Integrated Amp Jumpers

Any IC can be used as a jumper - just as you would connect any pre amp to a power amp.

Different models and lengths will yield different results.

Luckily, experimentation in this hobby is fun and often yields pleasant surprises : )

Enjoy!

I have tried two brands of jumpers.

Audioquest (black color) and Tara Labs "rectangular solid core"

... I could hear the downgrade.

I would leave the stock jumpers there, if it were me,OR put in good normal cables.

I now own two sets of these things and feel some shame in wanting to sell them,they should be burned.

just my 2 cents.

I have found the best way to get better sound is better amps,speakers.

BTW, I have also found the thicker Radio shack RCA's that I've gotten from Goodwill are great cables! no kidding....
and $1.99

I appreciate all of your insight. Thanks!

Darkkeys:

Here is my experience with changing jumpers on an AMC solid state integrated in order of preference:

1. home made jumpers with silver braided wires with very thin clear insulation (think Crystal Cable) and gold plated RCA plugs - very clear sounding with good presence through entire frequency range - tight bass (playing in my system now)

2. Audioquest Diamondback ICs (0.5m) - nice well rounded sound, no particular part of spectrum stands out above the other

3. Audioquest dedicated copper amp jumpers (black) - better bass, midrange and treble presence compared to stock metal bars, slightly prominent bass, somewhat dull higher registers compared to Diamondback or silver wires.

4. stock metal bars - flat, dull, slow sounding, huge limiting factor on sound of overall system.

I found that changing the jumper made a BIG difference in my system, and that different jumpers sounded very different. I really wanted to like the Audioquest product marketed for this purpose, but its performance is clearly a step down from the their Diamondbacks and King Cobras, and in my system at least, they do NOT do the trick. The home made silver wires were a bit harsh at first, but once they burned in they just shimmered, and I really miss the detail in both the lows and highs if I take them out. I am at a loss to explain how 3" of silver wire makes such a big difference in a sea of copper conductors, but they are definitely there to stay.

By the way, I use AQ Diamondback ICs to connect my gear as I found these to be really well built and great sounding wires relative to cost (before they realized what they had and nearly doubled the price!) FWIW, I also have some old Radio Shack ICs that I much prefer to many other name brand products, including Monster cables and entry level AQs and Chord products.

Here are some other ideas for jumpers, but I cannot vouch for the performance:

http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/5274

http://cgi.ebay.com/Audiophile-Grade-Pre-amp-Jumpers-with-Cardas-GRCM-6_W0QQitemZ380024586299QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL080505199a8044

Knownothing, thanks for your insight. I favor the sound of the Diamondback also when used as jumpers. I first used a 1.5m Diamondback as an amp/pre-amp jumper, which I replaced with a .5m King Cobra. The Diamondback was much more enjoyable as it was very holographic. The King Cobra on my system has a tighter more controlled sound most noticed in the bass response. I also spoke to a couple dealers about using the Diamondback vs the Audioquest dedicated black jumpers. I was told by both dealers that they are pretty much the same cables. Wondering how this i true? As you did, I also heard the Diamondbacks a vast improvement over the black jumpers. Based on what I have heard so far, I will more than likely get a .5m Diamondback to use as a jumper.