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Anyone try Acoustic Research Pro cables?

I have replaced some of my Monster Cables with the Acoustic Research Pro cables because they sound better to me (even though they are less expensive). Still, given that I've only experimented with these two brands, I'm wondering if I'm "missing" something. Has anyone else tried these cables, and what are your impressions? Would I find a noticable improvement by moving up in quality?

I'm currently using a B&K Refence 30 preamp/processor, Outlaw Audio and Acurus amps, Toshiba DVD as transport, D.H. labs q-10 speaker cables, Paradigm Reference 100 v.2's, and a Stealth Fineline MKII digital coax (the AR cables are between processor and amps).
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sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I bought some for a Rotel receiver, CD, Tape Deck, Phono setup I put together for my parents (they're not audio nuts, they just want sound). For the money they are better than the cheap OEM stuff they give away free with Hifi gear, especially in the higher frequencies. They are not much better than OEM cables for bass. (Probably why Sean found them bright.) They are shielded and grounded properly, so they are better then OEM cables in that department. If the choice was between them and the lower end Monster stuff, I would save the money and get the AR.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Sugar, i thought they sounded dull and flat in the system that i installed them in. The owner of these cables found them bright, harsh and glaring. In terms of comparing them to Monster, i would not doubt if Monster actually made these for AR / Recoton.

The design of the cables that i have here is quite "valid" from a technical standpoint. They use twisting and shielding to maximize RFI rejection. I just don't know about the quality of materials used ( insulators and copper ). The connectors are of pretty good quality. The owner was going to throw the cables out but save the connectors, so that should tell you something... Sean
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sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Compared with what most of us consider decent cables, I agree. For someone wanting something better than the $2 OEM variety, they are fine. That system for my parents; other than the Rotel receiver, is all Onkyo gear and a Dual turntable and some decent Boston Accoustic speakers. For this kind of system whether audio or HT, I would think these are fine. The cheap cables caused a humm, so I got the AR and it went away. So the ground and shield is better.
audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb
1,112 posts
 
AR cables
I accidentally bid on a pair on e-bay when I did a search on Audio Research - the guy posts them withthe word audio knowing he will catch a few people on that end. He would not retract the bid and I was stuck with them, they were not expensive so it wasn't a big deal

Marginal cables, a little better than the cables commonly "given away" with equipment but you could do much better for a little more money. I have it hooked up to a hifi vcr I rarely use
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
They claim to be OFC copper. They were recently revamped with new packaging and colors. I needed a couple Y adapters for the HT system. It is hard to find decent ones other than the cheapos at Radio Shack. I was in Sears and found they had the old packaged ones on the clearance rack. They had a couple of the Y adapters for only $2.93 so I got them.
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