Kimber RCA Cable vs Amazon Basics (Video)

[Palladium]

This is somewhat related to this video. I want to share screen grabs of a video, of a tour of the Accuphase production facility. You can clearly see the types of RCA and speaker cables they are using to make and test multi thousand $ amps in Japan. They are not even close to the Amazon Basics ones, they seem like the ones we used to get with a tape deck, a CD or a turntable back in the day. If they are good enough for one of the premier brands in the industry they are good enough for me.

They look exactly like those that come included with cheapo DVD players.

 

[Mort]

I cannot vouch for Amazon, but I have been unsatisfied with Monoprice cables, too many of which fell apart - mostly XLR and TRS. I've owned several dozen so it's not an n=1 although I may have been unlucky.

 

[Alan O]

As a quick update, my Amazon Basics RCA interconnects arrived today, and I'm impressed. The plugs fit firmly and they're easy to grip. And the cable insulation is nicely flexible (I hate the stiff insulation you often get on cheap cables).

And the sound now is so much better than... well, actually, it's exactly the same (or in other words, probably perfect)

 

[Greg P]

Sorry, but I don't really see the point of going over this AGAIN. It's a cable. it's not broken, it transmits the signal correctly & it probably costs around $2.00 or less to manufacture. What has happened to all the SMSL & Topping reviews promised, which are what the majority of people here want to see? Sorry for being so negative, but it's probably becoming a bit of a joke now.

So, conduct and post some reviews.....

 

[Karmacoma]

This kind of review, and even more so the YouTube review are very important imo, it's a real gateway to the objective measurements of audio gear and educated purchases.

 

[amirm]

Never thought it would have the effect that it got. It really got through a lot of people. I think many did not know such excesses exist in audio cables.

 

[Johnkeizer]

Cardas did it for me, fell for the spiel, emptied my wallet and to this day never go near stupidly priced cable again.

 

[Postlan]

From an engineering standpoint, RCA cables are typically used in high impedance bridging connections, so in most cases there shouldn’t be any difference from one cable to another. It might be more interesting to test headphone cables in a low impedance circuit instead. Depending on the cable, you’d probably see at least somewhat larger differences there.

 

[solderdude]

From an engineering standpoint, RCA cables are typically used in high impedance bridging connections, so in most cases there shouldn’t be any difference from one cable to another. It might be more interesting to test headphone cables in a low impedance circuit instead. Depending on the cable, you’d probably see at least somewhat larger differences there.

Only the cable resistance in combination with the headphone impedance makes some difference that can reach audible levels with some specific combinations.
The biggest culprit for 'sound' of headphone cables is caused by the single return cable combined with longer lengths and low impedance headphones.
It's a trick AudioQuest uses when selling their heaphone cables to ensure an audible difference.

 

[JSmith]

I've been getting this brand of various cables for a while, FosPower;

A/V Cables - Home A/V

fospower.com

They seem well constructed, look decent etc.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QVZF06

RCA 3ft - $7.99


JSmith

 

[MattHooper]

I’ve mentioned before I’ve had a number of experiences (along with the technical arguments) that made me sceptical of high priced cables from early on.

But one of the more recent experiences that reinforced my scepticism occurred just a couple years ago when I bought my benchmark LA4 preamp I needed some XLR cables between my phono stage and also my Benchmark DAC to the preamp.

An audio pal lent me a couple pairs of very expensive ($6,000/pair IIRC) thick jewellery looking XLR interconnects, which had been highly praised in places like TAS.
I didn’t require anything so extravagant but this is what he had available.

I used those for a long time until he needed them back. Then it was time for me to pony up money to replace them. So I replaced them with cheap Audioblast cables from Amazon.

When I first put those audio blast cables in, just like even Amir experiences, there was a few moments where I was feeling like “ does something seem a bit different? I’m not sure if this sounds exactly the same or quite as good.”

The whole “ your mind will hear a difference when you are comparing A and B” thing.

But try as I might in listening closely, I couldn’t really detect anything I could put my finger on as different. All the same Sonic information seemed to be there.

Because of course it was.

