My Bluejean cables experience.

[Johnny Canuck]

After auditioning the following from Bluejeans cable:

Component cables (2 sets)
S Video cable
Digital Coaxial
Sub-cable
Cablevision wire

I returned all of them. Not saying Bluejeans is bad, quite the opposite. It just was not any better than i already had.
I use AMX component cable, Monster sub cable and Monster Optical cable, Interlink analog connectors. I would not buy Monster again as i did before i got educated here. It is better than Bluejeans though. If I didn't have cables at all, i would start at Bluejeans. It just didn't make sense to pay $250 for all those cables and not notice a difference.

I am really sold on Inter-link connectors. Good value.

JC

 

[sts9fan]

There is nothing shocking in your post. What were you expecting to happen? BlueJean Cables are quality well made products period. they are not magic. Personally I buy all my cables from BJ but they are still just good made cables.

 

[claudermilk]

Agreed. No surprises there. I started with BJ cables & will stick with them. Monster is no better, but is overpriced.

 

[jaxvon]

On a side note, you might notice a difference in a long S-Video run with their cable. They have a cable that's specially made for them by Belden that has the best specs of any s-video cable I know of.

 

[BMXTRIX]

So the real question is:
How was your experience with the company itself? You bought a bunch of stuff, then up and returned it. How did they treat you and how did it all go down?

Hopefully that went well for you and you feel satisfied in your transaction at the end of the day, even if the product didn't mystify you.

 

[deecue]

what about digital coaxial cables? I was about to go and get one from BJ's, but changed my mind and was about to order some SHR ones from DVI gear.. They're cheaper than BJ's and their SHR DVI/HDMI cables are getting rave reviews...

Any reason why I would choose BJ's over DVI Gear? My brother is asking for some monster cables for christmas, and i'm hopefully going to educate him a little bit on it and get some good cables from reputable places..

Also, anybody ever test out or try cables to go? I heard good things about them a couple years back but haven't heard anything since..

Thanks,
Dave

 

[jaxvon]

Cables To Go is a great company. They have a new store front called Impact Acoustics. They advertise here, as well as offer a 25% discount to Audioholics members (normally 20%, but 25% through the end of the month). Check them out:

http://www.impactacoustics.com/index_aholics.asp?customertag=aholics2&engine=AH&keyword=(aholics2)

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Overall i was impressed with BJ's service. I live in canada and had to wait for customs. i am waiting for my money back from BJ, for them to credit my visa. My package could be in customs now going back.

Good stuff though. i was amazed at the connectors. Very high quality, well consructed. You can just tell it's quality stuff. cables are thick, but very flexable.

I have a 15" , long Monster sub cable so i thought I would try a shorter one. heard no difference. i did however hear a difference from the digital coax compared to my optical cable. Not sure if it was the manufacturer difference, or optical vs. coaxial, but my optical was considerably better. The surround was much wider with optical, compared to much more forward and centered with coaxial.

I guess i learned something here. Cables, as long as what you have is decent, won't improve with changing brands. I would recommend BJ if you have no cables, or crap. The stuff i had already was good, maybe overpriced as i was ignorant then, but no less or better than BJ as far as quality goes so buying new cables was a waste of money for me.

Time to stop upgrading and enjoy my system. This constant quest for better can drive you crazy. Hell, my girlfriend is starting to wonder if I'm going to upgrade her soon!!!

JC

 

[deecue]

i did however hear a difference from the digital coax compared to my optical cable. Not sure if it was the manufacturer difference, or optical vs. coaxial, but my optical was considerably better. The surround was much wider with optical, compared to much more forward and centered with coaxial.

Ok, forgive my ignorance (if it is ignorance), but someone please explain this to me when it comes to sending digital signals across cable.. I realize the importance of quality cables (good connectors, good insulation, and a quality build), but bits are bits.. Either they're getting across or they aren't. As far as my understanding of data is concerned, it's either going to get to its destination in the same exact format as the original source was in (unless conversion occurs) or it's going to be corrupted (in the case of A\V, a drop out).. So I don't understand how an optical cable is going to get the same 0's and 1's to a device better than a coaxial. And more importantly, I don't understand how a coaxial cable will decide to direct the sound more centered as compared to an optical one deciding it to be more wide. The only thing to me that makes sense is that the receiver makes different choices in the DAC proc based on the different inputs and then sends different outputs to its connected speakers and that is all. The cables should have nothing to do with this. IMHO, the only thing going for cables for digital signals these days in regards to quality is their capabilty to not interrupt the signal to cause it drop at some point.. This could be in the quality of the cable itself and how long it can sustain it over long runs, quality of connectors and insulation, and the available bandwith the cable can carry in the first place..

just my 2 cents but i would love to hear or be pointed to articles to challenge my thoughts as i'm always open to things i'm unaware of..

 

[mtrycrafts]

As far as my understanding of data is concerned, it's either going to get to its destination in the same exact format as the original source was in (unless conversion occurs) or it's going to be corrupted (in the case of A\V, a drop out).. So I don't understand how an optical cable is going to get the same 0's and 1's to a device better than a coaxial. And more importantly, I don't understand how a coaxial cable will decide to direct the sound more centered as compared to an optical one deciding it to be more wide.

just my 2 cents but i would love to hear or be pointed to articles to challenge my thoughts as i'm always open to things i'm unaware of..

Well, you made some good arguments and is embarrassing to some as then they would not have a sonic reason for different cables, right? Less marketing, less businesses, bad for the economy. LOL

But, your understanding is correct and in the end, in audio, it just doesn't matter much. There was an experiment some years ago, and a recent duplication by a poster here using COAT HANGER for the digital audio. Guess what. It worked perfectly. Amazing, isn't it.
You think cables will be sold for $100s if a coat hanger will do the same?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

JC,

Sorry to hear about your experience. $250 for cables IMO is quite a bit. I made new speaker wires (upgraded them this summer). I bought .05 cent banana's that I soldered to 12ga wire from a large home improvement store. I also found 6' insulated $9.99 component cables at that same store - bought 3 sets. Brand is RCA . The sub cable is a 30' Rat Shack cable - about as cheap as you can find. No hum - works great. Coax cables? Cheap rca's - that's it. If you can't see them (once they're buried behind all your components), and they all perform the same, I can't see investing big bucks in wire.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

No need to say sorry Buckeye. In fact, as I said, learned something. Cables are not magic. Will not improve sound.

However, I stick to my opinion that optical is better than coaxial. I know what i heard. There was a difference and you guys can tell me there is no difference until you are blue in the face. maybe it's my receiver. maybe it's my DVD player. I heard a serious improvement with optical.

JC

 

[Johnny Canuck]

No need to say sorry Buckeye. In fact, as I said, I learned something. Cables are not magic. Will not improve sound. These people who spend hundreds, even thousands on cables have serious crap for brains. There is no audible difference between a $50 cable and a $500 cable. if you have to use a SPL meter to hear a difference, you need to seriously get a life as you have FAR too much time on your hands...you are a stereo geek in the worst way.. It would be equivalent to taking a hundred dollar bill and lighting it on fire.

BJ refunded my money and it was a risk free venture.

However, I stick to my opinion that optical is better than coaxial. I know what i heard. There was a difference and you guys can tell me there is no difference until you are blue in the face. maybe it's my receiver. maybe it's my DVD player. I heard a serious down grade with coaxial..

JC