How to choose the kind of cables for your system?

Your question is very difficult to answer. Every single person that responds will give you a different answer. Thats OK. We all have to make out own decisions on how we choose our audio components. This is how I do it.

I feel the best way to pick the best cables for your system is to properly match your components. Cables do make a difference but I feel that most audiophiles have unrealistic expectations when it comes to cables. They ask too much. Every time I try a cable that makes a "big" difference, even if I like them at first, almost always fail over long term listening. In my system, I don't want cables that make a big difference.

Also, people always try to use cables to fix problems in their system. For example, a very common complaint is high frequencies can be too harsh or bright. In that case, the real problem may be a metal tweeter. I feel the best way to fix this would be to get a speaker that has a soft dome tweeter. Many people would not agree with me and buy cables (and sometimes tubes) to fix the problem. This almost never works.

In the end, if you match your components properly, you only need to buy cables to do what they are meant to do in the first place; transfer the signal to the next component. Doing it this way makes it very easy to choose cables. Not only that, you'll save a lot of money.

If your system is revealing enough there is no limit to how much you should expect to spend other than your budget. Every step up or change will be evident and in many cases as significant as major component changes. Best though to try different cables in your own system and develop a sense of what to expect for your dollars. That said, I'd start by sampling some of the stuff available through the Cable Co. This will save you much time and money.

Hi Clarrie

There are some that say 10 to 15% of what your system costs or what it's MSRP was is what should be spent on cabling for your system.

For me since my gear is mid range budget gear I bought cabling according to that. I also checked the A'gon forum archives to see what other members have used with the same gear I have to get an idea.

Clarrie,

You're in Singapore if I'm not mistaken, so I don't know if The Cable Company will be able to assist you with their lending library of cables.

You've said that you have a Pass X250.5 amp and are asking about good preamps in your other posts. So you do have good equipment, and like HEW stated, a revealing system allows for the better reward with higher quality cables.

The question that everyone here talks about is: does high quality also infer high cost?

I once had a high quality system that consisted of an Accustic Arts CD transport and DAC, a Herron tube preamp and Herron monoblocks. I used Stealth Indra interconnects and it sounded really good. A tube went out and blew both monoblocks (my fault for the second monoblock blowing trying to diagnose the problem because I wasn't familiar with tube gear ).

Anyway, when I sent the Herron preamp and amps in to be repaired, I brought my old B&K preamp and amp out of the closet. I hooked them up using the Stealth Indra interconnects and I couldn't believe how good they sounded!

So, it seems that hooking up even modest components with high quality cables will show you how much better they actually are than what we expect out of them.

That brings us back to high quality versus high cost. I haven't listened to new cabling less than $500.00-$1000.00 for so long, I don't know what's out there. There are plenty other members making recommendation that are worth exploring.

I will say this, I've gotten rid of all of the backup cables that I had with two exceptions: a set of anticable speaker cables which aren't even broken in, so I don't know how good or bad they are, and a 40 years old set of blue Nakamichi unbalanced interconnects that I will never get rid of because they're still that good.

Being in Singapore, you may have to buy to try cables. Elizabeth is a very trusted member and has a very nice system, so the Pangea power cords are worth trying for sure.

I would recommend trying these power cords: http://app.audiogon.com/listings/ac-cables-running-springs-hz-crown-jewel-power-cords-15-amp-excellent-condition-2012-11-06-power-92691-mission-viejo-ca.

It is a very good power cord that I used myself until I went up one more step to the top of the line X20. The Running Springs Crown Jewel HZ is actually a CH Acoustic X15.

If you like it and decide to move up to the X20 at a later date, the X15, or Crown Jewel HZ, works great on your TV!

Chuck

Hi all,

Thanks for the input... Continue to recommend power cables. I need to get two pairs of XLR interconnects and an AES/EBU digital XLR... recommendations...