Thoughts on Esoteric-brand RCA cables?

[goldwax]

These caught my eye for an upgrade to the cables I have on my Thorens:

Esoteric AVK3-3M Audio Video Kit 3m
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=189-380
Through a special buyout we are able to offer the AVK3 A/V kit to you for an unbelievable 50% off the retail price! The AVK3 kit will make your home theater connections simple and clean. Class II shielding and Accu-Image™ solid core conductors are use in the audio cables to faithfully deliver every detail of sound. Class III dual shielding and a True 75™ solid core conductor for the video cable recreates an exceptionally accurate image. Comes with 1 composite video cable and 1 analog audio cable. Limited quantities available. Available in 1M, 2M, 3M, and 5M lengths.

* 24K gold contacts
* Class II shielding on the audio cables
* Class III dual shielding on the video cable
* True 75™ solid core video conductor
* Split center pin

List Price: $64.98 EA
Your Price: $22.74 EA


These also caught my eye, for about the same money:

Esoteric EA2-2M RCA Audio Cable 2m
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=186-082
If music is important to you, then so should be the quality of the cables that you use to transfer the signal from the source to the amplifier. Esoteric's EA2 series of RCA cables offers great performance at a price that doesn't break the bank.

* 24k gold plated contacts
* Accu-Grain™ multi-strand OFC copper conductors
* Class I shielding
* Poly Flex™ outer jacket
* Phase Flow™ dielectric

Your Price: $19.98 EA


And then these guys, at twice the price:

Esoteric EA5-2M RCA Audio Cable 2m
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=186-124
Esoteric builds upon the EA2 series cable foundation with the EA5 series. Class II shielding prevents EMI and RFI from entering into the signal path. A Poly Flex™ outer jacket prevents cable damage while maintaining flexibility. The gold plated, dual-split center conductor connector prevents untimely disconnection and creates greater contact area.

* Phase Flow® Dielectric
* Ultra thick 24k gold plated contacts
* Class II shielding
* Ultra Sure Grip™ custom connectors
* Ultra Grain™ OFC center conductor

Your Price: $49.98 EA


Any thoughts on Esoteric Cables in general?

What about any of the specs on these three choices? Esp. on the first two--does one seem better than the other?

Finally, are there any flexible, gold-plated, copper-shielded in the $20 range for a 2-meter pair that might be better than these?

 

[goldwax]

These caught my eye for an upgrade to the cables I have on my Thorens:

Esoteric AVK3-3M Audio Video Kit 3m
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=189-380
Through a special buyout we are able to offer the AVK3 A/V kit to you for an unbelievable 50% off the retail price! The AVK3 kit will make your home theater connections simple and clean. Class II shielding and Accu-Image™ solid core conductors are use in the audio cables to faithfully deliver every detail of sound. Class III dual shielding and a True 75™ solid core conductor for the video cable recreates an exceptionally accurate image. Comes with 1 composite video cable and 1 analog audio cable. Limited quantities available. Available in 1M, 2M, 3M, and 5M lengths.

* 24K gold contacts
* Class II shielding on the audio cables
* Class III dual shielding on the video cable
* True 75™ solid core video conductor
* Split center pin

List Price: $64.98 EA
Your Price: $22.74 EA

Well, no one's replied, but my little rat brain keeps thinking about this.

Where I'm at now is this: buy the above cables, cut the yellow video cable in half to get two cables of just under five feet each. (Longer than most TT interconnects, but not excessively so.) And then keep the R and L cables intact for some other use later.

The only catch is this: see the little arrows on the connectors in this pic?

If I cut the yellow cable in half and solder both pieces onto my TT, one will be going the "wrong" way. Would this really be a problem? If so, how does directionality in cables work?

 

[Bigerik]

Excellent question about the directionality issue. I am sure some of our more tech savvy posters will chime in on that.

Otherwise, everyone keep their responses to your experiences with the specific cables in question.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

The directional is from there being a second ground lead. Only one side is connected to an RCA plug, the one with the path marked ==> .
Better noise suppression. :yes:

 

[goldwax]

The directional is from there being a second ground lead. Only one side is connected to an RCA plug, the one with the path marked ==> .
Better noise suppression. :yes:

What do you mean by "a second ground lead"? Why would there need to be two ground leads in one cable? I have zero knowledge about this kind of stuff, so any detail you can provide would be great.

Also, what impact would this have on the application that I intend to use it for: cutting the yellow video wire (which, hakaplan helpfully stated elsewhere, ensures lower capacitance) in half, and soldering both ends to the TT, such that one half of the cable is running in the opposite directionality of the other?

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Depending on how the cable was manufactured, there's a braid (the same kind one associates with coax), this braid will be terminated at both ground ends. Wrapped around the braid, sometimes with an additional foil layer, will be a small wire. This is only terminated at one of the plug's grounded end. This is old school stuff. We did the same thing making cable bundles for the radio station back in the 70's.

 

[goldwax]

Depending on how the cable was manufactured, there's a braid (the same kind one associates with coax), this braid will be terminated at both ground ends. Wrapped around the braid, sometimes with an additional foil layer, will be a small wire. This is only terminated at one of the plug's grounded end. This is old school stuff. We did the same thing making cable bundles for the radio station back in the 70's.

OK, so what if any implication would it have on the application I intend to use it for?

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

As I originally noted, it's for better noise supression. Audio, less hum, etc. Video, I would assume less video noise.
As far as a TT goes, the less hum etc., the better and the shorter the run, the less capacitance (treble attenuation) you'll have.
If the cable is hard-wired inside the TT, attach the additional ground lead there.

 

[goldwax]

As I originally noted, it's for better noise supression. Audio, less hum, etc. Video, I would assume less video noise.
As far as a TT goes, the less hum etc., the better and the shorter the run, the less capacitance (treble attenuation) you'll have.
If the cable is hard-wired inside the TT, attach the additional ground lead there.

Ok, thanks. I think I understand, but I'll probably understand better when I cut the cable in half an can see what's in there.

A couple things I still don't quite understand here:

Wrapped around the braid, sometimes with an additional foil layer, will be a small wire. This is only terminated at one of the plug's grounded end.

What's a "grounded end" and why is the wire only terminated at one of them? Also, what is the OTHER end of the wire doing? Just sorta hangin' out?

Sorry--I'm a complete newbie, as you can no doubt tell.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

The outer braid is the sheild (ground)...the extra wire is only terminated on one side of the ground for the purpose of reducing noise.

 

[Mr. Lin]

What's a "grounded end" and why is the wire only terminated at one of them? Also, what is the OTHER end of the wire doing? Just sorta hangin' out?

This wire that's only connected at one end, sometimes called a drain wire, is "just hangin' out" at the other end so as to avoid a ground loop.