Blue Jeans 10AWG Speaker Cable 5T00UP Review

[Audioholics]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/bluejeanscable10awgp1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 75px; HEIGHT: 100px" alt=[bluejeansspeakercable] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/bluejeansspeakercable_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>It’s no secret we are fans of Blue Jeans Cable. In fact, scan forum threads throughout the Internet and you will usually find people mentioning Blue Jeans Cable and Audioholics in the same sentence. This is no coincidence. Blue Jeans Cable and Audioholics are on the same mission – a “no BS” approach while delivering the best products and/or services. With the flexibility of customizing cable lengths, termination types to your needs, CL3 approval for behind drywall installations, and choosing between pre-terminated convenience or self terminating cost savings options, you simply cannot go wrong.

[Read the Review]

 

[jonnythan]

Nice review, but what the heck is up with this graph?

It looks like you're saying that Blue Jeans Cable has identical resistance no matter what the gauge.

In fact.. that *is* what it's saying

 

[gene]

It looks like you're saying that Blue Jeans Cable has identical resistance no matter what the gauge.

In fact.. that *is* what it's saying

No you need to re-read the graph and the stuff called text below it. I was showing the intersect point between DC resistance and the wire gauge curve so people can see it is equivalent to 10AWG resistance. The AC resistance graph is adjacent to that graph in the review and noted as such.

 

[jonnythan]

No you need to re-read the graph and the stuff called text below it. I was showing the intersect point between DC resistance and the wire gauge curve so people can see it is equivalent to 10AWG resistance. The AC resistance graph is adjacent to that graph in the review and noted as such.

I understand that, but the graph is still incorrect. You show specific data points for the Blue Jeans cable on a single X-axis with a single Y-axis corresponding to actual data points. Anyone looking at this graph who didn't know anything about wires or resistance would have to conclude that the Blue Jeans cable's resistance does not vary as a function of gauge. That's how the graph reads.

I understand that the actual audience here will understand what's going on, but for readability's sake I'd draw a straight line with no data points and probably take "Bluejeans" out of the legend to note it somewhere else.

I'm not trying to be a pain or anything, just attempting to offer a little constructive criticism

 

[12 axes]

Do those pictures show the actual bananna plugs that Blue Jeans supplies, or are those the WBT plugs that I think you mentioned you used in your home.

 

[gene]

Do those pictures show the actual bananna plugs that Blue Jeans supplies, or are those the WBT plugs that I think you mentioned you used in your home.

Those are the terminations I ordered through Bluejeans on preterminated cables. They offer standard Banana and locking banana's which are depicted in the review.

 

[westcott]

I ran about 250 feet of this identical cable for my system, all under the floors and was very comfortable with the in wall rating and its overall performance.

I could not change it afterwards and I have been very happy with its performance at a fair price. Color coding is a nice touch and I terminated them myself with spade plugs and bananna plugs. 10 gauge may seem overkill to some, but it doesn't hurt and may future proof your system, should low impedance speakers become a part of your future.

Nice review!

 

[KrisJ]

What size techflex would I need to get to use with the blue jeans cable?

 

[jneutron]

No you need to re-read the graph and the stuff called text below it. I was showing the intersect point between DC resistance and the wire gauge curve so people can see it is equivalent to 10AWG resistance. The AC resistance graph is adjacent to that graph in the review and noted as such.

Hi Gene

Johnnythan is correct. The graph has indicated datapoints via the triangles.

Get rid of the triangles and specify the line as the 2 milliohm constant line, and the intersection will indeed be the definition you wished it to indicate.

Cheers, John

 

[slicki]

They are probably the least sexy component in the whole AV chain but a chain is only as good as it's weakest link right? I've read most of the write-ups on this site but I can't recall ever reading any data concerning wall plates. Obviously we'd all prefer not to use them but sometimes we just have to. I guess everyone assumes that there isn't a performance degradation of some sort? You know what they say about assuming.
I can't for the life of me find anyone that sells wall plates that are rated to handle upto 10AWG so I have to ask where did you get yours? DVI Gear's only go upto 12AWG and Impact Acoustics only go upto 14AWG. You'd think that Blue Jeans would sell them or at least know where to get some (they did respond to me they'd ask around but I'm still waiting).
And here's another probably silly question. Your picture shows us just the visible side of the wall plate. How are they connected behind the wall to the plate?

 

[gene]

I apologize for having to send a personal mail but I have ordered everything for my theater and hope to start construction next week and I have just one (I hope) small detail I need worked out. After seeing the review for the Blue Jeans 5T00UP I went ahead and ordered 200 feet (and a bunch of other stuff). But....
“I can't for the life of me find anyone that sells wall plates that are rated to handle upto 10AWG so I have to ask where did you get yours? DVI Gear's only go upto 12AWG and Impact Acoustics only go upto 14AWG. You'd think that Blue Jeans would sell them or at least know where to get some (they did respond to me they'd ask around but I'm still waiting).
And here's another probably silly question. Your picture shows us just the visible side of the wall plate. How are they connected behind the wall to the plate?”.

The terminations I used were from SpeakerCraft. IMO, they offer some of the best speaker and coax terminations for wallplates.

Check out my article on the Audioholics Showcase Home Structured Wiring

for useful tips and recommendations.

