Cable Comparison - Ideal Insertion Point

[highfigh]

Seems like this thread has gone from a general question to an offensive tone. Everyone take a step back and read the original question. I did not ask for anyone's opinion on whether my inquiry agreed w/ you, agreed w/ any past experiences you may have had or not had, none of this. Considering I am new to this forum, the overall response has been unwelcoming and flat out lame. 1 person confirmed my original question, that being if I were to prove to myself that there is no difference in sound between cables, where along my signal chain would it make the most sense to try and observe this. The reason it will be from the turntable to the phono pre is b/c the strength of the line level signal coming from the turntable is so minimal and requires such a large amount of amplification. Regardless of my education level (if you ever watch your You Tube videos, your members use their electrical / mechanical engineering degrees to qualify their statements), I still should be able to ask a question and expect a fair response. Maybe it's my southern heritage, but a little bit of common courtesy will get you a long way in life. Again, before attacking someone's question, read the question and tailor your response to what was actually asked of the group.

If a cable is to make a difference, it's necessary to know the reason for the change. If it will be used for the turntable to preamp, is it for frequency response, or to reject noise? If it's not a noise issue for phono but it will be used for the turntable, capacitance/inductance could play a role but as always, this would need to be tested and verified.

Assuming the cables are neutral WRT capacitance, resistance and inductance, better shielding/CMRR would be the logical choice but in the words of Ray Kimber (when he was at a local shop), "I sell high end cable because people buy it".

Speaking of which, I assume you have read that 18AWG cable is a bit on the light side for many uses. This link, from the Kimber site, shows in-wall speaker cable with numbers that might make someone buy it, thinking it corresponds to the gauge. It doesn't, yet even the fact that the gauge is printed on the jacket didn't bother anyone. The Kwik 16 is described as 16ga, but the photo in the lower link clearly shows that it's 18AWG and the Kwik 12 clearly shows 14AWG.

Description-
http://www.kimber.com/products/specialty/kwik/16/

Photo of cables, link-
http://www.kimber.com/products/specialty/

Photos, in case they decide to change the photos-

 

[highfigh]

The OP was talking about tonearm wires... I haven't seen coax versions of those...

I was going to write that I don't remember seeing tonearm wires that weren't twisted, but then, I remembered seeing silver wires, one per thin, clear plastic sleeve. The cost was something like $35/foot.

DOH!

 

[highfigh]

And while we are on it. There really is no need to be building tube amps, unless you just like the look of them. You can arguably build better solid state amps and for less cost. These tube amps are just another example of the aberrant road that has been traveled this last quarter century or so.

I know a lot of people who build tube amps as a hobby, because they want to learn about them. It's not likely that anyone will build a high current tube amp, but it is possible to achieve excellent sound and frequency response. It just takes a lot of money for output transformers.

The market that you're not considering is guitar amps. While some may have a solid state preamp that can model the sound of classic brands and models or a tube preamp and solid state power section, almost none of the solid state amps that have ever been made are highly sought by studios or players, unless it's for a novelty or specific sound that nobody else bothered to build. You mentioned in another thread that you listen to pop music- if you were to list some of it, I would bet that few of the best-sounding songs used solid state amplifiers, if electric guitars were used. If Hammond B3 was used, that classic sound comes from tubes, too. The unfortunate part about trying to make new models is that tube production ceased in the US and most tube makers sold their equipment offshore, without letting them in on the secrets. Russia never stopped and that's where many of the best tubes are being made. If not there, then Czechoslovakia. China is doing OK, but they're not always great.

 

[highfigh]

Now that we seem to have made friends, what's the groups' thoughts on this

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=tweaks&m=197171

I have a two pound chunk of quartz, most of it in one large crystal. I'll have to put it on top of the rack and see if it makes a difference. I have other smaller crystals, raw opals, some copper pellets and a nice chunk of Lapis Lazuli.

 

[markw]

Now that we seem to have made friends, what's the groups' thoughts on this

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=tweaks&m=197171[/QUOTE]

Ones mind is capable of sometimes providing the results one seeks, until any visual references are removed. Ask Goeff Kait how he feels about this statement.

 

[TLS Guy]

Asylum it says, and I'd say they are in it and deserve to be!

 

[witchdoctor]

Whenever I want to compare cables brands I use the digital cable between my source and my DAC/prepro. It is only a single cable yet it will impact the entire chain of components that come after the source.