Which cables would be best? Thank you

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nling

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[FONT=Arial Unicode MS, sans-serif]Forgive me, I'm new to the online forums and English is not my first language. So this seems like a very controversial topic to say the least. Iread the forums and the online magazines and always wonder about thecable reviews. How can I discover what all of the hype is about. Ihave read promising reviews about cable brands such as Cardas, TARALabs, and Transparent. I admit I’m leaning towards TARA due to manyawards I’ve seen in Absolute Sound magazine. Cardas also seems tobe pretty good also. Any advice on which cables would best suit mysystem. I have a modest system, with the new Sony Digital front end(brilliant), Bryston electronics and B&W loudspeakers. Thank you[/FONT]
 
There are some excellent values in cables. I would check out Kimber. Wireworld also has some excellent more cost effective offerings. For B&W, TaraLabs is also a good choice. It's really all about matching the cables to the system.


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If you are on a tight budget and want to get a high performance to cost ratio, you could consider "do it yourself" and buy bulk cable off the roll. Furutech make same great bulk cable and their termination options (connectors) are highly respected in the industry. Many vendors use Furutech components in their products.
 
I'd have to base my recommendation upon the signature of your components in question, I'd tend to believe that both the Bryston Electronics and B&Ws would benefit from a slightly warmer to neutral presentation, as both can at times depending upon the models of said B&Ws lean towards the more analytical side of the spectrum, but I'd be wrong?.

But a cabling loom from either Tara Labs - Transparent Audio or even something cheaper from the likes of a company called Sound Strings should each offset the balance of each as a means of pulling it all together more organically, while allowing your listening sessions to become more joyous - which in the end, is a common goal we all share universally - I might add.

Yet, I should stress, don't always base your decisions on reviews, as some are correct, while some might come across as a tad bit biases, as we all have system and hearing differences, so to look at it another way, one size doesn't fit all - and in some cases what this or that reviewer likes - might be totally different then what you might?, and by all means always look at what their systems consist of!, then look at yours?, if they aren't the same................, then chances are, something sound wise will be off as well.


If at all possible?, it's always best to narrow your quest down to say 2 - 5 brands, and then try to demo them in your home, on your system, as it should become quite clear which one sounds best, as in which suits your ear/taste/system that is, which is how it should be done to begin with, as all each of us can offer at best are generazaltions based upon what we've heard, but in cables there's one golden rule to keep in mind when trying to find your way through the maze - they only come in 3 flavors - warm _ neutral _ analytical, so voice your system accordingly! because if it's already harder sounding?, then common logic would predict the cables hould be in one of the other two directions sound wise, correct?.
 
Kt77 gave you some solid advice.

Truth be told, there is no best anything in Hi-Fi. Especially when it comes to cables. So forget about the idea of buying the 'best' and instead focus your attention towards buying whatever tool will get the job done. So first thing's first, do you even know what kind of sound you're going for?

Like kt77, your current system would suggest that you could use something that errs a bit towards the warmer side of the aural palette. However, before I start firing off a bunch of different recommendations, it would be best to know what you're hoping to gain. More transparency and speed? More detail? A bigger / fatter sound? Tonal warmth? Bear in mind it's really tough to have it all - but with a bit of guidance, we can help find something that should make ya pretty happy. :)
 
Zero said:
Kt77 gave you some solid advice.

Truth be told, there is no best anything in Hi-Fi. Especially when it comes to cables. So forget about the idea of buying the 'best' and instead focus your attention towards buying whatever tool will get the job done. So first thing's first, do you even know what kind of sound you're going for?

Like kt77, your current system would suggest that you could use something that errs a bit towards the warmer side of the aural palette. However, before I start firing off a bunch of different recommendations, it would be best to know what you're hoping to gain. More transparency and speed? More detail? A bigger / fatter sound? Tonal warmth? Bear in mind it's really tough to have it all - but with a bit of guidance, we can help find something that should make ya pretty happy. :)
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Hi Zero,

Thanks for the kind words, it's nice someone noticed, as it seems nling hasn't responded.

I'm aware that both Bryston and B&W have been linked for quite awhile now, but I go back when B&W was tied hand in hand with the older Krell designs of the late 80s, mid 90s, and more often then not where laced together with an entire AudioQuest cabling loom - you know the ones like the Lapis and Emerald ICs ( when their cables had a warmer sound compared to the harder sound of the ones made from 1998 till this day ).

As someone whom believes in the old teachings of Roy Gregory ( Hi-Fi + and the Audio Beat fame ) and Lars Kristensen when he was with Nordost, on the System Foundation approach - where it all starts at the wall outlet and works upstream ending at the source - where I've found that last IC placed here does in fact makes or breaks the system as a whole - but even then we should all be true with ourselves - as with tubes - cartridges - systems and cables there are only three flavors on the menu, and one has to know what's right in front of them sound wise - to know which direction to then take it towards, as one would never add rolled off - dull cabling to a system that already goes in that direction, unless of course you're ready to be put to sleep from boredom?, in said case a more responsive - snappier cabling loom is needed, say something with silver plated copper ( Nordost and a few other come to mind here ) that will in fact slam the system and owner upside the head in awakening both to a different set of rules, as it seemingly adds more attack - snap - dynamic to the notes that cause both to hear things anew.

