A Disclaimer On Amplifier Cabling

As a short time poster on WakeWorld I've been disappointed by the amount of audio misinformation I've read on here at times. I know I've seen a few discussions about pre-amplifier wiring, and some users have argued in favor of expensive cabling- while I maintain the cheapest twisted shielded cable you can find will do just as well (read- $10 radio shack special).

If you still believe expensive cables are the shizz, the guy below will give you a million bucks if you can back it up.

http://www.randi.org/jr/2007-09/092807reply.html#i4

Not trying to start anything here, I just want to help out fellow WWers who may be choosing where to drop some cash when putting a system together. Spend the cash on some delicious $3/gallon 87 octane instead.

I've never seen the point in very high end cabling , but with that said the only RCA cabling issues I've had have been with ones from radio shack. You can find good RCA's for cheap. Not to many poeple on here reccomend spending $50 for a set of RCA's.

That article is referring to DIGITAL cables when it talks about signal quality. With a digital signal (HDMI, DVI, Optical, etc) there is no degredation due to cable quality to a certain extent. As long as the signal in = the signal out, it is all good; go as cheap as possible.

RCA cables, or other analog cables (coax) are definately subject to requiring a higher cable and you SHOULD ABSOLUTELY make sure to get a quality cable or make your own. I would never buy Monster, but I would make sure I had the recommended shielding and/or strand count for the task at hand. I usually build my own from pro grade connectors and a 'spool-o-wire' and still come out waaaaayyyy cheaper than buying a Monster brand or similar.

That article specifically references a $1000 + audio cable, which is absurd. There are those more fortunate that will buy it and be the fool though; usually the same ones getting suckered into many more flavors of life as well. Some of them probably read this forum, and did other things, like buy iphones before the price drop, caused the housing in Pheonix to skyrocket by paying over face value on a home once they left SoCal, buy gimmicks to improve gas milage, and wear "vote for Hillary" shirts while hangin out with Hugo Chavez.

Also, while shopping for analog cables, keep in mind it is only as good as the weakest component. Triple gold plating doesn't mean much if it is using tin solder.

Anyone looking into building very high quality cables using parts available through mail order and getting DIY gratification should watch the systm empisode on it. He even throws out some preferred brands and connector types to look for.

http://revision3.com/systm/avcabling

(Message edited by olskooltige on October 02, 2007)

heres another good one

http://sonido.uchile.cl/articulos/tenbiggestliesaudio.pdf

I too opt for cheap home made twisted pair cables. Never had an issue and work very well.

(Message edited by loudsubz on October 02, 2007)

Yep - agreed on the HDMI stuff. You can get cheap HDMI and DVI cables ($10-12) from monoprice.com, or pay $100 for Monster Cable (rip off).

If you are looking for quality home audio cabling, Blue Jeans Cable makes some good quality and relatively affordable stuff.

If this is a discussion about home audio cables then yes I agree you don't need them
If we are talking about mobile audio cable's like RCA's then I respectfully disagree. Lets start with RCA's Most of the problems I have had with RCA cables are at the ends. From plugging and UN plugging them in and out over and over the cheep cables are the first to break down at the connection point and cause noise.
IMO High quality cables have better ends and can be messed with a bit more. They also seem to put a tighter grip on the female end of the RCA point. Making it harder to come off or loosen up.
When the RCA end fits so tight it also makes it easier to damage your cable when taking it off. I always twist the RCA cable ends as I pull them off to reduce the risk of damaging the RCA end and the amp or EQ imput. Never pull the rubber cable to remove the RCA end. The Monster cable RCAs I used in my boat cost around $250-$300 for all the RCA's and I don’t think that its that UN reasonable. It could or should have been more but 1/2 of the system uses Cat 5 cable instead of RCA's the http://www.knukonceptz.com/ RCA's are nice and well priced. Mike Ski uses them and says that if you yank on the ends they will break off and or pull out. The Monster cable RCA's I use are directional, insulated and have the protected ends. There is tone more B.S about them that’s supposed to make them great but I don’t really care I just care about the end's and the quality of the cable itself. Like I said I like them but they are not completely necessary you don’t need them you can get away with lesser quality. Radio Shack RCA's. HELL NO. I mean if you installing a system in a Dump truck or Diesel they by all means go for it. I guess you have to look at it like this if your spending 3-5k on a system its not UN reasonable to spend $200 $400 dollars on quality cables.

I guess Zapco's Symbilink cables are a bargin then at $38 for 18ft. Kind of makes the price of a Zapco amp more bearable.

I should have read the Link before posting.

Audio Guru
David Clark: is offering up a million dollars challange for a HDMI cable face off. A $80 Monster Cable VS a $7,000 Dollard HDMI cable.
No Dhu!

Gangsta im making fun of your firt post right here: As a long time poster on WakeWorld I've been disappointed by the amount of topic misinformation. Where posters start threads and post links that have nothing to do with the questions they are asking
LOL J/K. But Serious your post is good and brings up a intresting question? If someone installed 2 Identical systems in 2 identical boats running wires in the exact same locations could you tell the differance between "Raido Shack" cables and High quality name brand cables????

I am gonna go with no and I have custom built many systems. My basis for no is that boats are about as unpractical of an environment possible. It you were in a theater design home system, it is certainly possible but in a free are, background noise ridden, environment no.

I have always thought that it is easier to tell the difference in a visual display than a difference in audio. For this reason, I have my Soliloquy home speakers wired with 12 gauge wire from Home Depot with good connectors and my CD player wired to the amp with a cheap digital optical cable.

For HDTV and DVD, I spent about $120 for 4ft of good quality component video cables and I can without a doubt tell a difference with those. I plan to go HDMI on the new Pioneer plasma I plan to buy soon though.

It's been awhile since I bouight any but I can recommend www.bettercables.com as a good value in cables.

A good alternative is RG59U (copper) with good quality RCA ends. Good noise rejection with this setup.

I wish my home theater had a V8 in it!!!

I used knukonceptz as well for my audio redo and can say it's quality stuff at great prices. He gets the stuff to you quick as well.