2. cables
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To splice or not to splice?

I have a mid-fi system (Dynaudio MkII, NAD c320BEE, Canare wires) and recently acquired a 6-foot Audioquest King Cobra cable for next-to-nothing. My first inclination was to cut it up to make a pair of extremely short IC's to replace my pre-to-power amp jumpers and then to make one or two pairs of short IC's for component-to-pre connection.

I have since become aware that the King Cobra has connectors which are welded, not soldered. I'm not concerned about losing value as I have little in the cable and do not plan to sell it. I am concerned with losing a high percentage of sound after splicing and adding standard audio RCA connectors using solder.

I expect a small loss from the process. Am I likely to be disappointed?

Is there anyone here with some experience in this realm?

many thanks,

T.U.
128x128tostadosunidos
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Sorry. I didn't realize you only had 1 actual cable. Since were are talking about IC's I just naturally thought one pair. You definitely did the right thing by listening to it and confirming a difference. There's only one thing left for your to do: Chop! Have fun, just watch your fingers.

One last thing. If you are planning to use the 2 original factory terminated RCA terminals, make sure that use use them in the exact same application. For example, if you make a pair of IC's, you'll have to add a connector to each piece. When you use the cable run the like RCA's together and not at opposite ends. Needless to say, if you make more than 1 pair, keep the originals together in 1 pair. Anyway, I'm sure you would have figured all this out yourself, but it doesn't hurt to be careful.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,433 posts
 
Of course you can hear it. It opens highs. My brother has NAD and has the same AQ jumpers. I believe AQ uses same materials as KC. Jumpers are only $28 while used 2m King Cobra runs at least $100. It used to be called Python and was twice more before AQ moved production to China, lowered prices (to stay competitive) and change names (perhaps to avoid upsetting current users). My previous IC was King Cobra.
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos OP
1,197 posts
 
Zd542, wouldn't it be the opposite? One of the original RCA's has the arrows pointing in, the other out. So I think one should be in the preamp, the other in the source component or in the power amp (if used as jumper). Right?
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Zd542, wouldn't it be the opposite? One of the original RCA's has the arrows pointing in, the other out. So I think one should be in the preamp, the other in the source component or in the power amp (if used as jumper). Right?"

No. The arrows are for the cables themselves, not the connectors. They are used for break in. You can run them the other way, but it will just take a little longer for the cables to re-break in for the change in direction. If you are making a pair of IC's or jumpers, you want them exactly the same.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
DC current flows from positive to negative. AC current runs back and forth. If you reverse arrows the current will run forth and back.
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