I know you CAN see a difference with more expensive video cables, but what about audio?

[niwi7]

Dont try and tell me that im making this up b/c i have used generic component video cables VS accoustic research component video cables VS monster cables and even though there was no noticable difference between the accoustic research and the monsters, there was a tremendous difference between the generic vs ar/monster

however

now im looking to buy 2 optical audio cables-- 1 for cable box, 1 for dvd player

if you go to bestbuy the accoustic research cables are around 20, probably more

however...i search on ebay--- and the cheapest possible is like $3 w/ 3 shipping but those look like little tiny wires and a POS, however the 10 dollar cords with the silver connectors etc etc look fine to me...either way....can you really notice a difference in SOUND between different cables?

here is an example of one im talking about:

6 dollar horrible piece of cr@p:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3065178242&category=14965


13 dollar cable that looks similar to expensive ones from bb:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3064510479&category=14965





so my bottom line question is--- yes....you can definately see a difference in video signal with different quality wires...but HOW could you see a difference in audio? it wouldnt sound as crisp? i dont get it....

 

[Apex]

It depends on your ears and your equipment (better the equipment the more likely you'll hear the difference).

With my ears and my equipment, I cannot tell the difference between 2 non-defective optical digital cables.

 

[EyeMWing]

Heh. For non-optical, use large copper ELECTRICAL WIRE and solder your own tips on if you want the best signal. Even for video, in my experience.I've got 3 analog video signals over one solid copper electrical cable right now (It's hard as hell to bend). For optical, just buy an expensive one.

You *WILL* notice a difference.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

don't get the cheapest, but don't buy the most expensive. I like the AR stuff but partsexpress.com has their own line dayton, i think, thats cheaper and bout the same quality.

 

[DOSfan]

Well.... It gets a bit more complicated than using large copper electrical wire.

The longer you have to run the cables, the thinner you want to go.

But, in general, thicker is better.

It is actually a fine balancing line.

As for why, imagine water pipes.

For short distances, a wider pipe lets water (in this case signal) flow better.

But over longer distances, you start to loose pressure, therefor it is not as efficient.

This is a bad analogy, but it gives you the basics.

 

[fs5]

the better the equipment the better cable you'll need. If you're running some cheap HTIB then you don't need super cables.

 

[EvilYoda]

We sell Tara Labs if you want a cable

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Optical audio is transmitted digitally, as long as you're careful not to bend the cable more than it's supposed to bend you won't hear any perceptible difference (digital is digital, unless there are too many transmission errors for the ECC).

Quality of video cables makes a big difference because the signal transmitted is analog.

Get the cheap-ass optical cable first IMHO, if you're unsatisfied go back and buy a more expensive one (Monster is overprices in almost all cases, be warned).

 

[yellowperil]

I read a magazine where they conducted some blind tests using different types of cable, including Monster. The other stuff was decent too but not as expensive (they even used lamp cord). They concluded that Monster was no better than any decent cable (even lamp cords). They also hooked everything up to switches so they could A-B them right away instead of unhooking/rehooking everything. The president of Monster wrote them and defended their claim that Monster was somehow superior, citing thousands of 'customer satisfaction' surveys of Monster buyers, who said Monster sounded better than their old cable. What they didn't control for was the 'I just spent a small fortune on interconnects so I better hear an improvement to justify my purchase' factor.

If you have an ultra-high end system, then it might be worth getting the best cables. But with decent cables, the limiting factor in the signal chain is likely going to be the speakers or something else.

 

[jfall]

Make RCA's out of cat5

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: DOSfan
Well.... It gets a bit more complicated than using large copper electrical wire.

The longer you have to run the cables, the thinner you want to go.

But, in general, thicker is better.

It is actually a fine balancing line.

As for why, imagine water pipes.

For short distances, a wider pipe lets water (in this case signal) flow better.

But over longer distances, you start to loose pressure, therefor it is not as efficient.

This is a bad analogy, but it gives you the basics.

This is so not true with copper.

 

[luvya]

u can't

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: jfall
Make RCA's out of cat5

Done it. It looks and sounds piss poor for a cable of the size and very difficult to do (You strip those damn individual leads and solder them together. I guarantee you'll cut them almost every time)

 

[Shockwave]

Cabling is cabling for audio. Buy whats cheap and be happy.

 

[Koing]

Spend 10% of your total system on interconnects and speaker cabling.

Good rule of thumb.

If you have a pricey system you MUST spend more to do it justice. No point in spending $1k on EACH component then go cheapo on cables. Spend at least 10% on the said stuff.

If you have duff ears then doesn't really matter.

Koing

 

[niwi7]

thanks for responses


i have some random speakers about 60w each that my friend gave us cuase he won them at a raffle lol


then we went out and bought a yamaha reciever from bestbuy for 200

using radioshack speaker cable, and accoustic research component cables going into the 51" hitachi tv

 

[Apex]

Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Spoooon]

I don't think you can see a difference with more expensive audio cables. You might hear one though.

 

[Amorphus]

cheap speakers, I see... get some cheap-ish wires. no need splurging.

 

[V00DOO]

I got those cheap Optical cable from Ebay. Honestly, I can't tell the difference between the cheapy optical and my Accoustic Research optical. Maybe I am just old and hard of hearing.

 

[jpeyton]

Cheap optical cables, 12 gauge lamp wire for speakers.