And that momentary effect of “difference” pretty quickly faded away, and it became obvious that as electrical theory predicts the sound was just as good just the same as with the expensive interconnects.

And in practical terms using the Audioblast cables was an absolute relief - so much less bulky, more flexible and easy to manipulate then those big heavy stiff “high end” cables.

 

[EL_PW]

But but ... but...

1. Ears are more discriminate than an analyzer.
2. We don't even know how our brain works.
3. Your system isn't good enough.
4. All happy owners can't be wrong.
5. Did you burn in the cable.
6. You have to live with the cable for a few months before you can appreciate the differences.
7. You did not even listen to the cable (by your own admission).
8. You are too old to hear the minute differences.
9. You have not measured all relevant aspects.
10. I can even hear differences between mains cables so why would RCA cables not sound different.
11. I can clearly hear differences... I don't even need to do a blind test as it is so obvious.
12. Music is different to test signals.
13. How do you measure the 'soul' of music ?
14. You can't measure the emotion that is conveyed.
15. Surely the designers at Kimber will know what they talk about.
16. etc....

It's almost like those high end cable sales people are merchants of doubt who also provide the solution (to a problem that doesn't exist). I think in my next life when I'm an Ultra High End Audio Proprietor I'm going to call my store "The Solution!"

 

[EL_PW]

Sorry, but I don't really see the point of going over this AGAIN. It's a cable. it's not broken, it transmits the signal correctly & it probably costs around $2.00 or less to manufacture. What has happened to all the SMSL & Topping reviews promised, which are what the majority of people here want to see? Sorry for being so negative, but it's probably becoming a bit of a joke now.

"What has happened to all the SMSL & Topping reviews promised, which are what the majority of people here want to see?" A rather curious statement as the review section has numerous reviews of these products. And what makes you think you know what "the majority of people want to see?"

 

[scruffy1]

It's almost like those high end cable sales people are merchants of doubt who also provide the solution (to a problem that doesn't exist). I think in my next life when I'm an Ultra High End Audio Proprietor I'm going to call my store "The Solution!"

you should experience interacting with pharmaceutical reps

as my favourite mentor opined "always use new drugs before they develop side effects"

 

[NTTY]

"What has happened to all the SMSL & Topping reviews promised, which are what the majority of people here want to see?" A rather curious statement as the review section has numerous reviews of these products. And what makes you think you know what "the majority of people want to see?"

I’d happily test some, but nothing is coming my way

 

[truth_soldier]

No rca cables ....just rca connectors and highest quality sound.
Plus magnet wire as speaker cables.
Cheapest way to get high quality sound.
View attachment 520508

multiple runs of the "twisted pairs" of wires in Cat5e ethernet cable with the (+) and (-) connected in each pair makes good cheap speaker wire also. I would imagine it can work fine for short RCA/interconnect cables also. Qty of pairs depends on the length and power carrying needs for your speaker cables. In theory "Plenum" rated and PTFE (teflon insulation) Cat5 is the better quality, but in practice you prob won't hear any difference from normal Cat5e.

 

[Alan O]

multiple runs of the "twisted pairs" of wires in Cat5e ethernet cable with the (+) and (-) connected in each pair makes good cheap speaker wire also. I would imagine it can work fine for short RCA/interconnect cables also. Qty of pairs depends on the length and power carrying needs for your speaker cables. In theory "Plenum" rated and PTFE (teflon insulation) Cat5 is the better quality, but in practice you prob won't hear any difference from normal Cat5e.

I spent quite a few hours making up some speaker cables like that a few years ago - I had a spool of Cat5 lying around and nothing better to do with it. They sound exactly the same as ordinary 16-gauge copper wire, and exactly the same as mains flex.

 

[scruffy1]

but it's always fun to macguyver a solution

 

[Mort]

you should experience interacting with pharmaceutical reps

as my favourite mentor opined "always use new drugs before they develop side effects"

And that's the regulated part of the industry!

 

[Speedskater]

Bonded-pair CAT Ethernet cables make excellent line level balanced interconnect cables. Pros use them with an adapter box to 4 XLR connectors. Doesn't even need to be shielded CAT cable. Phantom powered mic cables are a bit more complicated.