2. cables
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cable as tone control

I'm looking for recommendations into a cable that can help me control breightness that I cannot otherwise tame.

The system is actually my portable - A Panasonic 580 "walkman" type CD player, Grado RA-1 headphone amp and Koss portable headphones. This is a Headroom recommended system and I use it while driving my '66 MGB, in which I dare not put an aftermarket stereo. And it actually sounds quite good considering the source player.

What's your recommendation for a cable that will help tame the brighness as best I can, since I can't use a DAC or bring my SCD-1 in the car! (The Grado RA-1 headphone amp uses standard RCA cables to connect to the Panasionic with a mini stereo adapter).

I do a lot of listening on this system, so I'd look at cables with a list price of up to $1500 (i.e Golden Cross, Quatro Fil, etc. -- but my gut feeling is that's there is some lower price stuff out there that might be specifically good at helping to tame that digital edginess that I hate so much. --Lorne
lornecherry
musicslug
430 posts
 
You might look into one of those tiny little dacs that people use with DAT players. They may only be A to D but I think that would be the most efficient use of your $.
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
Simple, try Harmonic Technology's Truthlinks, they will be as good as anything at smoothing out the edge without sacrificing quality or tonal bajance. Best $150 you will ever spend on a cable, given your criteria.
ehider
286 posts
 
If you are willing to make your own cables, I can provide you with some various designs to try that will allow you to custom tune the sound of the cable. These are very cheap to make, they just take many hours to contruct.
danvetc
527 posts
 
I have the exact same portable set up, (Panasonic 580 and RA-1 amp,) as you except that I use Grado headphones with it. That is where I would start! (At least get some kind of decent headphones that the RA-1 can push.) I use both the Grado SR60 and just bought a pair of SR225, (to get better bass and a bit more refinement.) The SR60s are inexpensive and will be much, much better than the headphones you know use. I do not have any problem with edginess using the Grado phones. I am using [I think] a Wireworld interconnect that I bought from the good people at Headroom. Good luck. Charlie
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