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Upgrading interconnects

Over the past month I have been reading various reviews and forum posting concerning RCA interconnects. First my system: Denon AVR-4311CI being used in pre-amp mode. Wyred 4 sound ST-1000MKII used to power my two front speakers. Emotiva XPA-3 used to power my center and rear speakers. Speakers Mirage OMD-28’s for the front, center Mirage OMD-C2, and rears Mirage OMDR’s. I am using an Emotiva ERC-2 CD player. Since I am looking at improving my 2 channel listening I will not list the rest of my audio components unless needed. I am using Monster M2.4 bi-wire speaker cable for my OMD-28’s. I am using an Emotiva digital coxial cable to connect the ECR-2 to the Denon 4311. The Denon 4311 is connected to ST-1000MKII using Zu Audio Wlyde RCA interconnects.
I have been reading about various different RCA interconnects and I am considering the following below: All interconnects are 1 meter in length for the prices I quoted.
Luminous audio Synchestra reference: 479.00 (on sale 407.15)
Crimson music links: $360.00
Grover Huffman: $200.00
Cabledyne reference silver: $450
Audio Art IC-3SE: $420.00
Morrow: MA3 with Eichaman silver RCA: $397.00 (sale $277.90). MA4 with Eichman silver RCA: $527.00 (sale $368.90)
Signal Cable Silver resolution with Neutrik ProFi RCA: $139.00
I would like to keep the price around $300.00 for a set of interconnects with not spending more than $500.00. Also I am going to be adding a DAC (looking at the Wyred 4 sound DAC-2) in the future since I have an extensive iTunes account. Presently I am connecting my PC (Soundblaster X-FI sound card) via a toslink optical cable (monoprice cable) to my Denon 4311. I am thinking about connection my ERC-2 via RCA interconnects or should I just leave the ERC-2 connected to Denon with the digital coxial cable. So I am looking at purchasing two sets. One set to connect the Denon 4311 to the Wyred 4 sound amp and the second set for the DAC I will be buying in the upcoming months. Please let me know if I am on the right track. The end result is to increase the sound quality in my 2 channel listening.
grunt66
arh
366 posts
 
The Grover Huffman cables are really very good.
Alan
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,983 posts
 
"The Grover Huffman cables are really very good."
Alan

+1...Highly recommended!
bigshutterbug
383 posts
 
It sounds like your "weakest link" at the moment is the pre-amp section of your receiver. Upgrading the cables for 2 channel music use might not do as much as upgrading to an affordable, simple pre-amp such as a good LDR or passive. After that, a good DAC, then work on the cables.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
Please let me know if I am on the right track. The end result is to increase the sound quality in my 2 channel listening.
IMHO, for a significant sound quality increase in 2 channel listening, you should be looking for a 2 channel preamp with HT bypass to eliminate using the AVR as the preamp for 2 channel. This has been discussed many times on this forum, and the ones that added the preamp respond with comments like, "Wow! the speakers came to life."

I not saying to forget about cables, but just that they should be secondary. Improvements from cables will be small compared to what you will get from a dedicated 2 channel preamp.
photon46
1,082 posts
 
I'd agree with Bigshutterbug and Tls49, if you want the biggest return on the dollar to increase resolution in your two channel listening, upgrade the preamp first. A good preamp can transform the sound of your system. I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't hear too much difference between any of your wire candidates with the Denon. That said, I've used both the Luminous Synchestra and the Signal Cable Resolution, both with Eichmann RCA connectors. The Signal Cable is good, even excellent for the price. However, the Synchestra Reference is on a higher level of nuanced resolution (if the rest of your system is up to the task of allowing you to hear the differences.) I've got my entire system wired with Synchestra References and have no urge to upgrade.
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