Can I do any better than BJC LC-1 or Gotham GAC-1 Ultra Pro for the money?


Hello!
So I need about 5.5’ cables for my amp to preamp and about 2.5’ ones for my atmos amp channels.
I was going to buy World Best cable Gotham GAC-1 Ultra Pro:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0848NDY57/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But the BJC LC-1 seems to often be recommended as best anywhere near its price
What do you guys think?
Any real difference or can I do better for the same money?

 

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OP, measurements? I don't think so, not at least from a practical point of view. It's really about synergy between components and your speakers/ears. Lack of meaningful measurements is one of the reasons that that is so much discussion about cables in the first place. Don't get me wrong, there are measurements that are meaningful for someone who knows how to use them in the context of their system, but no one can really make really meaningful recommendations without experience with your stuff, in your room, and specific sonic preferences sound wise.

Yes you can…i used WBC mogami cables until I tried some Nordost odin 2 and Gold Chinese copies.  Way better if you don’t have an issue buying Chinese.  Stunning SQ for the 💰.  Highly recommended by many. Check out this thread.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/counterfeit-chinese-cables

@newbee but is someone claims say one cable has highs that are rolled off vs another, I surely should be able to measure that. Dont you agree?

No, I don't agree. As previously indicated there are measurements available for cables, but cables/IC's, etc are meant to connect 2 components, and the sum of these three items would be the meaningful measurements to consider. Most folks I believe have neither the competence nor equipment necessary to make such measurements, nor the ability to assess how much of what they hear comes from other components or room set up. 

FWIW, when it comes to describing sonic differences, I'm not sure you will be able to get any uniformity of opinion about what constitutes high frequencies. There are primary tones and there are overtones. The frequency range for 'high frequencies' for the former can be up to say 2500 to 3500 hz (unless you are listening to a recorder or Ema Sumac) and overtones ranging from 3500 hz up to dog frequencies. When I think about what constitutes high frequencies I think of 'overtones' because that makes the spectrum more natural. But I know of folks who think high frequencies consist of the sound in the 2500 hertz range. In fact some equipment manufacturers have been know to juice up that range to give their components a greater sense of highs. 

So my original advise still stands. Take it and you will have a personal view of the type of sound you which to hear. Hopefully you will like one of the two and then be able to make your decision accordingly. 

Good luck.

 

There are three levels of cable performance:

Bad ones.  Not just cheap, some very expensive ones are crap. Most cheap ones are not the best in at least RF filtering. 

Good ones. WBC and  Blue Jean LC-1 seem to fall into that category. So do most well made ones. I have been happy with some Amazon "Cablesonline.com" ones. A lot of boutique ones are at just as good.  There is some to be said for star-quad or braided like Kimber IF you have a LF noise problem.  I don't think I would do a long run on the Kimber, but that is just me. ( not cheap either)  I would attack the hum problem elsewhere, but I am an engineer and I look at systems inclusively. 

I like that WBC and Blue Jean will make any length.  Shorter is always better!  I also don't like the two foot long RCAs BJ uses.  Preference.  Most honest cables post their capacitance, but not their inductance so knowing if they are balanced is hard.  I have not been convinced yet that anything above Belden 1505F, Gothan, LC-1, Canare L4S6, Mogami W3080 etc.  on generic DIY all brass RCAs is any better in any system that costs less than my house. I'll never know. 

Magic ones.  All in the price and your head. No cable can add anything, only take away. All addition is in your head. Real to you even if not in the real world. I do not want my cables to  tailor my music by distortion or filtering.  Some do. 

We can measure everything about a cable. We can't tell you which of those measurements make you, or  as newbee correctly pointed out, measurements are of the cable, not your SYSTEM.    No magic. Just science.  Fortunately most line level are reasonably predictable with somewhere between 10 and 100 Ohms out but differences in feedback  and most inputs between 22  to 50K inputs, but differences in input filters. A passive preamp can throw a monkey wrench in it.  Much easier than speaker cables.