|   Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | George Weaver
Apr 22, 2001 9:06 AM | | I have one pair of Straightwire 'Sonatas' and one pair of Straightwire 'Encore II's'. They are both, in my opinion, fairly quality cables, and leftover from a previous system I am revamping. My new system will consist of Magnepan MMG's, Parasound PHP-850 preamp, Rotel amplifier, and Denon HDCD player (if this makes a difference). Which cables should I run between the preamp and amp, and which ones between the CD player and preamp? Thanks. |
| No!! IF you do.... | Eyespy
Apr 22, 2001 9:26 AM | | ...you risk causing extreme system instability, and could cause a negative energy superflux, leading to a severe implosive catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. I wouldn't want to be in the same dimension when that hell breaks loose! |
| No!! IF you do.... | on the fence
Apr 22, 2001 12:24 PM | | Then what would you and Mtry do without Radio Shack.
on the fence |
| No!! IF you do.... | mtrycrafts
Apr 22, 2001 8:17 PM | | WallMart, Target, mcm electronics, partsexpress, local electronics stores will do just fine. |
| re: Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | John Stalberg
Apr 22, 2001 10:06 AM | | This problem casts a light on the cable issue. So you say you have good cables but you doesn´t know in which order to connect them or if it is wise. Then what do you base your opinion about the cables quality on? If you want a cable to just let the signal thru, you should use the best cable and use it everywhere. There wouldn´t be any need for different cables. If you wan´t cables for coloring the sound, maby you should look elsewere in the component chain and fix the coloring there John Stalberg. |
| re: Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | estan
Apr 22, 2001 11:14 AM | | experiment and if you hear a difference then use the configuration that you like the most. Straightwire makes a well constructed cable and if they are not adding coloration it should make absolutely no difference but I would use the lowest capacitance cable with the lowest signal level but just as a general rule. |
| re: Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | mtrycrafts
Apr 22, 2001 8:16 PM | | >>>experiment and if you hear a difference <<<
No recommendation about bias control? Would that not be important? |
| re: Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | estan
Apr 22, 2001 9:26 PM | | yes if he biases the Rotel to class A then it would be important...
he only has 2 pairs of cables and he can be as biased as he wants...if he likes one configuration more for whatever reason then thats his preference...end of saga!
Myself I prefer to generally use the lowest capacitance cable on the source signal...my bias...based on voodoo.
Mr. Risch has a similar point of view it seems.
I myself would be more concerned with the interface between the Rotel and the Maggies....a lot of room for experimenting there. |
| Listen to Eyespy; he knows | Norm Strong
Apr 22, 2001 12:22 PM | | Never mix two different brands of interconnects in the same system. After the electrons travel through one company's interconnects, they have been polarized to travel easily through any other cable of the same brand. But when they encounter a different brand, there is a discontinuity while they are re-polarized for the new brand. Don't let this happen to you! |
| Yuch Yuch Yuch | Robh3606
Apr 22, 2001 5:17 PM | | You guys are nuts!!! |
| Listen to Eyespy; he knows | Dupper
Apr 23, 2001 5:39 PM | | Now I see why you guys were banned from other places. |
| Now I see why you guys were banned from other places | mtrycrafts
Apr 23, 2001 10:44 PM | | Please tell us where these places are and provide your proof, instead of blowing hot air, again. UNfounded accusations? |
| I see | mtrycrafts
Apr 23, 2001 10:46 PM | | Get your eyes examined, you don't see so good. |
| I see | Dupper
Apr 24, 2001 11:42 AM | | I don't? You telling me I didn't see Eyespy give a sarcastic answer to someone that was asking a question? Then others key in on it. That is why I said what I said. Or maybe you have that selective sight, you only see what you want to see, maybe hear too. |
| Any comments | mtrycrafts
Apr 24, 2001 10:58 PM | | Who has been banned from where? No data again? Just make it up on the fly? |
| Any comments | Dupper
Apr 25, 2001 8:46 PM | | Let me put it this way, it was some info offered by one of your followers. |
| Any comments | mtrycrafts
Apr 26, 2001 12:04 AM | | Put up the link. |
| Any comments | Dupper
Apr 26, 2001 6:36 PM | | The thread is out of archive. I'll make a deal with ya though. I'll give a name if you show me the phone bill from Paradigm. |
| re: Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | Jon Risch
Apr 22, 2001 5:47 PM | | One rule of thumb that actually makes sense is to always use the best cable for your sources, becuase if it gets lost their, it can't make it through the rest of the system either. However, if there is a great disparity between cables, then the weakest link (OH NO, now the NBC police will be after me!) may limit the overall performance somewhat.
