What interconnects for my amplifier?

C

cameron paterson

Audioholic Chief
It is too big for my media center so it's on the ground off to the side of the room.
 
TheFactor

TheFactor

Audioholic Field Marshall


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
In general though would XLR to RCA sound better. I ask because I do not have the manual to the Parasound amp.
The manual should be available on the Parasound site.

Their amplifiers are not complementary balanced, so using cables with XLR won't be exactly the same as if it was a pro/commercial amplifier. You should have no problems with unbalanced cables. FWIW, I have a Parasound A23/P5 and am very happy with the sound using unbalanced. I have cables with XLR, but never bothered to use them.
 
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The description is just advertising BS from people who don't seem to understand that really, their cables are nothing special and in fact, some are complete crap- I worked for a custom integration company and they switched to AQ for bulk cabling that would be cut to length and the ends installed on-site. This garbage had 24ga center conductors and it was very difficult to terminate without bending the center, even if done exactly the way their training videos showed. The cables with batteries are a joke and they won't discuss it with anyone, AFAIK. They also sell HDMI cables that (according to their advertising and displays) improve the audio- at the low, low price of $1500 for a 6'.
 
P

PaulBe

Junior Audioholic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Audioquest's rhetoric enables the image of beautiful profits.

The 'Star Quad' configuration for mic, line, and speaker level make good engineering sense. Star Quad cable is available from manufacturers such as Belden, Canaire, Gotham, and Mogami. They all make cable suited to pros and home consumers. People should go to these company's sites and do some real research. The costs are relatively small compared to audiophoolery woo-woo cables - a small fraction of the cost of audiophool cables.

If you can solder, you can roll your own with your favorite connectors. The raw mic/line cable is usually less than a buck/foot in a roll. 'Worlds Best Cables' offers a lot of star quad, with various connectors, built for both balanced and unbalanced systems. Finished cables cost about double the cost of raw parts bought in quantity. Check them out at Amazon.
 
Last edited:
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
In general though would XLR to RCA sound better. I ask because I do not have the manual to the Parasound amp.
Won’t sound better, but if you use the RCA to XLR that are wired properly such as the the Monoprice premier ones, you can expect some noise cancellation, not as good as XLR to XLR but could get close. Hypex has some articles on this topic and it explains quite well why the properly wired RCA to XLR (still not balanced) has some of the benefits of common mode noise rejection offered by balanced XLR connections.

For a 12 ft length, RCA to RCA should be fine too, if you already have the cables, try them first and if you don’t hear hiss and hum then you are all set.

I had connected Denon AVRs to my A21 before, they were quiet.
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
@cameron paterson

If you are interested in reading Hypex article on how using RCA to XLR interconnect can yield almost the same benefits as using a balanced interconnect, I have included a link in the following post on ASR:

Obviously, it is better if you AVR has XLR output but they usually don't, so using the RCA to XLR interconnect such as Monoprice's (inexpensive) or Benchmark's as well as March Audio's (the more expensive ones, are probably better), you can get most of the benefits of the balanced interconnects except of course you don't get the 2X voltage, because it is still unbalanced.

Post#2292:
Buckeye Amps: New US based Hypex multichannel amplifier builder, line-up announcement! | Page 115 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
 
Last edited:
P

PaulBe

Junior Audioholic
Last edited:
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
Will 2 of these work? Would a 10ft one be better than a 15ft one? Because the 10ft one is out of stock.

Monoprice 3ft Premier Series XLR Male to RCA Male Cable, 16AWG (Gold Plated) - Monoprice.com
You can buy them in any length here:


15 ft should not be an issue anyway.
 
TheFactor

TheFactor

Audioholic Field Marshall
And I like Audiquest because there special and purty too
It cracks me up how some folks will spend 1000’s and 1000’s of dollars on audiophile equipment and then buy 20 dollar cables .
It’s like having a Lamborghini and running 87 octane lol.
Then those have the audacity after spending 4 to 5 digits on equipment bag on those who like quality interconnects to go with it
Rather for pure aesthetics or better sound to there ears it’s there choice to get and or recommend if that’s how they feel/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkhttps://forums.audioholics.com/forums/index.php?threads/What-interconnects-for-my-amplifier%3F.130745/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
And I like Audiquest because there special and purty too
It cracks me up how some folks will spend 1000’s and 1000’s of dollars on audiophile equipment and then buy 20 dollar cables .
It’s like having a Lamborghini and running 87 octane lol.
Then those have the audacity after spending 4 to 5 digits on equipment bag on those who like quality interconnects to go with it
Rather for pure aesthetics or better sound to there ears it’s there choice to get and or recommend if that’s how they feel/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkhttps://forums.audioholics.com/forums/index.php?threads/What-interconnects-for-my-amplifier%3F.130745/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wire is wire, pretty or not. Expensive cables are just a total waste.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Wire is wire, pretty or not. Expensive cables are just a total waste.
People can spend their money however they want - for aesthetics, for pride of ownership, for that warm fuzzy feeling.

It's no different than people spending money on purses, shoes and other hobbies.

As long as they are not claiming that the wires somehow improve the sound quality.

If I am a millionaire, and I want some wires that I think look pretty, it's nobody's business to tell me I'm wasting my money.

Man, it must be pretty slow around here that we're talking about wires. :eek:
 
TheFactor

TheFactor

Audioholic Field Marshall
[quote uid=29650 name="TLS Guy" post=1678397]Wire is wire, pretty or not. Expensive cables are just a total waste.[/QUOTE]

That’s your opinion and I have mine
Shielding is also important as is the Looks to some .
It may be a waste to you but not to me and many others. The sound difference will vary depending on the individual as far as what they hear and their equipment. Just like may love certain brands and others dislike the sound.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkhttps://forums.audioholics.com/forums/index.php?threads/What-interconnects-for-my-amplifier%3F.130745/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Latest posts

newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top