Seeking advice on purchasing cables for new system

[Ferrara]

I'm about to purchase a new system to replace my current setup. Getting a [brand and model] amp, [brand and model] DAC, [brand and model] speakers and (separately) [brand and model] disc player. Gonna cost me about $6000 plus whatever I end up paying for the disc player. The guy who's selling me the system wants to sell me expensive cables: $170 for a 1-meter RCA interconnect for amp and DAC, $250 for 20 feet of speaker wire. This sounds like more money than I need to spend.

I've looked at the Audioholics videos on audio cable and speaker wire myths. I know it doesn't make sense to use cheap generic cables for entry-level high end stereo equipment like I'm getting, but honestly, how much should I spend? And more specifically, I would like recommendations for a good brand of speaker cable and audio/video interconnect. And which types of cables are particularly critical in terms of performance?

As I said, I need a couple dual RCA interconnects to hook up the amp, DAC and disc player, plus speaker wire (runs of less than 10 feet per speaker) as well as a couple HDMI cables to hook up my desktop PC and OPPO to the TV. The rest of the cables I will buy are mostly USB 2.0 for my new computer and external devices and I suppose those are not so critical (although my DAC connects to PC via USB).

I don't know much about this stuff except that low impedance and thicker gauge is best for speaker wire and interconnects need good shielding. There's so much technical mumbo jumbo and hype out there. Everybody's heard of Monster but what about all these other brands?

To sum it up, how much should I have to spend on each of these particular cable types (in lengths of one or two meters each) and what are some good brands to consider? Thanks...

 

[lovinthehd]

There are excellent low cost solutions available from the likes of Monoprice or even Amazon Basics or you might check out BlueJeansCable.com (as well as their articles on cables). Monster is woo for the most part, but if you get a killer discount might be worthy. Personally have no wish to extend the charlatan cable outfits like Monster, Audioquest, Nordost, WireWorld, etc with any financial help at all.

Speaker wire reading a good start here and you can use the handy wire table to determine gauge for length and impedance requirements. Also some good info on other types of audio cabling.

I'd question the other components you're being "sold" as well....

 

[BryceH]

I've used blue jeans cable for all of my equipment. I'm very happy with their quality and their prices are reasonable too.

For the speaker cables, they can ultrasonically weld the banana plugs to the copper.

Ive also used their rca connnections for pre out to amp connections as well as subwoofer cables. The ship then out very quickly and ive received everything in 2 days on all my orders.

**checked on their website.

Pair (2) of 6 foot rca cables are $44.50, 10ft of 12 gauge cable with welded banana plugs is $37.50 (x however many you need), and a 10 foot hdmi cable is $30.75... not sure how that compares to the other companies mentioned.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Beave]

$170 for a 1-meter RCA interconnect pair is about $165 too much.

$250 for 20 feet of speaker wire is about $240 too much.

I'd recommend Monoprice, Blue Jeans Cable, or Parts Express.

And, as lovin pointed out, if your 'dealer' is ripping you off this much for cables (whether intentionally or not), you might be overpaying for the electronics and speakers as well. What are you buying?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Paying for external DAC anything over $200-300 tops would be a ripoff.
Gents are right about cable. Brands aside, Double shielded aka Coax RCA 1m/3ft cable should not cost over $5-6. Bare speaker wire should be at the least 12AWG (or whatever equivalent rest of world uses to measure cable thickness) and should not cost more than $15
https://www.amazon.com/Speaker-GearIT-Meters-Theater-Speakers/dp/B00HZWYO2G/ref=sr_1_8?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1525321813&sr=1-8&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin:3605292011

I don't know the prices of [brand model] but If I were you, I'd dedicate at least 70% towards speakers

 

[Beave]

12 gauge will work fine, but for runs of only 10 feet at the most, it's overkill and not necessary. I personally like 14 and 16 gauge better, because it's cheaper, more flexible, and easier to work with. I don't have any runs near long enough to need 12 gauge, and apparently neither does the OP.

 

[Ferrara]

Thank you all for your sensible and informative replies. I had not heard of Blue Jeans Cable but I will check them out for sure. I was going to buy Amazon Basics because I saw their cable mentioned in a best audio cable ranking (I can't find the link now).

I blanked out the brand name and models of the gear I am buying because I kept getting a popup message saying my post could not be published due to its "spam-like" nature. The same thing happens again when I try to post listing the brand names and models of the amp, DAC, speakers. So apparently I am forbidden to mention these things iin this forum??

I don't feel like I am being swindled in terms of the quality of the equipment though I am not sure on the prices I'm paying. I am definitely not buying this guy's fancypants cables and speaker wire though.

 

[Ferrara]

My new system is... bee are eye oh model and are E gee A is the brand, DAC-R model name by same maker are E gee A. speakers model A4 by ess pee E en dee oh are. planning to buy a blu-ray player by oh pee pee oh.