Copper for warmth and weight as well as richer tones in the midrange and lower bass regions - Silver for extension and top end detail as well as snap, and speed, whereas hybrid designs are intented to give the best of both worlds, yet like so many things in life, it's all subjective to what the end user sees/hears as a best fit for themselves and said system, all any of us can do is offer guidelines bases upon what we've heard - good, bad or indifferently.

In said regards - the end uses has to understand the " voicing process " and adjust accordingly, as only you'll know when it sounds/feels right, let your ears and heart be your guide, it's not as hard as it seems - nling it's an emotional thing, go with what feels right in your heart and you'll have chosen wisely.
 
Hi iling,

I'll leave this review/article here, as a means for you to have more insight into what I was trying to hint at!:

www.hifi-advice.com - Cardas Clear XLR review

As indicated by the user, he is quite fond of Jeff Rowland Designs based gear, and from hearing them over the years, I'd have to say that as far as solid state designs go, them and Accuphase are of the more refined - balanced nature in terms of presentation, and seeming that said user has owned Magneplanar and now uses older Apogee Speakers, I can see where warmer sounding cables would in fact compliment said speakers - it comes down to which cables sound best between your amp and speakers - followed by which ones work best from your source to preamp then preamp to power amp, because if you noted in said review/article?, there are times where one might wish to select various flavors of cabling to create a collective whole, rarely is the case, but one never knows until one tries, but once again it's always about " what's your flavor ", that comes into play when all is said and done.

And, please don't sly away from answering the questions as posed by Zero, just what type of sound or effect are you looking to build on?, or minimize?, it's hard to help if one doesn't know what's needed..........., come on, chime back in.
 
nling - cables should be the last 'tweak' you should do for a system. I say that because a change to anything like a pre-amp - power amp or source will easily change the overall sound. But if you are not planning any upgrades then go for it.

That said after owning Bryston and hearing the B&W 800 series I have to strongly agree with KT77 (O_o scar). Go for some slightly warm (copper) cables. Don't forget the power cords either. Now I found when demoing Nordost cables that the speaker cable made the biggest difference in sound when comparing the same cables thoughout (example all Nordost Frey/Frey2 or Heimdall/Heimdall2 Ic's and Sc's). I bought the Try2 Ic because to me it sounded as good as the Frey2 Sc. Anyhow that's my opinion but as good as the tyr2 Sc. :happy:
 
Thank you somuch. All of the advice I have received from the different Users hasbeen valuable. I have tried many cable brands, and was just wonderingabout the value of the reviews, and some times, I wonder about Userrecommendations :) But you have all provided the advice I was hoping.I know that there is some system dependency, but I have also learnedthat sometimes I like cables that are sweeter, smoother. Then Ilisten to cables that are more revealing and wish that I could haveit all. So I have tried some very expensive products, and some ofthem are just not worth the money... they obscure the music. Then Itried some more affordable cables and guess what, I have found that Igot musicality, detail and some sweeter sound as well... maybe notsmoother, but I have found that smooth and warm are not the same asrich and detailed. So, I will continue to read the reviews... andalways ask for advice because User Mike and User Kt77 reallyconfirmed many things for me.
 
nling said:
Thank you somuch. All of the advice I have received from the different Users hasbeen valuable. I have tried many cable brands, and was just wonderingabout the value of the reviews, and some times, I wonder about Userrecommendations :) But you have all provided the advice I was hoping.I know that there is some system dependency, but I have also learnedthat sometimes I like cables that are sweeter, smoother. Then Ilisten to cables that are more revealing and wish that I could haveit all. So I have tried some very expensive products, and some ofthem are just not worth the money... they obscure the music. Then Itried some more affordable cables and guess what, I have found that Igot musicality, detail and some sweeter sound as well... maybe notsmoother, but I have found that smooth and warm are not the same asrich and detailed. So, I will continue to read the reviews... andalways ask for advice because User Mike and User Kt77 reallyconfirmed many things for me.
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nling,

I can't speak for others, but I do rather enjoy being able to speak on the subjects to which I do have a feel for, and love seeing others find their way, or better yet " Flavor ", because in the end we all like different seasonings, do we not?.

But I can proudly add an affordable cabling loom out there for you, that should cause you to rejoice - and it's one that I use myself, I'd say try to demo a combination of the Cable Research Lab Bronze Series, and if you're as open-minded as I'm to assume you are?, then and only then can you thank me later. It's just one of those lines that seem to focus ones attention towards the very strands of each/every note in a way that moves me to tears. And like you, I've heard some very expensive cabling looms in our home and on 5 different Integrated's over the course of the last 6 years, but none of them drew me into the very fiber of the notes then these............, once again, it's subjective, but as the olde adage goes

" Hearing, Is Believing ".

Keep me/us posted on your findings?, and select wisely, listen twice - buy once I'd say.

Hen Hao.

祝你好運 (jūk néih hóuwahn)
 
You might just want to hang on and wait for the pending release of the latest generation of Transparent Cables.
 
You may want to consider the Canadian brand GutWire. I think their cables are incredible value for the money and can definitely play with the big names out there. They tend to be better known for their power cords, but I'm a very big fan of their interconnects and speaker cables. Of course, I'm biased, if you look at my signature as I do carry this line. We've had customers upgrade to GutWire from other highly established brands and have been extremely happy.
 
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