Audioholics was a key part of my education that began 2 years ago. You guys are quite simply the best. I wish you would publish your own magazine.

Uh what do you think we are?

 

[Toka]

Great review! After reading this and the first faceoff, however, I'm somewhat stuck between picking up the Blue Jeans or the Cobalt...I've read some posts on this board that say they have the same internals, but if that is the case, why don't they measure the same? If those who have used both (either the writers on this site or otherwise) were given the choice of either, which would it be (assuming cost/appearance aren't a factor, strictly sound)? Or is there no real difference?

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to post all this info, you truly do the A/V community a great service.

 

[westcott]

Great review! After reading this and the first faceoff, however, I'm somewhat stuck between picking up the Blue Jeans or the Cobalt...I've read some posts on this board that say they have the same internals, but if that is the case, why don't they measure the same? If those who have used both (either the writers on this site or otherwise) were given the choice of either, which would it be (assuming cost/appearance aren't a factor, strictly sound)? Or is there no real difference?

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to post all this info, you truly do the A/V community a great service.

The Cobalt cables are not bad cables, just not of the quailty of Blue Jean Cables. Better shielding and interconnects make the decision easy. BJ wins!

 

[nibhaz]

The Cobalt cables are not bad cables, just not of the quailty of Blue Jean Cables. Better shielding and interconnects make the decision easy. BJ wins!

I'm not sure what you're basing that opinion on, but I have to say you're wrong. When it comes to build quality and termination, these two products a nearly identical, this holds true for their performance as well. The only real difference is that the Cobalt Cables are dressed up, and you pay a premium for the looks. Thus the Blue Jeans offer a better ROI when it comes to raw performance. The Cobalt’s perform just as well, but you have to pay extra for the looks. Audibly, these cables are the same.

 

[westcott]

I'm not sure what you're basing that opinion on, but I have to say you're wrong. When it comes to build quality and termination, these two products a nearly identical, this holds true for their performance as well. The only real difference is that the Cobalt Cables are dressed up, and you pay a premium for the looks. Thus the Blue Jeans offer a better ROI when it comes to raw performance. The Cobalt’s perform just as well, but you have to pay extra for the looks. Audibly, these cables are the same.

If I were giving an opinion, I would say so. It is pure fact. Blue Jean cables use double braided shielding and Canare connectors. Cobalt uses a braided and foil shielding with unnamed connectors. Not as effective shielding for most applications and the connectors fail the geometry test for 75 Ohm performance. The BJ cables do perform better in actual tests.

Cobalt does not divulge these facts. One must dig for them.
On the other hand, Blue Jeans if very up front about how and why their cables are built and why they perform better than other cables like Cobalt.

I suggest a browse of this link. It has some very valuable information for those who would like to know more about cables and what determines their performance for various applications.

Cable Articles

 

[nibhaz]

If I were giving an opinion, I would say so. It is pure fact. Blue Jean cables use double braided shielding and Canare connectors. Cobalt uses a braided and foil shielding with unnamed connectors. Not as effective shielding for most applications and the connectors fail the geometry test for 75 Ohm performance.

Extra shielding is always nice, but can you prove real world differences for the avergae consumer in an average setting or is this merely your speculation?

I could run 8 gauge speaker cables to my speakers but would I hear a difference compared to my 10 gauge cables?

Can you prove that Canare connectors make an audible difference in a DBX situation or is this more speculation on your part. How do you know that connectors used by Cobalt don't measure similarly or have an effect on the SQ of the cable, or is this merely more speculation?

The BJ cables do perform better in actual tests.

Are we talking speaker cables, video cables, audio interconnects? Then in some cases yes, and in some cases no, but do these differences on the test bench have any real world relevance in most applications?

Cobalt does not divulge these facts. One must dig for them.
On the other hand, Blue Jeans if very up front about how and why their cables are built and why they perform better than other cables like Cobalt.

Again, merely your opinion based on unproved assumptions.


Blue Jeans makes one of best products out there, and they defiantly represent one the best ROIs in regards to raw performance, hands down. However they are not the only producer of great cables.

 

[mtrycrafts]

(assuming cost/appearance aren't a factor, strictly sound)? Or is there no real difference?
.

Then, your choice should be any one of them, including HomeDepot wire or monoprice wire. They don't have a sound of their own that is audible. No one has been able to demonstrate that they do.

 

[jonnythan]

How did shielding and 75 ohms and interconnects come up in a speaker cable review thread?

 

[westcott]

I will never argue the point that one can hear an audible difference. It is too subjective.

But, based on actual objective testing, better shielding can provide better cable performance/noise rejection. This is not an opinion. This is fact and if nibhaz would like to acutally do some research and read the test results, you would know that these are proven results in actual testing conducted by BJ that is readily available information on their website, and not an assumption.

Based purely on construction and materials used, BJ makes a better designed cable than Cobalt. Whether or not you can hear a difference really depends on the user and the circumstances surrounding the installation.

As pointed out, these differences are only in audio/video cables, and far less applicable to speaker cable. For the latter, just make sure it is of adequate diameter, insulated, and in wall rated if used in this manner.

 

[nibhaz]

How did shielding and 75 ohms and interconnects come up in a speaker cable review thread?

exactly