|   Anyone have any experience with the signalcompany.com? | igor
Jun 19, 2002 11:31 AM | | I was curious if anyone has purchased cables or power chords from the signalcompany.com? Their analog cables seem very reasonably priced ($29) and their speaker cables are also well priced (yes I know you can get cheaper at Home Depot, and I have, but please don't go there this time). And their power cords are a fraction of the price compared to the competition. Has anyone heard these products? Any feedback would be great. But if you are a naysayer, no need to respond. Thanks. |
| re: Anyone have any experience with the signalcompany.com? | Spiky
Jun 20, 2002 6:31 AM | | Never heard of them. Perhaps you could type the actual web address, that one doesn't appear correct. |
| re: Oops, my mistake, here it is... | igor
Jun 20, 2002 8:35 AM | | http://www.signalcable.com/ is the correct link, and the name is Signal Cable. I saw an ad for this site on audiogon, and it seems like the products offer good value. The endorsements are great, but why would they post a bad one, eh? No reviews on AR that I could find. Thanks for catching my error. |
| re: Oops, my mistake, here it is... | mtrycrafts
Jun 20, 2002 9:31 PM | | Unfortunately capacitance is of no use in a speaker cable evaluation, indictance is which they didn't publish.
They should have stated the ga rather than theresistance for 1000ft.
This cables is 16 ga, by the way, or a hair less.
$65 for 6 ft is not a great value. |
| re: Oops, my mistake, here it is... | igor
Jun 21, 2002 5:43 AM | | "$65 for 6 ft is not a great value." Depends on your definition of value. We've all seen cables of that length in the hundreds and even thousands. Makes $65 look like a bargain. However I get your "point" that there might be a better value (higher guage, etc.) for less than $65. I bought 160' of 12 guage recoton for $13. Fine for what it is used for (HT) But for my upcoming 2 channel system, I just want to try something a little higher end, and then compare the two.
By good value, I think their IC seemed like a pretty good deal at $29. That is almost budget category. And the power cord (no matter which side of the debate you're on) is a fraction of the price of most companies power cords, as it probably should be. However, I have never tried an aftermarket power cord, so I can't say one way or another the validity of them. Regardless, I would prefer to pay $59 than $300 or whatever most companies seem to charge. In any event, I would have to have a pretty good system to justify that cost. I have no problem justifying $29 for an IC that I will need anyway. The savings of a RS IC isn't enough for me. Thanks for pointing out the indictance spec--I wish they did have more on this site. I guess an email could answer that. |
| re: Oops, my mistake, here it is... | mtrycrafts
Jun 21, 2002 5:26 PM | | b Depends on your definition of value. We've all seen cables of that length in the hundreds and even thousands. Makes $65 look like a bargain.
Yes, it is dependent, but you can get 12 ga for $.30/ft. How does that compare to your $5 or $10/ft cable? And the 16ga that was at the link can be had for even less.
b I bought 160' of 12 guage recoton for $13
Now that is what you can call a great value:)
b Fine for what it is used for (HT) But for my upcoming 2 channel system, I just want to try something a little higher end, and then compare the two.
That cable is fine for any audio system:)
As to your comparing, you need to realize that listening under sighted conditions, you knowing which component wire you are listeing to, is prone to bias and unreliability. You may be fooled to imagine things not there. Just human psychology.
b By good value, I think their IC seemed like a pretty good deal at $29.
Not too bad, but other brands can be had for much less, some even free with your component.Nothing wrong with free.
b And the power cord (no matter which side of the debate you're on) is a fraction of the price of most companies power cords, as it probably should be.
Since there is no real reason to even consider power cords, any price is too much, unless it is free.
b However, I have never tried an aftermarket power cord
You haven't missed anything by not trying. There is really nothing there to try. Waste of time.
b Regardless, I would prefer to pay $59 than $300
Me too:) Or even less:) |
| re: Oops, my mistake, here it is... | FLZapped
Jun 21, 2002 5:52 AM | | Their analog interconnects are awful high in capacitance, you could do better with some ordinary RG-58 and even better with RG-59(note the capacitance difference in their digital cable!)
As Mrty said, capacitance is not a factor in speaker cables, it's their resistance and inductance, which they left out.
You could probably do just as well going to Home Depot and getting some ordinary 12 AWG landscape lighing wire (zip style construction) and put the savings into more music.
Bottom line: Their stuff appears to be ordinary wire at higher than ordinary prices. Looks nice though.