To illustrate, I post an excerpt from a post titled "Everyone Should Get Good Cables" located at:
http://www.audioreview.com/message/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&omm=0&om=809&forum=DCForumID8
EXCERPT
Think in terms of a filter built into each and every cable, as well as a grunge box full of distortion that leaks into any signal passed down the cable. In a way, these analogies are true, in that certain common cable configurations do filter some of the audio signal, and some do add a certain amount of distortion to the signal. To quantify these two mechanisms, let us assume that the distortion is so minute, that it takes some of the more sensitive listeners to detect it reliably under controlled conditions, and that the filtering effect is of a greater degree that is a little more readily apparent. Neither will leap out at you, they are both subtle in nature.
Now, what does a typical audiophile do to audition cables? Many times, they just substitute a pair of interconnects or a set of speaker cables into the system, fire it up, and wait to see what leaps out at them. When nothing sonically spectacular or obvious occurs, they erroneously conclude that they can't hear anything, and that the nay-sayers are right: snake-oil.
However, the problem lies with the nature of cable performance benefits, and how the filtering and minute added grundge affect a listeners percept. If only one cable is substituted, then the other cables in the signal chain (at least a speaker cable set OR an interconnect for simple systems, and several interconnects for more complex systems) will still have their filtering action and added grundge factor.
Looked at another way, if what makes a high performance cable special is being thrown out by other portions of the system, including other cables that haven't been upgraded, then it is much more difficult for those special qualities to be noticed when only one cable is changed. The filtering has already occured to some extent, and a certain amount of grundge has been added already, so it is that much harder to notice any improvements due to the single cable being changed.
END EXCERPT
I would try it both ways, but start with the Encore II from the CD player to the preamp.
Jon Risch |
| re: Is it OK to MIX different kinds of quality interconnects? | mtrycrafts
Apr 22, 2001 8:29 PM | | >>>However, if there is a great disparity between cables<<<
Yes, Jon, very big 'if' indeed. I thought you didn't find a cable with worse than .1dB difference? |
| Sure | Mwalsdor@cscc.edu
Apr 23, 2001 7:00 AM | | Not familiar with the Straightwire stuff, I'm not certain the difference between the two cables in question, but you feel they are both "fairly quality cables". I would not advise running a top-of-the-line cable with their entry-level cable in the same system, unless after long-term listening you felt that was the best set-up. After sampling some of the very best cables/cords out there I'm inclined to say that they can bring improvements that can not be realized by lesser components, and once enjoyed is difficult to live without, but synergy is everything. I feel you would be better running two cables from the midway point of their lineup than extremes. I would use the best cable, or the cable you like best closest to the CDP, but experiment, not everything in audio - or life - follows such formula.
On a related note, I'm also partial to maintaining cable-family integrity, but again synergy is everything. As I'm running Silverline bi-wire speaker cables matching the internal wire in the speaker enclosures with Magnan type Vi from D/A to passive, XLO signature from passive to amp. Audio Magic mystic reference (i2s) digital all-around. I also have two (2) Silverline I.C.'s that depending on system setup are preferred overall. Matching cables brings my system closer to the more natural recreation of music while mixing embellish individual aspects of that presentation.
MikE |
| Yes, it is. | cacophrastus
Apr 23, 2001 11:24 AM | | You can use mix and match any cable you like. No one has ever proved that different cables can reliably be picked out in a double blind test.
If you look at the physics of how signals in the audio frequency band are transmitted in a cable, there isn't any valid reason to think that there would be audible differences.
It has been well proven that people will believe what they want to believe even if the evidence doesn't support that view. Just look at how a stage magician manages to distract and fool the audience into believing that what isn't supposed to be possible just happened.
If someone says that the latest $2000 cable just lifted the veil from the music, I believe that it's the power of wishful thinking at work, and what got lifted wasn't the veil. |
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