High Quality
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What cables do you use in your systems?
- Thread starter Legion1capone
- Start date
How do you define "High Quality"?
I use stuff from Analysis Plus, speaker cables and interconnects. Not for sound, just for looks. 
Also have some cool looking power cables.
Also have some cool looking power cables. 
Speedskater
Major Contributor
The only differences in reasonable (line level, analog) interconnect cables are in the areas of noise end interference. Both of these problems are very situation specific.
Same as any other engineer, depends upon the application. I thought you were asking what the letters "hq" stood for, sorry.
My apologies, I didn't realize it was you answering instead of Austrich strategy who used the "hq" term. I would love to hear his definition in the context of his posting.
HQ, any ex-military person will tell you that's Head Quarters where the big brass hangs out. LOL
Digital_Thor
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I just soldered my own cables. Someone I knew had a friend who helped tear down an old studio. There was a mish mash of thin numbered signal cables, which I cleaned up and gave some fresh Neutrik plugs. That was a nice way to keep track on my wiring, since I have an 8 channel DSP pre-amp filtering my active speakers.
Practicality, solid connections and making it look nice enough - that was my goal
Practicality, solid connections and making it look nice enough - that was my goal
Well, I knew that wasn't it...
HQ = brass is not an equation that works well for interconnect cabling, however.
Interconnects - Benchmark
Speaker - Blue Jeans
Power - as provided by component maker
I tried some slightly more costly “audiophile” cables… sorry, no difference to my plumbum ears!
Speaker - Blue Jeans
Power - as provided by component maker
I tried some slightly more costly “audiophile” cables… sorry, no difference to my plumbum ears!
Sold all my old DH Labs "silver sonic" stuff and got some money, bought used BJC LC-1 for the two single-ended devices I use (although I still have some good Mogami with rean connectors I also got cheap used), and Belden 1800f I got used for balanced audio (I have one pair of quad balanced I might use for my phono pre though). Also have BJC super thick 10awg speaker cable at 10 feet. Kinda pointless since I bet the wiring in the amp/speakers are a lot thinner, but I like the locking banana jacks.
Power cords are whatever come with the gear, or generic Cable Matters cords.
Had multiple monoprice RCA cables die on me over the years, so I skip that. If they work for others, then buy them.
Power cords are whatever come with the gear, or generic Cable Matters cords.
Had multiple monoprice RCA cables die on me over the years, so I skip that. If they work for others, then buy them.
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Spent big money once on fancy audiophile stuff, now everything's been sold and i'm loosely sticking to the following :
Interconnects : Canare L-4e6s + Neutrik NC3 FX/ MX
Speaker wire : Sommercable Meridian SP 225, Canare 4s11 w/solid bananas, or SpeakOn connectors whenever suitable
Power : whatever (NO DIY, safety first) - with a preference for nice colors
Interconnects : Canare L-4e6s + Neutrik NC3 FX/ MX
Speaker wire : Sommercable Meridian SP 225, Canare 4s11 w/solid bananas, or SpeakOn connectors whenever suitable
Power : whatever (NO DIY, safety first) - with a preference for nice colors
Small question regarding interconnect cable (XRL, RCA)s: what do we think about shielded cables? I usually don't like shielded speaker cables very much (like the Supra Excalibur) but what about interconnects? I think I never heard an shielded one.
My cables:
Power: Supra LoRad silver plated
Interconnects: Supra EEFI XLR; Audioquest Forest HDMI (IIS)
Network: long run of some Amazon cheap CAT8 from NAS to router, Supra CAT8 from router to switch, Audioquest Cinnamon CAT7 short run from switch to streamer
Speakers: Innakustik Referenz LS-1002 single with banana plugs.
My cables:
Power: Supra LoRad silver plated
Interconnects: Supra EEFI XLR; Audioquest Forest HDMI (IIS)
Network: long run of some Amazon cheap CAT8 from NAS to router, Supra CAT8 from router to switch, Audioquest Cinnamon CAT7 short run from switch to streamer
Speakers: Innakustik Referenz LS-1002 single with banana plugs.
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Many interconnects are of coaxial construction. Shield as ground and center as positive. Like RG6. Interconnects don't have a sound.
Interconnects are normally shielded, for a good reason. Why wouldn't you use a shielded cable? On speaker cables, on the other hand, shielding doesn't make sense.
Interconnects usually involve circuits with high impedances, which allow outside noise sources to modulate the signal which is not all that stiff, voltage wise. External signals can intrude upon such a signal and shielding is needed to prevent that. Speakers are connected to a very low impedance amplifier output, which at AC looks like a near dead short, making it very difficult for an external disturbance signal to intrude. As a result sheilding is not needed-the low source impedance sort of provides that.
i am not an expert but an unshielded cable can act as an antenna picking up noise
but an antenna needs a receiver Speakers are passive units They cannot amplify anything
the Supra EEFI xlr should have both conductors shielded individually Where did you find that is unshielded ?
they speak highly of it Supra is a great brand
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