-Bruce |
| re: Oops, my mistake, here it is... | igor
Jun 21, 2002 8:25 AM | | Thanks for the reply. That was helpful. |
| re: How are these specs? Mtry, others? | igor
Jun 21, 2002 11:59 AM | | And exactly what do they mean? Here they are,
(Cp) parallel capacitance: 55.0 pF @ 20kHz
(Cs) series capacitance: 54.10 pF @ 20kHz
(Lp) parallel inductance: 0.998 µH @ 20kHz
(Ls) series inductance: 0.770 µH @ 20kHz
(Rdc) dc resistance: 0.053Ω
(Xt) total reactance: 0.097Ω @ 20kHz
Frequency response ±0.5db dc-3Mhz
Can you guess what cable this is? Are these numbers good, bad, indifferent? Any help in explaining what these numbers do to a cable would be helpful. Thanks. |
| re: How are these specs? Mtry, others? | FLZapped
Jun 21, 2002 12:28 PM | | [re: How are these specs? Mtry, others?
And exactly what do they mean? Here they are,
(Cp) parallel capacitance: 55.0 pF @ 20kHz
(Cs) series capacitance: 54.10 pF @ 20kHz
(Lp) parallel inductance: 0.998 µH @ 20kHz
(Ls) series inductance: 0.770 µH @ 20kHz
(Rdc) dc resistance: 0.053Ω
(Xt) total reactance: 0.097Ω @ 20kHz
Frequency response ±0.5db dc-3Mhz
]
This is a spec sheet from Kimber I believe.
There are errors, for one, unless there is a physical part inserted, or the wire is broken, you cannot have series capacitance in a cable. Conversly for shunt(parallel) inductance, you would need a physical part placed acoss the wires to achieve this making for a short circuit at DC.
More later, I need to run at the moment.
-Bruce |
| re: How are these specs? Mtry, others? | igor
Jun 21, 2002 12:41 PM | | Yep, it's a Kimber PBJ interconnect. I got the specs off the audioadvisor website, so maybe they made an error. Look forward to your response. I've heard this is supposed to be a pretty good cable. |
| re: How are these specs? Mtry, others? | FLZapped
Jun 21, 2002 4:29 PM | | Yeah, they're OK. A lot of people like them. Personally, I wouldn't spend that much on cabling - at least not to think they'll actually do anything special. I might if they looked slick enough though.....
-Bruce |
| re: How are these specs? Mtry, others? | mtrycrafts
Jun 21, 2002 5:16 PM | | The frequency response is interesting, it is flat enough. So are many other interconnects on the market for less:)
If you check out their other interconnect cable specs you will see similar .5dB. The upper cutoff frequency is not really critical in audio when it gets into the megaHerz range :) |
| re: How are these specs? Mtry, others? | FLZapped
Jun 21, 2002 4:25 PM | | [And exactly what do they mean? Here they are,
(Cp) parallel capacitance: 55.0 pF @ 20kHz
(Cs) series capacitance: 54.10 pF @ 20kHz
(Lp) parallel inductance: 0.998 µH @ 20kHz
(Ls) series inductance: 0.770 µH @ 20kHz
(Rdc) dc resistance: 0.053Ω]
Lets simplify this. Resistance is constant across frequency.
Capacitance has a reactive component that makes its "resistance" decrease with increasing frequency.
Inductance has a reactive component that makes its "resistance" increase with increasing frequency.
So with a little imagination, you can figure out what these things would do if connected in series or in parallel(shunt) with a load, such as your speakers.
Regards,
Bruce |
| re: Anyone have any experience with the signalcompany.com? | Abex
Jun 21, 2002 3:45 PM | | If they sell Transparent Audio Cable then it is good cable.I heard a system recently using some cable made from them,but the price was outrageous.In fact the sales guy told me it was $2800 for the pair and that was more than the Rotel Reciever used!Almost Doublke the price!
The thing that you have to look at is the factors of your system and what might or moight not be good for it.You would have to test various kinds to see what really makes it click right.
One more thing is the cost each manf. ask for it.I bet you could get the same sort of compatibility using a couple runs of one Cable in the particular manfs. line that cost less than going with one that goes for 3-10X's the amount.You just have to be selective and let your ears hear for themselves.
I have Audioquest & Tara Labs,but I am going to try some DIY types and experiment!
Good Listening! |
| Specs mean nothing when! | Abex
Jun 21, 2002 3:50 PM | | Specs mean nothing when considering Cable.It's more in what they will reveal in your system that counts.Imaging,Soundstage etc.! |
| Specs mean nothing when! | mtrycrafts
Jun 21, 2002 5:29 PM | | b Cable.It's more in what they will reveal in your system that counts.Imaging,Soundstage etc.!
Most do this very well, regardless of price.
After all, it is the recording, your speakers and room that matters, period. |
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