Integrated Amp Jumpers

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.

"I will more than likely get a .5m Diamondback to use as a jumper."

Good choice, I like the Diamondback too,great cable..
and cheap to-boot..

That is what I tested as jumpers - 0.5m Diamondback interconnects.

On the face of it, the construction appears similar between the dedicated AQ jumpers and the AQ Diamondback/King Cobra interconnects, they use similar solid wires in PE air tubes (PSC for Diamondbacks or PSC+ for jumpers and King Cobras).

But there are structural differences and those differences apparently matter for sound. First of all the interconnects have several wires in a twisted configuration (jumpers only require and have one wire). Second the interconnects are shielded with a drain wire, I believe the jumpers are not. Last but perhaps most important, the RCA connectors on the interconnects are silver plated and cold welded to the wires - both features shared with AQ's best interconnects. Compare this to the more standard gold plated RCA jacks on the dedicated jumpers which are the same style used on AQ's entry level wires. I am thinking the shielding, connectors and termination all contribute to the greater perceived performance of the Diamondbacks used as jumpers compared to AQ's dedicated product, even though the jumpers use slightly more exotic copper formula.

Makes me wonder if the dealers you talked to actually compared them by listening...

Knownothing,

How ironic is your name compared to the insight you have provided (smiling). That was a great explanation! Thanks again.

Well, I will give one of the dealers I spoke with credit as he told me the King Cobras would have tighter, more defined bass response compared to the Diamondbacks. He was right about that.

As far as checking out various cables, my choices are none. Living in a small city means placing orders without auditioning first in most cases.

I will be on the phone Monday ordering a pair of .5m Diamondbacks for use as amp to pre-amp jumpers.