Battle of RCA Cables: Mogami, Amazon, Monoprice

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Should be audio-vasseline.

With oxygen free petroleum distillates.

 

[pseudoid]

It should be noted that any comments or arguments in defence of cable shielding and the resultant benefits are summarily and regularly closed down on this forum.
Which is why I'm not going to bother commenting

Watch for the backlash to even this comment in 3.....2......1.....

There is also an innocent backlash from cable shielding.
Kind of like the high-frequency shielding revenge (promoting) low-frequency ground-loops.

[I don't want to be summarily/regularly closed down with my above statement and no backlashes please... 3....2....1....]

 

[Sal1950]

But often not significant, as in "usually." The only exceptions are phono cables for MM, where capacitance changes frequency response.

Shielded power cables are particularly daft.

Just attempting to offer him the opportunity to prove himself not a shill or scam.

 

[mhardy6647]

I looking about that comment about microphone cabling being microphonic -- and just left wondering whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[Speedskater]

Shielded power cables are particularly daft.

Back a couple of decades or so ago, some printers and desk top computers came with shielded AC power cords. The shields were to reduce interference emissions from the unit, so that they could pass the FCC noise tests.
Now almost everything that uses AC power has a Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS). Lots aren't tested. Lots emit interference and a shielded cord might help.

 

[pseudoid]

microphone cabling being microphonic

No need to amplify the matter!

 

[by-tor]

Thank you for taking the time. I've always bought cheap Hosa RCA cables and found them perfectly good enough, but it's nice to have some actual data on these cheaper cables.

 

[Andysu]

Vaseline? I'm hoping this is a joke.

no joke at all quiet serious about it

 

[Killingbeans]

Well... petroleum jelly is a really good electrical insulator. Not much continuity to be had.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Just attempting to offer him the opportunity to prove himself not a shill or scam.

I fear that ship has sailed, when you look at his Etsy store.

 

[Steven Holt]

I guess that this is a pretty good place to put this : Blue Jeans is now selling speaker cable on Amazon. Not their full line up (you still need to go to their user - unfriendly website for that) but it is good to see them on Amazon.

 

[Sal1950]

No need to amplify the matter!

Hah.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Change the label, make it for audiophiles and profit:

 

[Mantra]

hi
are the cables tested all shielded ?
just because i was looking for a test of shielded cables
thanks

 

[anphex]

hi
are the cables tested all shielded ?
just because i was looking for a test of shielded cables
thanks

Spoiler: doesn't matter.

 

[Speedskater]

In RCA unbalanced analog interconnects, the only thing that matters is the shield.
Cables with poor or no shielding, will be subject to Common Impedance Coupling noise and interference problems.

 

[Sal1950]

In RCA unbalanced analog interconnects, the only thing that matters is the shield.
Cables with poor or no shielding, will be subject to Common Impedance Coupling noise and interference problems.

Agreed, Years ago I bought a few sets of unshielded Kimber PBJ cables that were all the rage at the time.
Used between my preamp and VTL tube monoblocks, they pickup up a radiated hum field and were unusable for me.
Good shielding can be very important in some systems.

 

[Labjr]

Agreed, Years ago I bought a few sets of unshielded Kimber PBJ cables that were all the rage at the time.
Used between my preamp and VTL tube monoblocks, they pickup up a radiated hum field and were unusable for me.
Good shielding can be very important in some systems.

I have several sets of PBJ cables. I'm glad I didn't waste more on their silver cables. Remember all that mumbo jumbo about Teflon insulation? Synergistic Research was even worse, like a cult.

When I get components with balanced ins & outs I'll probably use Mogami. May not be necessary but I would for the mechanical integrity.

 

[Sal1950]

When I get components with balanced ins & outs I'll probably use Mogami. May not be necessary but I would for the mechanical integrity

Sure, and good connectors with them is important.

 

[anphex]

Fun fact: I had to try out some of my RCA cables from my audio stockpile at home to connect new amp and sourrnd speakers, and the absolut cheapest, thinnest RCA cables where the ones with the least noise. So a bad executed "thick" shielding is worse than no/ a simple shielding at all.