding whether they're actually suited for analog. It seems that manufacturers aren't as forthcoming as would be useful, in identifying whether their cables are suited for digital or analog. How am I suppose to proceed? I'm more than comfortable doing DIY cables, but without being an engineer, wouldn't know either way whether any one design is suited for my needs. Looking for an Interconnect clearing house for idiots... any ideas?
 

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I have had good results with cables (IC's) from AudioQuest, Kimber, Blue Jeans and Morrow. None will break the bank.

BTW I'm very disappointed to see that McIntosh has jumped on the "magic" cable bandwagon!
 
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