 

[speakerman39]

If the OP is planning to use banana plugs, then I would certainly use these:


https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-Banana-Plugs-Corrosion-Resistant-Gold-Plated/dp/B00JFC9BJU/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1525348584&sr=1-4&keywords=banana+plugs


I also like their spades:


https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Fast-Lock-Spade-Plugs/dp/B00L83C376/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1525348781&sr=1-2&keywords=spade+plugs



Mediabridge has very nice quality stuff inmho. Best wishes to the OP.


Cheers,

Phil

 

[KenM10759]

Hard to decipher, but I think you are stating it's a Rega Brio amp, which sells new for under $1,000 US, and a Rega DAC-R that sells here for under $1200 US, and Spendor A4 speakers that have a manufacturer's suggested list price here of $2,395. Depending upon which Oppo BluRay player you choose, it could be the 203 for $549 or the 205 for $1299.

If you're buying all this new and here in the US, you're paying full list price or actually more if it's the Oppo 203. Negotiate on the Rega electronics and Spendor speakers. The Oppo prices are fixed.

It's a VERY nice set of equipment and should sound fantastic! Just don't over-pay for it.

 

[Speedskater]

For long RCA cable runs (more than 10 feet/3 meters) definitely go with Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 (or other cables that BJC lists).
For shorter RCA cables, there are hundreds of options.
For speaker cables there are also hundreds of options. But thicker is better than thinner.

 

[Swerd]

Ferrara, welcome to Audioholics .

I blanked out the brand name and models of the gear I am buying because I kept getting a popup message saying my post could not be published due to its "spam-like" nature.

When you post at least 5 times on AH, these restrictions go away.

Even though I am not directly familiar with the system you plan on buying, it seems like it will be very good.

I agree with all the others who said you do not need expensive cables. You will lose nothing in sound quality if you buy inexpensive interconnects and speaker cables. In fact, these expensive cables often are sold at very high prices, allowing a dealer to make a very high profit margin. It is a common practice to offer attractive prices to a customer on the audio gear, while recovering the lost profits on the cables. As a result, you should avoid buying these expensive cables.

I'm about to purchase a new system to replace my current setup. Getting a [brand and model] amp, [brand and model] DAC, [brand and model] speakers and (separately) [brand and model] disc player. Gonna cost me about $6000 plus whatever I end up paying for the disc player. The guy who's selling me the system wants to sell me expensive cables: $170 for a 1-meter RCA interconnect for amp and DAC, $250 for 20 feet of speaker wire. This sounds like more money than I need to spend.

As I said, I need a couple dual RCA interconnects to hook up the amp, DAC and disc player, plus speaker wire (runs of less than 10 feet per speaker) as well as a couple HDMI cables to hook up my desktop PC and OPPO to the TV. The rest of the cables I will buy are mostly USB 2.0 for my new computer and external devices and I suppose those are not so critical (although my DAC connects to PC via USB).

I noticed that you have (or plan to buy) both a disc player and DAC as well as an OPPO Bluray disc player. That is an unnecessary duplication. Any Bluray or DVD player will also play CDs or other digital audio sources with no loss in sound quality. If that audio dealer advised you to buy another disc player and DAC from him, you should question all his advice. You can buy all that gear from other sources.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

@Swerd , Oppo DVD&BD players of course include a dac and an analog out, but not all BD players have them.
Some simply include only hdmi out

edit: added "all"

 

[Swerd]

@Swerd , Oppo DVD&BD players of course include a dac and an analog out, but not BD players have them.
Some simply include only hdmi out

Yes, you're correct. Thanks

 

[Ferrara]

Hard to decipher, but I think you are stating...

If you're buying all this new and here in the US, you're paying full list price or actually more if it's the Oppo 203. Negotiate on the Rega electronics and Spendor speakers. The Oppo prices are fixed.

It's a VERY nice set of equipment and should sound fantastic! Just don't over-pay for it.

Yes, those are the models I am getting and the prices you give are consistent with what I'm paying except apparently I am being overcharged for the A4 speakers so I will have to look into that. Thanks!

I might get the 203 but I'm hoping to buy the 205 if I can find one at a fair price (they stopped making them so people are selling them for ridiculous figures now on Amazon and eBay).

 

[snakeeyes]

I like Monoprice. Don’t spend too much on cables. That AH article is 100% correct.

 

[Mikado463]

$170 for a 1-meter RCA interconnect pair is about $165 too much.

LOL..........five dollar IC's....yeah right.....

 

[Beave]

LOL..........five dollar IC's....yeah right.....

Yeah, to be honest, you're right - five dollars is actually too much for interconnects, given that so many DVD players and CD players and satellite receivers and cable boxes used to come with a set for free.

 

[Ferrara]

I'm glad you all told me about Blue Jeans Cables. I am definitely going to be ordering from them. The most expensive RCA cable they carry is $40 and that is less than 25% of what my dealer was going to sell me. They have every kind of cable I need (speaker, interconnect, HDMI) except USB.

Anyone want to recommend a good brand of USB cable? Doesn't seem so critical as audio cable but if I am going to buy them then I want to get good ones.

 

[lovinthehd]

BJC does sell a usb cable https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/data-cables/index.htm or do you need something particular?