I’ve always heard that single-ended, directional interconnects (e.g., AudioQuests) should be installed with the arrows pointing away from the source. Is that really true, though? It seems like it actually doesn’t have much to do with signal travel, but with grounding: normally, the shield is connected to ground at the end the arrow points toward. […]
HiFi cables / cords
Found 141 results
Whether they actually sound better or not, I don’t really care but I have a fetish for beautifully made, anaconda sized audio cables, especially with unusually well made connectors. Any ideas here especially where 2nd hand is a deep discount would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. MORE
Well, debate has been going on for a while, do “audiophile” cable upgrades actually work, with a stronger debate going on for actual analogue signals. I’ve just got a short post and a interesting question to share: Assuming that changing cables changes sound signature and that its true, why do we never see people talking […]
So there is this controversy of sorts… well not really for many of us, but certainly for some of us. See, the argument is that USB cables cannot and will not change the sound since it is just passing along 1’s and 0’s from point A to point B. It is all digital and so there […]
“In my years of audiophilia I have crossed swords with my brother many times regarding that which is real, and not real, in terms of differeces heard and imagined. He holds a Masters Degree in Education, self taught himself regarding computers, enough to become the MIS Director for a school system, and early in life […]
Since making a spread sheet with my audio system prices, I have been thinking(shocked) about my total investment in cables. My total system retails at $67,000 (Digital and analog front ends included). I purchased all of it here on Audiogon so my investment is about 50%. Of that I have about 10% invested in interconnects […]
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After reading the review, and being a sucker for cheap tweaks, I tried them in my system. I only had two line fuses to replace -one in my Simaudio Nova CD player and one in my Simaudio W-3 amp. The latter has no cct. board fuses for each channel [probably a good thing]. I couldn’t […]
Paul McGowan writes: We all know it’s not good to get stressed out, but did you know preamp’s and sources feel the same way? Nothing stresses a preamp or source out more than having to drive an uncomfortable load like a long cable. Some preamps and sources have better designs than others, but in general, […]
Genuinely interested in a debate on this topic. There are many mentions of the so called “expectation bias” effect on the forum, usually linked to those in the subjectivist camp, by those in the objectivist camp. These often seem to be loosely coupled with claims that people who buy expensive equipment like to be […]
Low start HERE
Our member, Mr Derek Stalin asks: “It makes a difference, It really does. The following goes totally against my engineering “if you can’t measure it, it isn’t there” outlook but I’ve just bought two 3 meter lengths of CHORD RUMOUR 2 and using the same terminations (taken off the previous cable) and using the […]
“Let’s start with the simplest of systems, a two-channel music system. Typically, the components are placed on top of each other or stacked on the shelves of an audio component rack. This is perfectly fine as long as there is enough ventilation between the components – many components have ventilation slats on the top of […]
“We are sometimes asked our opinion of exotic power cords, and have met more than a few people who have laid out some serious investment to have what they see as the very best sort of cord running from the wall socket to the IEC socket on the back of a power amp or CD […]
Recently upgraded speakers to B&W 804s and want to upgrade speaker cables. B&W has ability to be bi-wired or to use their supplied jumper at the speaker terminals. What is the adjantage of a bi-wired cable vs a single termination and use of B&W jumpers. I am looking at a used set of Volcanos with […]
Paul McGowan writes: Now you’ve gotten your main speaker system in order and imaging properly, according to yesterday’s post, it’s time to think about adding our subwoofer. Let’s start with a fairly broad overview and then later we can dig down deep. Your subwoofers are going to be placed behind and to the outside of […]
Steve Guttenberg writes: It’s a safe bet that your speaker cables don’t look like Nordost’s ultra-flat cables. Founded in 1991, Nordost is a high-technology cable manufacturer using conductor technology that was initially developed for the aerospace industry. Nordost designs and builds all of its audio, digital and video cables in its facilities in Holliston, Massachusetts. […]
Having been a long time audiophile living with countless high end compnents I have to wonder about the theory and practicality of high end power cords. I have yet to hear the difference a power cord makes. Ive owned, synergistic, Shunyata, BMI and cardas. I in no way can detect any sonic signature or change. […]
Lee Hutchinson writes: But pre-set expectations and testing questions make us wonder about our results. More HERE
Been talking to a few e-mail buddies and have a question that isn’t being satisfactorily answered this far. So…I’m asking the experts on the forum to pitch in. This has probably been asked before but I can’t find any references for it. Can someone explain why one DIGITAL cable (coaxial, BNC, etc.) can sound different […]
CABLE ELEVATORS Permit me, if I may, to offer a different (but not necessarily superior) perspective on this. A few years back, I was invited by a designer of high-end speakers, to visit his development suite in Salzburg, Austria. All expenses paid. Unlimited coffee and cake and so on. An opinion on a new idea […]
Paul McGowan writes: We started our series on Class D amps and how they work. We went through the all important input stage but before we get moving, however, quite a few of you wrote me and asked for a better idea of what common mode rejection was and what an amp designer might do […]
Paul McGowan writes: One of my readers asked a very legitimate question: one that is asked on an ongoing basis and it refers to my post about cables. “Help me here. I do believe a roadblock to a broader appreciation of our hobby is the perception that the high-end audio industry is lubricated with snake […]
Michael Fremmer writes More Munich High End and LAAS coverage coming but first: can you hear differences among tonearm cables? Kuzma for one, offers a couple of tonearm wire options but without first hearing each, now can you know which to order? I asked Franc Kuzma for some samples. He sent me three 4Point arm […]