1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Marvey's Cable Rolling Adventures

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by purr1n, May 7, 2016.

Page 2 of 25
  1. jsgraha

    jsgraha 30% of my portfolio is magic beans - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Taxi Driver?
     
    jsgraha, May 8, 2016
    #21
  2. Artasia

    Artasia Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    441
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Nothing to do with a Greek letter. Right?
     
    Artasia, May 8, 2016
    #22
  3. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I use Zu Wylde interconnects and Zu Libtec speaker cables. The Wylde are teflon insulated silver plated copper and Zu gives RLC and Z numbers for them:
    http://www.zuaudio.com/classic-cables/wylde-rca-interconnect (5th and 6th images)
    I wouldn't buy them at that price though. They're usually on sale (sell around 40-70) via Zu's zu_promos ebay store. Similarly for the Libtecs. Here are the Libtec specs:
    http://www.zuaudio.com/classic-cables/libtec-loudspeaker-cable
    There's some marketing fluff on the site, but the cables are very well made and the specs are detailed. Maybe I'm just a Zu fanboy.
     
    batriq, May 9, 2016
    #23
  4. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I don't think using banana plugs on speaker cables is a good idea, I prefer naked.
     
    mtoc, Jul 6, 2016
    #24
  5. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,894
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Wait, cat5 like the standard Ethernet cable with many wires? How does that work?
     
    spwath, Jul 10, 2016
    #25
  6. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,006
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If there really is a coaxial cable rolling rabbit hole I'd prefer not to go down it. Seems like a surefire decent into madness.
     
    TwoEars, Sep 21, 2016
    #26
  7. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,466
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    I'm afraid that ship has sailed, my friend. If anyone needs to convince their doc that they need psyche meds, or need to up their psyche meds, or simply need a medical marijuana endorsement, just show them that you are an SBAF member. Maybe wear your t-shirt to the appointment. They'll hook you up.
     
    lm4der, Sep 22, 2016
    #27
  8. Ray

    Ray Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,302
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    On the range
    Absolutely brilliant
     
    Ray, Sep 22, 2016
    #28
  9. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Did anyone ever do a strict comparison of cables with different materials, but made in the same specifications (cores/awg/shielding)?

    Copper vs Silver Plated Copper vs Pure Silver?

    I think the ones in this comparison are all copper cables.
     
    Thenewerguy009, Sep 22, 2016
    #29
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,952
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Yeah, they are all copper with different geometries. I hate the sound of silver cables.
     
    purr1n, Sep 22, 2016
    #30
  11. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,533
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin
    This.

    I mean, I guess there are times where it's preferable?
     
    drfindley, Sep 23, 2016
    #31
  12. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,017
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Australia
    What is interesting to me, is that many cable believing guys who are in line for the next DHC cable only talk about the conductivity of cables. They always say that the better it conducts the better the sound. I mean Joe at JPS uses an aluminum in his cables and there is no evidence to suggest that better conductivity actually sounds better. I have to agree that the silver litz stuff I heard was worse than some of the cheaper copper stuff I had before.
     
    Xecuter, Sep 23, 2016
    #32
  13. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,894
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    When you mentioned cat5 cable, did you mean standard Ethernet cable? If so, how does that work because there are like 5 wires inside
     
    spwath, Sep 23, 2016
    #33
  14. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Have you heard of any pure silver with high purity, the 99% ones & not the ~95%?

    The cheapest entry level ones I seen are well over a grand & that's from ones who don't advertise & or are well known.
     
    Thenewerguy009, Sep 23, 2016
    #34
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,952
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Those sound like shit. Timbre of aluminum pots banging against each other. First thing I did was get rid of those cables on the Abyss. The only reason you'd run that stuff is like that is you own blurry soft overly romantic gooey tube amps that sound like smeared poop.

    Yes, I have some 99.99% silver wire in bulk . It sounds like shit. The silver plated copper sounds even shittier. Also silver isn't as ductile and malleable as copper, so the cables are more difficult to work with and aren't as flexible. Silver is basically for rich incompetent audiophiles who put together shitty systems and wonder why there is no plankton. In turn, they do something even more stupid, like buy expensive silver cables, and get moar etch or moar bright, not more plankton. Stupid is as stupid does.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2016
    purr1n, Sep 23, 2016
    #35
  16. Dash

    Dash Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    279
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Florida
    Hey @Marvey thanks for taking the time to collect some good info on the subject. I also found the family involvement really awesome. I don't feel so mental getting rid of expensive Nordost interconnects for cheaper copper wired stuff in my 2 channel.
     
    Dash, Sep 23, 2016
    #36
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,952
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    While I am not a liberty to reveal too much on this topic, you would barf if you realized how much of that audiophile branded cable is sourced from four factories in China.

    For those looking for high value, excellent sounding cable (the one that won the interconnect shoot out), consider the Pangea interconnects. They are designed by this dude named Jay Victor. He really knows his cables, has uber measurement equipment, and puts most other audiophile cable marketing guys and figureheads to shame in terms of knowledge. While he views might be a little bit off-the-wall for me, he's been spot on in terms of advice for "good" cables. And I'm not even cable dude.

    https://www.amazon.com/Pangea-Audio-Interconnect-Cable-RCA/dp/B017WJLXH0
    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGICCARR
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2016
    purr1n, Sep 23, 2016
    #37
  18. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,017
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Australia
    So who would you recommend for aftermarket headphone cables then? Or just DIY copper cables?
     
    Xecuter, Sep 23, 2016
    #38
  19. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,980
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    The newest revision of Pangea power cables made by that guy also use the Cardas Grade One (made in the USA) Copper.
    I haven't heard the Pangea stuff, but after dinking around with pure silver and Blue Jeans, I've been happy with Cardas Golden Reference in my system for a while now. Helps to have a local dealer selling old stock at ridiculous discounts though. I'd never pay retail or even most used prices for Cardas branded stuff.
     
    zonto, Sep 23, 2016
    #39
  20. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,006
    Trophy Points:
    113
    DIY copper all the way. Canare is my favorite brand right now. Stay away from weird multi-stranded and woven designs, stay far away from any kind of design that mixes copper and silver. Avoid fancy solders, basic 60/40 rosin core is the way to go. Don't use techflex sleeving up to the headphone, causes microphonics.
     
    TwoEars, Sep 23, 2016
    #40
Page 2 of 25

Share This Page